Nearly two years ago, the Ford Fusion launched in South Africa and I was lucky enough to attend the launch and I was one of the first in South Africa to drive the Fusion. Fast forward 2 years and I have driven the Fusion once again. Will the latest Ford Fusion live up to the experiences I had of the 2015 model? Let’s find out.
Be sure to watch these two videos first.
See the Fusion in all angles in this video I shot using my Drone:
Exterior
The 2016 Ford Fusion looks pretty much the same as the 2015 model. The grille design and layout looks really good and I have noticed that other Fords have used this same design language. The Fusion which only comes in a sedan has a real classy and executive look and feel. The boot is surprisingly really big and can even fit a human. *Note this human was not asked to climb in. When he saw the boot he could not believe how large it is and climbed in* *No humans were hurt in the making of this car review*
Interior
You know that feeling you have when you have gone to your friend’s house so many times that it feels like your second home. That is how I felt upon entering the Fusion. I was welcomed by a familiar interior that reminded me of the luxurious cabin of the 2015 Fusion. The silver detailing, the black leather and the comfortable seats were all very welcoming. I was happy to see the Sony center console with a 8 inch display as being a tech guy it is one of those things that really make a difference in a vehicle. The music experience is like no other.
Engine
Gone are the days where you need a 2.0L engine to power a sedan. The Fusion that I drove for the week came with a 1.5 litre Ecoboost engine that gives off 132kw and 175 horsepower. The fusion also comes in a 2.0 liter version but I was pretty happy with the torque of the 1.5 EcoBoost. You are able to get decent acceleration with great fuel economy with 7.4L / 100km
The 6 speed PowerShift transmission ensures the quick and seamless delivery of power. Two clutches work in tandem to give you the ease of the automatic with the fuel efficiency of a manual. What would a 6 speed gear box be without paddle shift? Definitely not fun. Using paddle shifts to manually change the gears really makes the drive more fun plus you get to feel like a racing driver!
Features
While the Fusion has loads of nifty features, I am going to mention a few that comes to mind.
Sync 2 allows you to use your voice to make calls, send messages or even change the interior climate while your hands stay safely on the steering wheel.
While a rear view camera is becoming standard in most cars these days, I still really appreciate how helpful it can be when squeezing into a tight place. It is also helpful when checking that you aren’t sticking over a parking bay. I once got a fine because of this. Not fun.
While I did not use the Ford MyKey feature, it is something I would use in that rare situation where I let someone drive my future Fusion. Ford MyKey allows you to program your key to remind the driver to wear a seatbelt, keep the music down and most important limit their speed.
Starting at R419,900 – R553,900 the Ford Fusion is well priced for its segment. With its premium features, high end interior and sleek look, the Ford Fusion is certainly a sedan that you should look at.
So does the 2016 model live up to its predecessor? Yes, it certainly does. I experienced the same or even better performance, more or less the same interior and overall the drive was what I expected of the Fusion.
