This is the car I
was going to buy--a 2012 Ford Fusion SEL V6.
For me, it represented the best blend of value, performance, and
practicality for $15,000. Practically
every car publication has given it good reviews and it would be in my driveway
today if I hadn't fallen in love with the new body style.
The four cylinder
Fusion has adequate power for most situations, but the V6's burble and
additional power makes the car somewhat more performance oriented. It's not the silky smoothness of a BMW inline
six or even the Maxima's 3.5 V6, but there's enough sound and fury there to
enjoy. It also handles well enough to be
rewarding on curvy back roads, but not enough to seek out those same roads
during your daily commute.
What the Fusion
provides is competence in any situation.
It's not a minivan or seven passenger crossover, but it will carry 4-5
people and a decent amount of luggage.
It's not a Jaguar or Lexus, but equipped with leather and the Ford Sync
infotainment system, it's interior is a nice place to pass the miles. It's not a BMW or Audi sports sedan, but
provides enough balance between ride and handling to be rewarding to
drive. For 98% of the car buying public,
it's an ideal balance between need vs. want.
If that seems like
faint praise, consider two things:
First, years ago
Ford positioned the Granada, a distant ancestor to the Fusion, against Mercedes
Benz in their advertising campagin. It
was laughable for the sheer absurd audacity, like comparing Ron Burgundy to Walter
Cronkite. But if Ford position the
Fusion today against the Mercedes E-Class, I'm not sure it would be that far
off. The car might be 8/10ths a Mercedes
at half the price.
Secondly, I almost
bought one.
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