by "bwp240" (bwp240)
Published 04/21/2017 at 13:02
by "bwp240" (bwp240)
Published 04/21/2017 at 13:02
Tags: test drives
; Ford Fusion
; Ford Fusion Sport
STARS: 3
You may remember how a couple years ago I was told of a Ford Fusion that used a de-tuned ST motor. In that review, I basically said it was the greatest car in the world. Well, that experience taught me that I do not know how to properly review car. Since then, I reformatted my auto reviews. So it is time for the Fusion’s second judgement.
However, this is not the same Ford Fusion. Since the last review, Ford decided to put their basic truck V6 motor into the car to make the most powerful domestic midsize sedan on the market (expect for Lincoln, but no one cares about them). So how did they do?
Full Disclosure: Ford wanted me to test drive one of their new cars so badly they passively advertised a $50 test drive coupon at the auto show and hoped people would walk up and inquire about it. Fortunately for them, I did and they happily obliged. They then asked me to give my email soul to Ford and in exchange I got to go bother their sales staff.
At this point, Ford should just put me on staff, I have made enough money off them where I probably am required to have benefits. Let’s see, I have driven the Focus ST, Fiesta ST, Taurus SHO, and the regular Fusion. I am starting to run out of fun things...
but then Ford introduced the Fusion Sport, an all wheel drive 325 HP sports sedan for the practical person that wants to have a bit of fun. Here are the basic details:
Engine: 2.7L EcoBoost 6-Cylinder, 325HP
Transmission: 6-speed Automatic Transmission, with manual mode
Color: Black
Setting: Suburban shopping district/Interstate, mostly interstate
Rusty brakes from sitting: Present
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I have to give a shout-out to the Thoroughbred Ford for their hospitality. They were nice enough to let me look at and drive their only Ford Fusion Sport. Most other dealers tell me to go away, they didn’t the second time. This dealer is located only my way to and from the office, so I have the added benefit of knowing the roads for maximum hoonage analysis opportunities.
Lets dive into the review. Instead of trying to fit it into a 100% or letter grade, I use a basic 5 point scale that is very subjective:
0 - I hate it
1 - I don’t like it
2 - meh
3 - I like it
4 - This is fantastic
This review looks at 13 different areas and thus it has a maximum of 52 points.
*I am not a professional auto reviewer. I am just a normal person that likes driving cars. One of the major things that differentiates me from a professional auto journalist is that I put on pants when I go to work. This review is subjective and may irritate people.
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I have always loved the exterior of the Fusion. I find it subtlety aggressive. The lines are crisp and clean. I think it looks fantastic. It is the perfect design to put in a large engine and make a sleeper.
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Just because I gave it a 2 doesn’t mean that the interior is bad. It is nice, but it is not spectacular. It didn’t blow me off my feet. The seats were nice, the interior was well laid out.
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There are going to be a lot of borderline ranks and this is one. I nearly gave it a 3, but it didn’t wow me. It was somewhat quick (it got from 0-80 in a decent amount of time), but it didn’t knock me back in my seat. The turbo lag is not bad at all. When you put the pedal down there is just enough lag for your brain to comprehend the incoming launch. Power delivery is not instantaneous, but it is also not delayed enough for you to ask where it is. Delivery is very smooth. It certainly sounds like you are going fast, but it doesn’t look like you are.
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The brakes are nice. Great for everyday use, but add a little more input and they are fine sport brakes. I dove the car into a corner and felt reasonably comfortable at higher speeds.
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I was very impressed with the ride. Being a sports/performance trim, I expected the suspension to be firm. However, the electronic wizardry of the Fusion’s suspension system kept it soft for the gentle daily drive on the city street, but when you start driving it aggressively, the suspension tightens up for excellent handling with little body roll. It doesn’t ride like a Buick/Cadillac, but it also doesn’t ride like a Bronco.
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Piggy backing off the last point the handling was quite good and a lot of it is due to the suspension. However, like in my last review, the steering wheel of the Fusion is quite small. I would really like it to be about an inch bigger in diameter. I felt reasonably comfortable that I could carve some canyon roads, but we don’t have those here.
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This one also could have been a 3, but the computer did not like me taking the car to red line and it would intervene. I don’t really like it when I go into manual mode and the computer decides that I am an incompetent idiot and shifts for me, that is why I went into manual mode in the first place. As I said, the car will not let you red line. It auto shifts up at ~5000 rpm. Sometimes, when you are giving it the beans, it will go up 2 gears. Even a VW Passat lets you hold red line for a few seconds before it intervenes.
The gear selector is a rotary shifter on the console. I guess it is what the kids are into these days. It takes a little getting used to (I kept looking for the lever), but overall it is not bad. My biggest complaint with it is that the sport mode is activated by pressing a button in the middle of the shifter, I would much rather have it as another dial selection past “D.”
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The audio sounded fine. The car is packed with all of the standard features of a top trim car. There are no real features that stand out.
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The engine noise is fake. Let’s just get the cat out of the bag now. However, it is fun. Yeah it isn’t real, but it is the same thing as you making V8 noises while flooring your Versa. I cracked a smile while flooring it onto the interstate, so I can’t say I didn’t like it. I do wish it was authentic though.
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Another sticking point I have with Ford sedans in general is the gauges. The speed gauge is nice, but everything else is hard to read on quick glance, especially the digital tachometer, I really don’t like that thing. However, it is not a deal breaker for me.
The infotainment is heavily reliant on a touchscreen interface. The screen is very big and I like that; however, the redundant buttons are very small and poorly laid out. I like buttons for my heating/ac and radio. The design of them on the Fusion are not that great. The buttons are small and there is a lot of empty space below the console that could have been utilized better. Of course this would become more familiar as I drive the car more, but I think it could have been done better.
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Blind spots seem to be common on newer cars. Since we have such a fascination with running into things and rolling cars over, manufacturers now make A-pillars and side pillars the size of Kyle Busch’s ego. Merging on the highway was a lot more difficult than it should have been. Shoulder check to the left and there is a massive b-pillar. Check to the right through a tiny porthole window. The side view mirror was small, but also probably not aimed properly. The view out the back was actually pretty good. The portals to the outside world were small, but I would be able to use it.
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It shares the same practical value as the regular Ford Fusion. Being a performance minded trim, I take that into consideration for this review area that there may not be as much utility value as the normal model. But, since the Fusion Sport is more or less an engine swap, cargo and utility are the same as the base sedan. There is plenty of room to carry people, groceries, and bags. Trunk space is adequate and back seat legroom is surprisingly decent though it looks rather tight. It could definitely be used by the family man as their DD/weekend warrior hybrid.
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Sorry the price sucks. The car I drove was listed at $39,500. The Taurus SHO is about $8K more (same dealer) and the main competition, the GLI Jetta, can be had for $13K less (source: local VW dealer). The $39K price point also puts you in the range of many other better equipped cars. Some examples include the Terrain Denali, Outback Touring, Wrangler Sahara, Explorer XLT, Buick Envision, Pacifica Touring L-Plus, and many others. I really cannot justify paying nearly 40k for a Fusion, much like how I could not justify 50k for the SHO I tested in 2013.
However, when these things come on the used market, they may be an excellent option. A nationwide cars.com search shows 8 of the 24 results (4/19/17) at under 30k with an average of 6500 miles on them. The Fusion Sport will depreciate quickly and probably be down toward the used GLI level in 2 to 3 years. However, to be fair, it would help if people would buy them new to accomplish this.
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So you have reviewed a Fiat 124, Fiesta ST, and a Chrysler Pacifica with this ranking system, and you are telling me that the Fusion Sport is worse? I guess so, I cannot question the math. I did say this may irritate people. Does that mean you should avoid the Fusion Sport, no. For me right now, a new Fusion Sport is right out. It is too expensive and it didn’t blow me away with its performance. It simply does not justify its price for me. I like small performance sedans, but at $39K I could get a reasonable equipped Charger R/T and have just as much hoonage with real engine noises. When they appear on the used lots and the prices come down, we can talk. It very well could be the performance bargain on the used market within the next 5 years.
The Fusion Sport did not deliver all it was capable of, in my opinion. During the drive the car felt like it was struggling between being a performance sedan or a daily driver. In comparison, the Fiesta ST had no issues flaunting its sport character and agility. I felt like I had to actively try to slow it down. The Fusion Sport feels like it left a lot of potential on the table. The suspension, handling, and comforts were all there, but the engine performance was not. It didn’t feel like 325HP. It felt like power wasn’t being delivered fully to the road. Some say this is because it only sees max performance on 93 octane, which this definitely didn’t have.
The Fusion Sport could have been a nice mid size rocket ship for the family man. It is not a bad car, I prefer it over all of the trims minus the Titanium (excluding the hybrid and energi), but it is not a $40K car. Come down into the mid 20s and we’ll have a discussion. See you in 2 to 3 years.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
04/21/2017 at 13:11, STARS: 0
What did you think of the seats beyond “nice”? I rode in one recently, and thought the side bolsters hugged me unusually snugly for a mass-market midsize sedan. Not uncomfortable, at least in the short term. I’m not a big guy at all, either.
And the rear end, I thought it was way too boring to go with the good looking front end. This new chrome bar they added helps it, but not a lot.
"DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back" (karsonkinja)
04/21/2017 at 13:14, STARS: 0
I’m really surprised at how bad the plastic looks around the infotainment screen.
I was just thinking the other day about how that these have been on sale for months and I have yet to see one on the road. I usually see new stuff fairly quick, but not a single one of these.
"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
04/21/2017 at 13:15, STARS: 0
Exterior- 2.
If you had a pre-facelift it could be a 4. Not this one.
"The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!)" (steve-still-hasnt-wrecked-the-powershift-in-his-12-ford-focus)
04/21/2017 at 13:16, STARS: 0
You’re the only person I’ve ever seen who wanted a larger steering wheel.
"bwp240" (bwp240)
04/21/2017 at 13:20, STARS: 1
The seats were not bad. They don’t hug you like Focus ST seats, but they are definitely better than a stock Fusion. Honestly, I didn’t really think about it until you asked. Which to me means they are bolstered, but not so overly bolstered that you notice. I had a larger friend try the ST seat and he didn’t fit too well in the seat, I think he would do well in the Fusion Sport. It is more geared toward casual performance.
If I did the same spirited driving in my normal car, I would have slid off the seat.
"bwp240" (bwp240)
04/21/2017 at 13:23, STARS: 1
Yeah, the info screen design is not very good. And as I mentioned, I could not justify paying that much for one of these. You could get a Titanium or a decent optioned Edge for the same price, not to mention the other more luxurious brands.
If automakers want to have successful enthusiast cars they need to cut the crap and let us option them. Most people that want this car know exactly what they want in their car anyways.
"Justin Hughes" (justinhughes54)
04/21/2017 at 13:27, STARS: 0
I’ve been wanting to get my hands on one of these. But I’m afraid I’ll be disappointed. I’m not going to hold the Fusion Sport up to BMW or Audi standards, but it sounds like it’s little more than an ordinary Fusion with some different body trim and a little more get-up-n-go. That makes me a sad panda.
"bwp240" (bwp240)
04/21/2017 at 13:30, STARS: 0
I would much rather steer with a dinner plate than a dessert plate.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
04/21/2017 at 13:35, STARS: 0
This just further confirms my belief that any regular car that has “sport” in the name isn’t sporty. (That doesn’t include acronyms like SS, Si, etc)
"bwp240" (bwp240)
04/21/2017 at 13:37, STARS: 1
Indeed, IMO the main competitor is the GLI Jetta. Apples to apples you need to compare it to the Auto GLI, which I have not driven. The manual one was a hoot, and I think the transmission was the big factor.
The biggest killer on this thing is price. For 40k, I could get better performance out of a R/T Charger. The price of the GLI absolutely destroys this car, but when these start appearing used, it will give the GLI some competition.
It is not a bad car, it just didn’t wow me enough to spend the premium on the upgrade.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
04/21/2017 at 13:38, STARS: 0
You should test drive a power stroke equiped super duty next. Nothing like having 400+ HP and 700+ torque in a poor handling full size truck. It gets down the road real quick and scares the shit out of you going around corners.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
04/21/2017 at 13:39, STARS: 1
This would be a good buy at carmax car in two years for around $20k.
"bwp240" (bwp240)
04/21/2017 at 13:42, STARS: 1
At least this one tried...
They put a more powerful engine in it. Tweak a couple software points, and called it “sport.”
This definitely holds the “Sport” moniker more than say the Jeep Cherokee.
"bwp240" (bwp240)
04/21/2017 at 13:43, STARS: 1
“Bad handling death machine around corners.”
This is relevant to my interests...
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
04/21/2017 at 13:56, STARS: 0
I was driving back to my home town yesterday in the F350 Powerstroke and a Cadillac Escalade was catching me in the corners. How embarrassing.
"Justin Hughes" (justinhughes54)
04/21/2017 at 14:18, STARS: 0
And then there’s the Jetta 1.8T Sport - a model I didn’t even know about until I just looked at VW’s site. $5,600 less than the GLI. Biggest downside is automatic only - slushbox, not DSG.
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
04/21/2017 at 14:59, STARS: 0
That doesn’t make any sense. The Fusion competes with the Passat, not the Jetta.
"bwp240" (bwp240)
04/21/2017 at 15:12, STARS: 0
I would agree if they made a performance trimmed Passat in the US.
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
04/21/2017 at 15:25, STARS: 0
But you faulted the AWD, V6, midsize Fusion because of its price in comparison to the FWD, I4, compact Jetta. Beside the fact that they’re both“sporty” sedans, they have nothing in common to merit such a comparison. It’s less relevant than saying that the Fusion is a steal because it’s $20K less than an M3.
"Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs" (yowen)
04/21/2017 at 16:22, STARS: 0
I was hoping that at some point in the future it would make a nice replacement for my ‘10 SHO. Maybe with a tune the car would wake up a bit? How would you say it compares to an SHO (the ‘10 SHO is very similar to the current model)?
"bwp240" (bwp240)
04/21/2017 at 17:59, STARS: 0
Having driven a 13 SHO, I would say it is very similar. The SHO had a bit of body roll that the Fusion does not, but the Fusion is a bit lighter and improved suspension. Really, it is just a smaller version of the SHO. Everything is somewhat proportional, and will feel pretty much the same.
"Carbon Fiber Sasquatch" (turbopumpkin)
04/21/2017 at 20:49, STARS: 0
When I drove it, I was blown away by how boring it was. It pulls well but nothing crazy and everything else was just okay. It’s powerful but sporty is pushing it.
"theloudmouth" (theloudmouth)
04/22/2017 at 06:20, STARS: 0
Fiesta ST = fun = tuned by Ford Europe
Fusion Sport = not fun = tuned by Ford North America
A common theme for Ford. For some reason they assume if you want something fun you have an extra car and own a mustang I guess?
"IllwIlls" (illwills)
06/01/2017 at 22:15, STARS: 0
I’m sorry but you are absolutely wrong about the value! If you can live without the touchscreen and any other extra feature like park assist it is very reasonably priced and leases incredibly well. I leased mine yesterday and it would have been $50 more for a basic Focus ST, $150 more for a SHO and a Focus SE was only $80 less, with the same parameters.
You’ll be hard pressed to find any car at its price of about $31,000 with rebates, that offers that much luxury and performance.
"bwp240" (bwp240)
06/02/2017 at 12:04, STARS: 0
I make all of my value judgements off the sticker and the dealer online price. I know that their is some leeway in negotiations, but I do not talk about that or leasing because I am not going to waste the salespersons time talking about financing a car I am not buying.
If the car was 31k, or even below 35k, I would rank ‘value’ much higher. At the time I drove it, there were SHO’s on the lot for <$8k more, which, admittedly, is significant. I just looked and there are several new Taurus SHO’s for equal or less than the Fusion I drove. However, there are several new “lower trim” Fusion Sports for under $30k presently. This is much better value wise, but this was not the case at the time I drove it.
These will be very good used deals when they start rolling back in from leases.