What they said when the Ford Fusion was new… (Oct 16 2002)
MOTORING writers are lucky souls: they get to drive the world's finest new cars, often in exotic locations.
Not that the venue has any influence on what they write, of course. It's the metal that counts and, to be frank, these days there's no such thing as a really bad car. So, after a couple of hundred miles of hard testing, the hack's feelings at the end of a car launch can range from not too bad, via pretty darned good to absolutely awesome, depending on the car in question.
But on a dismal Dublin day, with the rain coming down like stair rods, I sat at the wheel of the new Ford Fusion in the kind of traffic chaos and confusion that makes the M25 seem like a country back double and wondered ...WHY?
Why has Ford gone to the effort and expense of producing this car?
Why would anyone really want to buy one when it costs a grand more than the Fiesta - the car on which it is based - and, frankly, isn't half as stylish?
The answer to the first question comes in two parts.
Firstly they had to. Ford had to be seen to be competing in a growing market place for what have become known as mini-mpvs, or multi-purpose vehicles. In reality these small cars aren't so much multi-purpose as a bit more useful than your average supermini - the odd extra bit of storage here; an extra cupholder there.
Secondly, they could. Ford could produce this car relatively quickly and cheaply, for it was already being developed by Mazda - part of the global Ford family - as its new supermini, the Mazda2, a car which even Ford people quietly admit is more stylish than the Fusion. Think of a borzoi ... then think of a bulldog.
Which brings us to the second question - just what does the Fusion offer that the Fiesta can't?
There is, undoubtedly, more room in the Fusion. More head, leg and shoulder space and a bigger boot, but - with the possible exception of the extra luggage capacity - you'd be hard pressed to notice it.
The Fusion's almost six inches wider than Fiesta, but the rear seat remains a tight squeeze for three while much of the extra four inches of length appears to have gone into creating the extra boot space and providing room for an additional storage locker atop a deeper dashboard.
And although taller drivers and passengers will undoubtedly appreciate the extra headroom provided by an additional four and a half inches of height, don't imagine for one moment that you're going to benefit from an MPV-style, command driving position.
Ford's clever TV advertising might give you the impression that you'll get a spectacularly better view of the road ahead but, in reality, you sit just a bit higher than in a Fiesta.
You'll be looking at the rear window of the van in front rather than the back door handle.
All the extra metal brings a weight penalty too - and that really shows up when it comes to bottom end acceleration in either the 1.4 litre diesel or petrol-engined versions of the Fusion. While both are fine once you get them rolling, the diesel, in particular, struggles until the turbocharger kicks in. If it's moderately lively performance you're after, you'll need the top of the range 1.6, which will cost you almost £11,500.
The range, in fact, starts at £9,995 for the entry level 1.4 petrol model. Like the Ka, the Fusion's trim levels are numbered 1, 2 and 3 with the top of the range 1.6 litre Fusion 3 priced at £11,995. The 1.4 litre petrol and diesel models are available in trim levels 1 and 2 only with the 1.6 in levels 2 and 3. The cheapest diesel version will set you back £10,665.
Trim levels are adequate rather than spectacular, but you need to opt for Fusion 2 if you want air con, remote central locking, and powered front windows and door mirrors.
Plus points for the Fusion include ease of access through wide opening doors and a low luggage compartment lip which helps make loading heavy and cumbersome objects into the large and sensibly shaped boot a lot easier. A black mark, though, for the lack of a release button on the tailgate - you have to use either the key or a dashboard mounted button. Not much good if you're coming from the shops laden with bags.
There are some neat touches around the Fusion's cabin like the dash-top storage box, another storage locker under the front passenger seat and bigger door bins - all of which add to the car's practicality. The interior is neatly trimmed and instruments and switches clear and well positioned.
Dynamically, it's difficult to find fault with the Fusion either. It rides reasonably enough for a small car and, out on the open road, Ford's excellent chassis engineering shines through with first class body control, very little roll, taut handling and excellent grip.
So the Fusion can be fun to drive ... but at the end of the day, is it any more fun and does it offer a seriously more practical package than a standard five door Fiesta? The jury's out...
Words: David Whinyates
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