2013 Ford Fusion SE

The Fusion starts all-new for 2013. Sleek new styling has the added bonus of reducing aerodynamic drag by 10 percent, meaning savings in fuel economy. There is no longer a V-6 engine option, as two EcoBoost four-cylinders step into the engine lineup. The Hybrid gets a new powertrain, which it shares with the C-Max. The 1.6-liter Fusion with an automatic transmission has auto stop/start technology for additional fuel savings.

The exterior of the 2013 Ford Fusion is a tour de force of streamlining and contemporary style, matching the elegance of many more expensive vehicles. Starting with the signature five-bar Ford grille, the hood sweeps back to a sharply raked windshield and sleekly proportioned roofline that still leaves plenty of room for visibility through the windows. An energetic rear end that would not look out of place on a sportier car completes the package. The fenders flare slightly above the wheel wells, while the Fusion maintains a firm but elastic stance on its standard 16-inch steel wheels. The SE Sedan can upgrade to 18-inch alloy wheels, while the Titanium includes the option of 19-inch alloy wheels instead. Halogen headlights with projector beam lenses come fitted to all variants of the Fusion. Side mirrors are body colored.

Comfort with a refreshing fillip of style summarizes the approach to interior design used in the 2013 Ford Fusion. Cloth upholstery appears in the S Sedan and likewise comes standard in the SE. The Titanium, however, features posh leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. An optional luxury package upgrades upholstery to leather in the SE but is not available in the S. The base S includes a four-speaker sound system, an AM/FM stereo with a CD and MP3 player, a USB port, an audio input jack, voice activation for the entertainment and communication systems, and Bluetooth capability. More elite trims substitute a six-speaker sound system (SE) or a 12-speaker Sony system (Titanium), plus a front entertainment display screen, a trip computer, cruise control, a compass, and dual-zone climate control.

The SE Sedan adds a bundle of extra interior features, such as two 12-volt power outlets in the front half of the vehicle and one in the rear, a 10-way power driver’s seat, a front-seat center armrest, and a tilt/telescopic steering wheel. The Titanium offers an even wider range of details, such as a heated driver’s seat, a heated passenger seat with two power adjustments, and carpeted floors.

A Top Safety Pick from the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) with the highest rating, ?Good,? in all categories, the 2013 Ford Fusion has not yet been crash tested by the NHTSA but has excellent safety features all round. The IIHS rating includes front, side, and rear impacts, roof strength, and rollover tests. Eight airbags come standard on all trims, including front and rear curtain airbags, front side airbags, and knee airbags. Stability control is built into this sedan, and the higher trims (SE and Titanium) offer optional safety add-ons such as a rearview camera, rear parking sensors (standard on the Titanium), lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, active park assist, and blind spot monitors. The Fusion provides an extremely safe family car all round despite its verve and muscular driving capabilities.

The 2013 Ford Fusion offers powerful performance compared to other everyday sedans, very crisp and responsive steering, and a smooth ride with a quiet powertrain. Both the S and SE feature a 2.5-liter, 275-horsepower engine with a fuel economy of 22/34 mpg city/highway. The SE Hybrid Sedan–fitted with a hybrid powertrain–draws power from a 2.0-liter, 188-horsepower engine, and getting 47/47 mpg city/highway. Finally, the Titanium ups the ante slightly with a 2.0-liter, 240-horsepower engine with 22/31 mpg city/highway.

All trims feature a standard six-speed automatic transmission, but that in the Titanium includes paddle shifters, too. This makes shifting much more controllable and gives the Titanium an almost sports car feel and level of finely balanced responsiveness. The most powerful engine, that of the Titanium, shunts the Fusion from zero to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds; other trims take slightly longer to reach standard highway speeds from a standing start. Even at speed, the Ford Fusion keeps head toss and other discomforts to a minimum, while delivering its powerful performance with a sleekly hushed aplomb that sets it apart from other ?sportier? family sedans.

• Honda Accord
• Hyundai Sonata
• Nissan Altima
• Toyota Camry