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- Calculating Prices Please Wait
Vehicle Min Max 2006 Ford Fusion $6,350 $21,289 2012 Dodge Charger $23,995 $23,995 2012 Volkswagen Passat $24,991 $27,775 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid $29,995 $31,988 Average $21,333 $26,262 
Used Car Price Range$6,350 - $21,289
Vehicle Min Max 2006 Ford Fusion $108 $362 2012 Dodge Charger $408 $408 2012 Volkswagen Passat $424 $472 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid $509 $543 Average $362 $446 Based On: 10% down, 5% APR, 60 months
Estimated Monthly Payment$108 - $362 per month
MPG city hwy 2006 Ford Fusion 22 30 2012 Dodge Charger 16 26 2012 Volkswagen Passat 24 33 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid 41 36 Average 26 31 MPG22 City | 30 Highway
$2,000 Rebate Expires 04/02/2012
2006 Ford Fusion Review Summary
What reviewers liked most about the 2006 Ford Fusion:
Taking styling themes established by Ford's 427 concept car during the 2003 auto show season, the lines are handsome from every angle, but particularly so from the front where the three bold chrome slats make up the grille and the headlights manage the neat trick of being both somewhat rectangular and swooping up into each front fender.
- The Car ConnectionOn the road, it was remarkably quiet, holding off not only the sound of its own engine, but also blocking out the noise from passing and tires, even on the coarsest of roads.
- Cars.comThe Ford Fusion actually has presence, amazing in a segment where most cars blend in.
- New Car Test DriveThe broad range of gear ratios makes for spirited acceleration without sacrificing efficient high-speed cruising. Most important, it reacts quickly and without undue kickdown lag.
- Cars.com
What reviewers liked least about the 2006 Ford Fusion:
The Fusion suffers a bit in that it doesn't offer anti-lock brakes, traction control or side airbags as standard features, and stability control is not offered at all...
- Los Angeles Times...the driver needs some positive control over the six-speed automatic transmission to make this car truly fun-to-drive. There are moments when the tranny is hunting for a gear when it should be confidently downshifting for a corner or upshifting at the torque peak.
- The Car Connection
2006 Ford Fusion Comparisons:
...starting price of $18,000 and a well-equipped price of about $20,000...That's thousands less than some Camry and Accord models, and about the same as some of the South Korean competitors...
- Cars.comThe ride quality is by no means soft...It's in line with the imports - firmer than the Camry but not as taut as the Accord, which I find too harsh.
- Cars.com...highway fuel economy of 31 miles per gallon...has better fuel economy...than the Camry.
- Cars.comBased on the highly praised Mazda6 sedan, the Fusion is a rock solid entry at a decent price.
- New Car Test Drive
Best one-liners about the 2006 Ford Fusion:
The Fusion is a modest car for times when modesty, if not humility, is much in order.
- Los Angeles TimesThat front end is smokin'!
- Cars.com
2006 Ford Fusion Introduction
It's tough to imagine that a decade ago Ford sold the best selling car in the U.S. Back in the 1990s, sales of the Ford Taurus eclipsed those of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
Then the market shifted to trucks and SUVs and it seemed like Ford abandoned the car market. Sales of the Ford Explorer skyrocketed. The Taurus slumped and was relegated to the rental car fleets. People who wanted a mid-size sedan bought Japanese cars.
Ford is now determined to regain its footing in the car market. The Ford Fusion just may be the right answer and just in the nick of time. In any case, Ford appears to have done its homework.
Based on the highly praised Mazda6 sedan, the Fusion is a rock solid entry at a decent price. It handles well, looks purposeful and delivers good value for the money.
2006 Ford Fusion Walkaround
The Ford Fusion actually has presence, amazing in a segment where most cars blend in. Some people like the aggressive, angular look, some don't.
It starts with the large headlights that rise up into the top edge of the front fender, which features a crisp fold along the top edge that runs all the way back along the edge of the roof to the trunk. Three thick chrome bars across the grille also make the car look more upmarket than its pricing might suggest. The front bumper almost disappears as there are two chrome strips below it that match the ones on the grille.
The Fusion has a wide track, which makes it stand out on the freeway when viewed from behind. A high trunk line and large triangular taillight clusters with chrome trim give the rear end a classy look, not unlike some newer Cadillacs.
Overall, the Fusion is slightly smaller than the Taurus it replaces, but it has much the same dimensions as its competitors. Although the Fusion shares the same basic floorpan as the Mazda 6 its wheelbase is two inches longer and it is an inch or so wider. Ford also says it is a stiffer bodyshell than the Mazda6, which is good.
2006 Ford Fusion Interior Features
In keeping with its European influence, Ford has chosen to go with the soft touch for surface materials, which is expected in a luxury car but not in a mass-market car.
The dashboard is a straightforward design that runs horizontally across the car's width with just a binnacle above the instrument pod. It contains four small gauges that are easy to read as they are separated from each other rather than overlapping and the figures are in a large font. Decent sized control buttons for the radio and climate controls should please everyone.
The center stack is simple, but nothing to write home about. The car we drove had a dark charcoal interior so everything was finished in black. The optional two-tone interior, especially the dark stone and camel with faux wood trim looks more inviting.
A convenient storage bin on top of the dashboard features a large clamshell lid and it's big enough to hold a phone or small camera as well as maps and the like. The center console, door pockets, and front seatback pockets provide additional storage.
Rear-seat passengers will find a decent amount of leg room with nicely shaped front seatbacks that allow for plenty of foot space. Head and leg room measurements don't put the Fusion at the top of its class, but the back seat feels roomier than the numbers suggest.
The Fusion has a good-size trunk with a flat floor and low lift over. The scissor-type hinges avoid the annoyance of luggage being crushed by gooseneck hinges. All Fusion models include a 60/40 split rear seatback, which allows for a generous amount of pass-through space.
2006 Ford Fusion Driving Impressions
The Mazda6 and Ford Focus have established themselves as class-leading cars when it comes to handling. Ford openly admits that it's taken these traits from the two cars to make sure the Fusion inherits the same attributes. Judging by our all-too-brief test drive in a V6-powered Fusion SEL we can say they have succeeded.
On the road, the Ford Fusion feels bigger than it looks, but it handled curvy mountain roads above Hollywood with ease. The rack-and-pinion steering was precise with just the right amount of weight to make the driver feel connected to the road without being twitchy.
In the past, a car that handled well often came with a stiff ride. That's certainly not the case with the Fusion. Its long wheelbase and wide track puts the four wheels at the corners for good handling and a better ride. The front suspension is a short/long arm design while the rear wheels are anchored through a multi-link setup. Improved bushings and hydraulic engine mounts keep vibration and road noise to a minimum.
The 221-horsepower V6 engine provides enough power, although the Fusion will not likely be mistaken for a sports sedan. According to Ford's own tests the Fusion can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8 seconds, a reasonable performance though not as quick as the V6 versions of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
The six-speed automatic transmission is very smooth. Shift into Drive and it works well. However, drivers who want more control won't find it here. Shifting from D to L only locks out fifth and sixth gears. Also, there's no indicator showing the driver what gear it's in at any given moment and around town it's difficult to tell by feel.
The Fusion V6 manages 29 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA. That's quite respectable for a V6 and the four-cylinder model with the five-speed manual betters this figure by a couple of miles per gallon.
We have not yet had the opportunity to try a Fusion with a four-cylinder engine. Considering the improved performance, smoother six-speed automatic transmission and almost identical fuel consumption, the V6 model is probably the best value for most buyers. Because of this, Ford expects more than half of Fusion buyers will opt for the V6 models.
2006 Ford Fusion Final Word
The new Ford Fusion combines the best features of a great European economy car with those a sporty Japanese sedan. The Fusion offers the sporty handling of the Mazda 6 and the value and comfort of the Ford Focus. Safety features are optional, however.
New Car Test Drive correspondent John Rettie filed this report from Hollywood, California.
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