Driven: 2013 Ford Fusion w/ 1.6 and 2.0 Ecoboost

[silverspeedbuggy]

Autmobile Mag has driven the 2013 Fusion:

http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews...n_first_drive/

I stopped by my local dealer last night and they said they'll have Fusions in the next two weeks or sooner. The three people there seemed genuinely excited to get the cars on their lot.

[silverspeedbuggy]

Road and Track:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/dr...13-ford-fusion

[Accidental L8 apex]

Pfft, they're no Panamericas, that's for sure.

[200HP4dr]

Hmm...I really like the 2.5 base engine, as we had one in a rental and got 38 mpg for the entire trip. It made okay power (i have a 4cyl YJ wrangler) had tons of room and got terrific mileage.

One of those with rebates would be a very attractive proposition. Especially with a stick.

Chris

[jetta4129]

Im trying to convince my mom to get a titamium fusion over a taurus w/ awd and im glaf to hear the rear seat has some room. I think it will be a much more fun car for her to own.

What other vehicles have the new 2.0 4cyl eco-boost? will be nice to keep an eye on reliability of the engine

[nickthaskater]

I can't believe I'm actually excited about a hybrid, but it just sounds so good.

The 1.6T w/ 6MT would be a lot of fun too

If only we got the wagon or liftback models...

[FissionMailed]

Such a good looking car. I am gonna go out sometime soon and try to find a 1.6T with the manual to test drive.

[rynodyno312]

I can't believe I'm actually excited about a hybrid, but it just sounds so good.

The 1.6T w/ 6MT would be a lot of fun too

If only we got the wagon or liftback models...

Same here. Based on the specs alone, the Hybrid seems to be the best of the bunch.

[2.0T_Convert]

Sounds like the magazines prefer the 1.6 with manual over the 2.0 engine.

And the 1.6 weights 350 lbs less to boot

[Jerico007]

Such a good looking car. I am gonna go out sometime soon and try to find a 1.6T with the manual to test drive.

It really is. I keep under estimating the Fusion, its a solid solid car.

[BostonB6]

Sounds like the magazines prefer the 1.6 with manual over the 2.0 engine.

And the 1.6 weights 350 lbs less to boot

The 1.6 weighs 350 lbs less than the AWD 2.0.

[koko12]

Sounds like the magazines prefer the 1.6 with manual over the 2.0 engine.

And the 1.6 weights 350 lbs less to boot

That's when the 2.0 is equipped with AWD, without it I doubt the difference in weight will be more than 100 lbs.



I would to see the 1.6 turbo make it's way down to the Focus and possibly the Fiesta as an SVT version of it.

[Numbersix]

Great looking, and seems to be a great drive. I think I'd be hard pressed to select something else, unless I went with an Accord Sport for a value play.

The midsize sedan category keeps getting better and better.

[gti_matt]

I had no idea a MT would be offered...nice! Did the previous Fusion have a MT available?

Only thing that vexes me is why is this car not a hatchback? It already has the profile, why not just do it? I know Americans hate the boxy hatchbacks because they look too downmarket but since this doesn't look downmarket but has a hatchback-friendly fastback profile, why not do it?

[too_slow]

The MK1 Fusion had a manual transmission for both the I4 and V6 models (same with the MK1 Mazda 6). The manual was still available on the facelifted model with the newer 2.5 I4, but I think they got rid of it when they stuffed a bigger V6 into it (just like the MK2 Mazda 6)

[BRealistic]

The MK1 Fusion had a manual transmission for both the I4 and V6 models (same with the MK1 Mazda 6). The manual was still available on the facelifted model with the newer 2.5 I4, but I think they got rid of it when they stuffed a bigger V6 into it (just like the MK2 Mazda 6)

You sure the 1st gen Fusion had a stick with the v6?

[bzcat]

You sure the 1st gen Fusion had a stick with the v6?

3.0 V6 Fusion never came with automatic. It started with 6 speed Aisin automatic also used by Camry and Passat. At the midcycle update, the engine received significant power upgrade and Ford/GM 6 speed auto.

[bzcat]

TCL unicorn combo of 1.6 turbo + manual + Titanium sadly doesn't exist

[Mazda 3s]

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2012...IEWS/120929976

[brad@fifteen52]

Fusion ST is going to be a hell of a car.

[JCJetta]

Fusion ST is going to be a hell of a car.

You know something we don't? Please share!

[nickthaskater]

I had no idea a MT would be offered...nice! Did the previous Fusion have a MT available?

Only thing that vexes me is why is this car not a hatchback? It already has the profile, why not just do it? I know Americans hate the boxy hatchbacks because they look too downmarket but since this doesn't look downmarket but has a hatchback-friendly fastback profile, why not do it?

The Mondeo is available as a sedan, liftback and wagon, but North America is only getting the sedan. Why they didn't just give us the liftback and say it was a sedan is beyond me.

You know something we don't? Please share!

There is going to be a Fusion Sport, but who knows, maybe they'll call it the "ST" to keep in line with the Fiesta and Focus.

The MK1 Fusion had a manual transmission for both the I4 and V6 models (same with the MK1 Mazda 6). The manual was still available on the facelifted model with the newer 2.5 I4, but I think they got rid of it when they stuffed a bigger V6 into it (just like the MK2 Mazda 6)

The first-gen never came with a manual mated to the V6, only the I4; however, you could get a fully-loaded SEL with leather etc. on the first-gen with the manual, whereas the second-gen only offered up a manual on the lower-end cars.

That said, the second-gen was available with a minty fresh 6-speed manual to the first-gen's 5-speed.

[bombardi]

I will definitely be giving these a test drive when I sell my E39.

[Spray`]

Still anxious to get a reviews first take on the hybrids real world fuel mileage. Because if they can get 47 I might trade in asap.

[FissionMailed]

Why they didn't just give us the liftback and say it was a sedan is beyond me.

Americans just like traditional sedans, I reckon. I agree that the liftback looks nice (like a poor man's A7) but I don't think the Mazda 6 liftback sold very well.

Plus I guess it would keep the cost of the car down a little bit

[nickthaskater]

Americans just like traditional sedans, I reckon. I agree that the liftback looks nice (like a poor man's A7) but I don't think the Mazda 6 liftback sold very well.

Plus I guess it would keep the cost of the car down a little bit

Well if Ford sold only the liftback, it would in theory sell just as well as the standard sedan, while also pulling in the market that is looking for the extra utility which was previously untapped. The Mondeo liftback looks almost indistinguishable from the sedan, so it wouldn't be off-putting looks-wise for sedan aficionados.

I don't know about cost... The Mazda 6 5-door was ~$2,000 more than the sedan base to base in 2004, but I'm unsure as to whether the 5-door came standard with any more equipment or if they were identical outside of the liftback vs. trunk.

[FissionMailed]

Well if Ford sold only the liftback, it would in theory sell just as well as the standard sedan, while also pulling in the market that is looking for the extra utility which was previously untapped. The Mondeo liftback looks almost indistinguishable from the sedan, so it wouldn't be off-putting looks-wise for sedan aficionados.

I don't know if I'd say it is indistinguishable. They do look very similar, which makes me wonder if the sedan came along specifically to be sold in the US or something.

I get what you're saying about selling as well and also pulling in extra customers based on utility, but I can't help but feel that the car would get looked down upon (in the US, anyways) for basically being a hatchback.

I don't know about cost... The Mazda 6 5-door was ~$2,000 more than the sedan base to base in 2004,

I'm sorry for not being clear- that's what I am saying. The sedan is (likely) cheaper to build than the liftback, therefore, cheaper pricing. Of course, if they're all liftbacks, I guess the cost difference wouldn't matter as much, the car certainly wouldn't start $2,000 higher, you'd think.

Really, though, it's hard to say. Do you know of any similar situation- cars that were sold at approximately the same price in both sedan/liftback variants? Would be nice to compare sales numbers.

[firstorbit84]

aaaarghh! fail again! why no 6MT-2.0T-AWD????

[rynodyno312]

aaaarghh! fail again! why no 6MT-2.0T-AWD????

Because they would sell about 4 of them.

[nickthaskater]

aaaarghh! fail again! why no 6MT-2.0T-AWD????

Maybe the forthcoming "Sport" will finally carry a manual as an option, and it will all but guaranteed to be AWD.

[too_slow]

Whoops, my bad. I tried to google 1G Fusion V6 with a M/T but was not successful. I thought it would have been a Canuckstan special, but I guess that is not the case. Strangely enough, the Ford seems to hold a higher resale $ than the Mazda, though the latter looks so much better .. both in and out!

I miss my V6 5m/t hatch

[mikegilbert]

Ford continues to impress me. Love the thought of a 1.6 6-MT and the hybrid looks like a clear winner in the midsize segment. Well done, Ford!

[silverspeedbuggy]

Autoblog really likes it (check out the Sport model in the video):

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/24/2...-review-video/

[Turbio!]

TCL unicorn combo of 1.6 turbo + manual + Titanium sadly doesn't exist

..yet. Ford added a 6MT to the Focus Ti a year after intro.

[Turbio!]

aaaarghh! fail again! why no 6MT-2.0T-AWD????

Because AWD in this class is a snow-belt safety blanket, not a serious performance option, and because they'd sell about a dozen of them.

The 2WD 2.0T is going to drive just as well as the AWD model - probably better, as it'd be lighter.