2020 Ford Fusion

The Fusion has been a reliable mid-sized sedan offered by Ford over the years. The car has good space and ample cargo storage making it a perfect car for everyday use. The 2020 iteration gets the required design updates which are not very different when compared to the previous year. With growing competition in the market, Ford is trying its best to give the Fusion a successful run this year.

The 2020 Fusion is available in four trims with an AWD and RWD drivetrain. There are 3 engine options available over the trims as well making the car a very versatile vehicle. The most powerful engine here is the 2.0L turbocharged inline 4 engine producing 245 horses and 275 pound-feet of torque. The base model, on the contrary, is not as impressive with a 2.5L Inline four which is naturally-aspirated producing 173 horses with 174 pound-feet of torque. The mid-level trims get a 1.5L  EcoBoost engine which pumps out 181 horses and 185-pound feet of torque. The standard features on each trim vary according to the value they are priced at.

Trims	S	SE	SEL	Titanium
MSRP (Front Wheel Drive)	$23,170	$24,500	$28,690	$34,450
MSRP (All Wheel Drive)	--	$27,090	--	$36,450
Engine	2.5L i-VCT I4	1.5L EcoBoost I4	1.5L EcoBoost	2.0L Turbo I4
Features	Lane-Keeping System	All the features in S trim added/replaced and:	All the features in SE trim added/replaced and:	All the features in SEL trim added/replaced and:
	6-way manual driver’s seat and 4-way manual passenger seat	10-way power driver’s seat and 4-way power passenger	10-way power driver’s seat with 2 memory settings, power lumbar and 6-way power passenger seat.	10-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar and 6-way power passenger seat
	Pre-Collision Assist	Dual-zone automatic temperature control	Active X seating material	Leather Sport seats
	CD player with 4 speakers	CD player with 6 speakers	Premium Audio System with 11 speakers	Sony sourced Audio System with 12 speakers
	Rotary Gear Shift Dial	SiriusXM Radio	LED Signature Lighting	Heated and cooled front seats
	Automatic Halogen Headlamps	External Temperature Indicator	Leather-wrapped steering wheel	Voice Assisted Navigation System
	Solar Tinted Glass	Reverse Sensing System	Power heated rearview mirrors with security approach lamps	Heated Steering Wheel
	16-inch steel Wheels	17-inch Aluminium Wheels	18-inch Aluminium Wheels	19-inch Aluminum Wheels
	Rain Sensing Wipers
	Two 12-volt powerpoints
	Remote Decklid Release
	60/40 Foldable rear seats

Apart from the base trim, the others have a variety of add-on options to add safety and comfort features. All-wheel drive is also available as an option here.

Which Fusion should you go for?

We recommend the SE trim due to the extensive features and the availability of add-on options to make the car more suited to personal requirements. there are not many things that could go wrong with the Fusion as it is among the most reliable mid-sized sedans currently in the market.

Ford has decided to take the V6 off the market this year and offer vehicles that are efficient and affordable. The V6 did give the Fusion an edge but at the cost of low sales. The base trim is available with a 2.5L naturally aspirated Inline four that produces 173 horses and 174 pound-feet of torque which is not as aspiring as the 2.0L turbocharged or the 1.5L EcoBoost engine on higher trims.

The 6-speed automatic does its best to produce the best possible output from the underpowered engine. The transmission is both efficient and smooth while delivering the best power output. The engine feels best at mid-RPMs as it pulls enough to give the car a better feel.

Models	Ford Fusion S	Honda Accord LX	Nissan Altima 2.5 S	Chevrolet Malibu L
MSRP	$23,170	$23,870	$24,100	$22,095
Engine	2.5L I4	1.5L I4	2.5L I4	1.5L I4
Transmission	6-Speed Automatic	CVT	CVT	CVT
Horsepower	173 hp @6000 rpm	192 hp @5500 rpm	188 hp @6000 rpm	160 hp @5700 rpm
Torque	174 lb-ft @4500 rpm	192 lb-ft @6000 rpm	180 lb-ft @3600 rpm	184 lb-ft @2500 rpm

The Honda Accord makes the most power followed by the Nissan Altima and the Fusion occupies the third spot on the roster. The Malibu stands the lowest on power figures but has good torque which gives it an enthusiastic edge over the Ford and Nissan in spite of the lower power numbers.

Acceleration

The Fusion serves a purpose of making everyday travel comfortable and efficient. The acceleration is just an added bonus to the entire package. The acceleration on the Fusion is linear with good overall transmission support that ensures a smooth drive throughout. This car is not made to run over a drag strip, but gunning at the traffic light is something it does well.

Models	Ford Fusion S	Honda Accord LX	Nissan Altima 2.5 S	Chevrolet Malibu L
0-60 MPH	8.9s(est.)	7.6s(est.)	7.7s	8.5s
Quarter mile	N/A	15.9s(est.)	16.0s	16.0s
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15k mi/yr)	7.3	5.3	5.5	7.1

All these cars are made for comfort and serve as daily drivers. For the same reason, they have rather uninspiring acceleration figures. With the current figures, the Accord tops the list while the Fusion is at the bottom of the chain.

Handling

The Fusion has good handling and driveability which does give it some good rep. A spin around the hills or just driving around the city, the sedan has no issues moving ahead. The steering has a lot of feedback coming in and is eager to respond to the driver's wishes. Corners are smooth thanks to anti-roll bars that ensure minimal body roll.

This amazing driving experience makes it one of the very few well-rounded dynamic sedans out there.

Braking

The stopping power of Fusion is moderate. The car takes some time to halt as it is heavy. The braking is linear and doesn’t feel abrupt thus providing comfort all round. Stop and go traffic doesn’t feel fidgety. But even with the added mass, it manages to stop in a shorter distance than its competitors.

Models	Ford Fusion S	Honda Accord LX	Nissan Altima 2.5 S	Chevrolet Malibu L
Brake Front (in.)	11.8	11.5	11.7	11.8
Brake Rear (in.)	11.9	11.1	11	11.3
60-0 MPH (ft)	122	163(est.)	116	N/A

Altima has the most responsive brakes out of the lot while the Accord stands at the bottom with the Fusion faring in between the two.

Fuel efficiency is something the Fusion has not impressed us. The base 2.5L inline-four returns a mere 21 MPG in the city which is a rather low number. Ford did remove the V6 to support the green movement but its current line up does not go well with the idea. The more powerful engines in the higher trims have similar MPG figures. 

Models	Ford Fusion S	Honda Accord LX	Nissan Altima 2.5 S	Chevrolet Malibu L
MPG (city)	21	30	28	29
MPG (highway)	31	38	39	36
MPG (combined)	25	33	32	32

The Accord proves to be the most efficient out of the lot followed by the Chevrolet Malibu. The Altima has the highest highway MPG out of the lot and a similar combined MPG figure like that of the Malibu.

The interior of the Fusion does seem to impart a sense of simplicity along with functionality. The interior is well designed to accommodate 5 passengers with sufficient legroom and headroom. The narrow A-pillar and the wide windshield provide good road visibility and the high seating position does help too. The materials used are sub-par with hard plastics visible all around the cabin. The material quality does improve as we move up towards higher trims.

The front seats do their bit in providing comfort and support. With the seat adjustability, the driver can easily find a suited driving position. The legroom and the headroom in the front are sufficient for tall occupants as well.

The rear seats are comfortable but lack the headroom to seat people taller than 6feet with comfort. The sloping roofline is the culprit behind this inconvenience. With a ratio of 60/40, the rear seats can be folded to accommodate more cargo. 

Models	Ford Fusion S	Honda Accord LX	Nissan Altima 2.5 S	Chevrolet Malibu L
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.2/57.8/44.3	39.5/58.3/42.3	39.2/58.2/43.8	39.1/58.5/41.5
Rear (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	37.8/56.9/38.3	37.3/56.5/40.4	36.9/56.5/40.4	37.5/57.1/38.1

Honda and Nissan have similar cabin space with the marginally differing legroom and headroom. The Chevy has the least room available in the cabin while the Fusion stands at the third spot here.

Interior Features

• 6-way manual driver’s seat 
• 4-way manual passenger seat
• 60/40 rear split seat
• Cabin Air Filter
• 4.2-inch configurable LCD in the instrument cluster
• Rotary Gear Shift Dial
• Integrated Front Door Storage
• Message Center with Trip computer
• Steering wheel with Cruise and Redundant Audio Controls
• Push-button start

Infotainment

The infotainment feels like its straight out of the ice age. The age-old AM/FM compatible stereo with a CD player from Sony is housed in the center console. It lacks Andriod Auto and Apple CarPlay which is essential for many buyers in the market. It does have Bluetooth connectivity though to keep up with the times.

Infotainment Features

• AM/FM Stereo with CD Player
• MP3 compatible
• Four speakers
• Bluetooth compatible

How much cargo can it take?

The cargo storage on the Fusion is very apt for everyday use. Unlike the Hybrid variants that take up some cargo space, this has all the space devoted just for the storage. The rear 60/40 folding seats do provide the extra storage if ever required.

Models	Ford Fusion S	Honda Accord LX	Nissan Altima 2.5 S	Chevrolet Malibu L
Cargo Volume (cu.-ft)	16.0	16.7	15.4	15.7

The Accord takes the cake here with the highest cargo storage followed by the Fusion. The Altima has the lowest storage space with the Malibu right above it on the table.

The Fusion distinctively resembles the Aston Martin's due to the front fascia. It is incorporated by a new 5-star chrome grille with Auto high beams on either side. Ford Fusion is somewhere between being radical and conservative with the sleek and strong design style. The Fusion has undergone various cosmetic treatments over the years and gets a subtle one this year in comparison to 2019.

On the sides, it has bold solid lines and the sloping roofline adds to the distinctive road presence the Fusion has on roads. The rear remains mostly unchanged with the similar taillights and the diffuser that houses the dual exhausts.

Models	Ford Fusion S	Honda Accord LX	Nissan Altima 2.5 S	Chevrolet Malibu L
Length (in)	191.8	192.2	192.9	194.2
Width (in)	72.9	73.3	72.9	73.0
Height (in)	58.2	57.1	56.7	57.9
Ground clearance (in)	N/A	5.5	5.4	N/A
Wheelbase (in)	112.2	111.4	111.2	111.4
Track width (in) F/R	62.7/62.4	63/63.4	63.6/63.6	62.2/62
Curb weight (lbs)	3472	3131	3212	3126

The Fusion is the shortest car out of the lot but has the highest wheelbase and weight which makes the car feel planted on the roads. The Malibu is the longest and the lightest weighing vehicle on the list. Japanese cars on the list have similar dimensions with varying lengths, widths and weights.

Exterior Features

• Capless Fuel Filler
• Sleek 5 grille design with black finish and chrome surround
• Daytime Running Headlamps
• LED Tail Lights
• Solar Tinted Glass
• 16-inch steel wheels

The Fusion now comes with the  FORD CO-PILOT 360 PROTECT as standard on all models. This translates that features like automatic emergency system, blind spot information, lane-keeping system, etc. comes as standard from the base up.

NHTSA has given the Fusion an overall 5-star rating which is the highest possible ratings. While the IIHS has rated the Fusion "G" which stands for good which is again the highest rating given by IIHS. This goes on to prove the safety that Ford offers in the Fusion.

Safety Features

• Rear View Camera
• AdvanceTrac with Electronic Stability Control(ESC)
• SOS Post-Crash Alert
• Perimeter Alarm
• SecuriLock Passive Anti-theft System
• Electric-Assist Parking Brake
• Added safety with Driver and Passenger Knee Airbag
• Individual Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
• Front and Rear Seat Belt Pretensioners
• Automatic Emergency braking 
• Blind Spot Information
• Adaptive Cruise Control(Only on Titanium trim)

Ford Fusion VS Honda Accord

Honda has ensured the Accord is an all-round package that has everything a sedan should and then some more. The engine performance, interiors, and cargo are all far superior to the Fusion. The materials used in the interior along with the infotainment is leaps and bounds better in the Accord. Which clearly makes the Honda a better car to purchase.

Ford Fusion VS  Nissan Altima

The Ford does feel laggy and far behind in terms of tech and luxury, but the Altima tops this. The Altima delivers a lackluster performance with a slow engine and reluctant handling. The Fusion is better in terms of performance and handles better than the Altima. This makes the Fusion a better choice among the two here.

Ford Fusion VS  Chevrolet Malibu

Chevrolet has lost rep and sales in the market due to the sub-par performance vehicles that are overpriced. The interiors in the Malibu feel cheap and the engine feels underpowered. The car doesn't handle as well either. The Ford, on the other hand, excels in all these departments. This makes the Fusion a better pick when compared to the Malibu.

The base trim of the Fusion lacks the punch to inspire any excitement in any terms. The interior quality could be a lot better and so could the engine performance. The higher trims do offer better luxury and performance which would be a better pick. Ford does have some work cut out for it and there aren't any doubts why the Fusion sales have been dipping. With the kind of competition in the markets now Ford would be a rather conventional choice, due to the fact that it is a home brand the reliability and cost to own are on the lower side.