In defence of the Ford Fusion
Defending the average is much harder than defending the terrible. Some cars are just so bad, they’re good and manage to attract a loyal and devoted following. The European Ford Fusion, on the other hand, is the type of car that receives more of a collective shrug. The tall Fiesta is a kind of middling vehicle, owned by the more mature driver who appreciates its fuel economy, the easy access and low boot lip.
Hardly the stuff dreams are made of.
For the past nine months I have been the proud owner of a 2002 Ford Fusion, built at a time when quality control at the Cologne factory wasn’t at its best. Some patchy paintwork and gaping panel gaps are testament to that. It hasn’t been cheap to run, although the 1.6-litre Duratec petrol has achieved an average real-world economy of 42mpg (take note, Ecoboost fans). This 100,000-mile Fusion has needed a variety of bearings, brake cylinders and – most expensive of all – an all too common front spring failure.
But I write in appreciation of this little car that has more character than you’d imagine, being only the second car I’ve owned that has got its own pet name. I’ve christened it ‘Fred’, a name that seems to suit its unpretentious nature. With 100bhp on tap it nips along quite merrily, and is surprisingly good on the motorway, despite the inevitable wind noise from its upright shape. That said, the Fusion is far from being a B-road blaster and it probably deserves its place on another PetrolBlog list…
However, it does have a lot of space for its size and with the rear seats laying flat (and the front passenger seat also pushed forward), you can transport long pieces of wood from B&Q that a Ford Focus would baulk at. Certainly, it is underrated by families with small children as an all-purpose load-lugger that’s easy to park in the urban jungle with excellent all-round vision, you never need to guess where the corners are on this square box. I quite like its mini-MPV looks, though I appreciate I might be in a minority on that one.
It’s also well specced, with my top of the range ‘3’ model having heated front screen, air conditioning, remote boot release, comfortable seats, front fogs, electric mirrors, remote central locking… not bad for a small motor from 2002. I’m pleased to say all of the aforementioned goodies still work on my 13-year-old model. Good God, later versions had the option of a roof mounted DVD player. Can you get that in a Honda Jazz? (Ok, I haven’t checked…)
In my opinion – and speaking as an owner – the Ford Fusion represents a good used buy. The engines are well proven, but I would be looking for an immaculate service history where all the invoices are neatly arranged in plastic folders from a main dealer. It is a simple car, so the home mechanic may have left their mark. I’d avoid the Durashift automatic-attached-to-a-manual, as word on the Ford forum street is that they can be a real pig should things go wrong.
The Fusion managed to survive a full 10 years in production (much longer than the Mk6 Fiesta from which it was spawned) and was improved from 2005 when the ‘lifestyle’ marketing boys really got it together. A range of smarter colours, a better quality dashboard, neater bumpers and flasher wheels served to heighten the appeal.
The facelift was style over substance, but an improvement nonetheless. But I don’t think it ever broke through into the aspirational yoof market as Ford had originally hoped (even with the almost laughable plastic box ‘activity console‘).
And so, the Fusion might be a missed opportunity – where was the four-wheel drive option? Why didn’t Ford consider beefing up the front suspension a bit more and fitting the 1.8 or 2.0-litre Zetec to give it more punch? In the end, they sold enough not to bother, with the risible two-tone Pursuit model being the only significant special edition.
Despite it all though, I think the Fusion is a bit PetrolBloggy. Although it is ubiquitous now, you’ll miss them when they’re gone. Generally speaking they aren’t well cared for, so will start disappearing shortly. In a decade or so, PetrolBlog will be posting articles on low mileage examples owned by chaps in their 80s in coastal towns they forgot to close down. And kids enjoying a Coldplay revival will remember their grandads driving them down to Morrisons at the weekend and want to get one. Put yours in storage now…
14 Comments
Some relatives (“of the more mature type”) replaced their first-gen Focus estate with one of these. When I met them a year or so later, they were back in a Focus.
I’m sure the Focus is a better, more dynamic car, but I’ve not had a Focus so don’t know what I’m missing!
A fine piece, Ben, and one that I think is very much in the spirit of Petrolblog.
Although I can’t say that I’m a fan of the Fusion, I’m glad that it has such an eloquent champion.
Many thanks! I had a go!
Good article! I’ve always thought of these as Fiestas for old folk. Shame Ford never did a ‘Streetwise’ version with a lift, bigger wheels and plastic cladding.
I never understood why Ford ditched the faux off-roader look of the original concept:
http://www.thecarconnection.com/image/100004628_ford-fusion-concept-frankfurt-2001
If they had raised the ride hide a little and fitted roof rails etc. they would have had a B segment soft-roader years before they introduced the awful Ecosport
Thanks Mike, I have never seen the original concept vehicle, it looks like its running on 16 inch (or maybe 17?) wheels, which were of course an option on the road going model.
What I find amazing is that even the concept model is in hearing-aid beige! (sort of)
I can’t see much to praise about the Ecosport – but that probably means it is a long term petrolblog candidate…
*height not hide
I’ve always felt the Fusion got an undeservedly bad rap. It’s basically a nothing more than a slightly more spacious and practical Fiesta, and that version of the Fiesta was a good little car. It’s easier to get in and out of, so great for older people and handy for small children, and the flat boot floor with no lip is a godsend.
I suppose the only real charge you can lay at the Fusion’s door is that it’s perhaps a bit unnecessary. It’s only that little bit more practical than a four-door Fiesta and the argument is that if you need more than that, you could just get a Focus. Kudos to Ford, though. The commonality of parts between the Fusion and Fiesta must have made this a pretty cheap niche to fill and judging by the numbers you still see on the road, demand for a B+ segment Ford was substantial.
nice car and also very cheap.
I have owned Ford fusion 3 for the past 4 years lovery car never let me down covered 77.000miles black in colour sine like new if I had to replace it I don’t know what
I also own a 2005 version of this. I have the Durashift transmission, and I had no problem with it so far. (3+ years of ownership) I kind of like the look of it too. It kind of looks like an SUV from the 90s.
I have two 2007 models. A black zetec and a red pursuit edition (best looking in my opinion) great little cars, cheap parts and easy to fix. Let down by their boxy looks, but vastly underrated. I had 2 Mondeo’s prior. For scooting about town with kids in tow they’re great with the higher roof line. Good at motorway speeds too.
I could be accused of being an ageing hipster (40-something) and I just bought one of these, having long coveted it on looks alone. Not sure whether I like it because it’s cool or because I’m getting on a bit. It looks so 90s, in a good way. Mine is a shiny vivid red with chrome door handles and leather seats. I couldn’t be happier.