The 2018 Ford Fusion offers a wide range of engine options, a sculpted design, excellent safety features, and lots of practicality. But with a new Honda Accord and Toyota Camry hitting dealers, Ford's strong record is in a precarious position.
What's New for 2018
The Fusion received a facelift last year, so the lack of even minor changes for 2018 isn't a surprise.
Choosing Your Ford Fusion
The Fusion comes with four engine options, all matched to a six-speed automatic gearbox.
First, there is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 175 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, while returning 21 miles per gallon city and 32 mpg highway. Front-wheel drive is standard.
For more power without a dramatic mileage sacrifice, customers can go for the 2.0-liter, turbocharged Ecoboost four-cylinder engine making 240 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. The fuel economy cost of this extra power? Just one mile per gallon on the highway. This engine also offers all-wheel drive arrangement for $2,000.
However, if mileage is the main objective (and you're not interested in the Fusion Hybrid or Fusion Energi plug-in, both listed separately), then we suggest Ford's smaller Ecoboost, a 1.5-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine that churns out 181 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque, while returning an impressive 25 miles per gallon in city and 37 mpg highway.
Finally, for the enthusiasts, there is a twin-turbocharged, 2.7-liter Ecoboost V6, available on the Fusion Sport. It has 325 hp, 380 lb-ft of torque, and works alongside a standard all-wheel-drive system. This performance punishes owners at the pump, though, with the 2.7-liter V6 rated at 17 mpg city and 26 highway.
There are five trim levels — S, SE, Titanium, Sport and Platinum
The Fusion S is a sound option if you are on a tight budget but frankly, we feel it doesn't provide enough content for the price. Instead, the SE and Titanium variants offer a much better value for money.