2012 Ford Fusion Car Pictures

2012 Ford Fusion

Ford Fusion

Ford has only made minor changes to its 2012 Fusion midsize sedan. The biggest change is that Ford has dropped the six-speed manual transmission from the Fusion SE, opting instead to make the six-speed automatic standard. Ford has also tweaked the car's front end to improve NVH levels, and has added four new exterior colors to the Fusion's palette.

 
Motor Trend's 2010 Car of the Year, the Fusion seemingly caters to just about everyone with four engine options, three transmission choices, and optional all-wheel drive for those in the Snow Belt. Engine options include the base 175-hp 2.5-liter I-4, mid-pack 240-hp 3.0-liter V-6, enthusiast's special 265-hp 3.5-liter V-6, and the eco-friendly 191-hp 2.5-liter I-4 hybrid model.

 
The Fusion Hybrid, which is capable of traveling up to 47 mph on its electric motor alone, ranks among the best in class for fuel economy, netting an EPA-estimated 41 mpg city/36 mpg highway. All Fusions are ranked by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety as a Top Safety Pick.

The Range

Body style: Sedan
Engines: 2.5L I-4, 3.0L V-6, 3.5L V-6, 2.5L I-4 plus electric motor
Transmissions: 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic, CVT
Models: Ford Fusion I4 S, Ford Fusion I4 SE, Ford Fusion V6 SE, Ford Fusion I4 SEL, Ford Fusion V6 SEL, Ford Fusion Sport, Ford Fusion Hybrid

What's New

As a new global Fusion is on the way in about a year, Ford has only made a few changes for the 2012 model year. Perhaps the biggest change to the 2012 Fusion is that the six-speed automatic transmission is now standard on the Fusion SE, dropping the six-speed manual option from that model. Also notable for 2012 are revised dampers on the front suspension, and enhanced door seals and mirrors, which all work to reduce road noise and improve NVH. Ford has added four new exterior colors for 2012--Black, Cinnamon, Red Candy Tinted Clearcoat Metallic, and the Hybrid-exclusive Ginger Ale.

Exterior

Though smartly styled, the Fusion's exterior is starting to show its age three years into its model cycle. The midsize Fusion features Ford's prominent tri-bar grille and an aggressive looking lower intake, flanked on either side by foglights. Wheel choices range from 16-inch alloys on the base Fusion S, to 18-inch five-spoke wheels on the Sport. For 2012, the Fusion gets four new color options: Black, Red Candy Tinted Clearcoat Metallic, and the Hybrid-exclusive Ginger Ale.

Interior

The Ford Fusion's interior is no penalty box. The interior of the 2012 Fusion is ergonomically friendly. The Fusion's interior is bathed in ambient lighting. The Fusion Hybrid is unique in that it gets a special LCD dashboard. The Fusion Hybrid's display shows hybrid-specific information such as power flow as well as average and instant fuel economy.

Performance & Handling

The Fusion's performance varies based on engine, transmission, and drivetrain choice. The available engines are a 2.5-liter 175-hp I-4, a 3.0-liter 240-hp V-6, a 3.5-liter 263-hp V-6, and the 191-hp hybrid 2.5-liter I-4 drivetrain. Ford Fusion 0-60 mph times range from 8.9 seconds for the front-drive I-4-equipped Fusion SEL, to 6.8 seconds for both the front and all-wheel-drive Fusion Sport. The Fusion is equally at home on the crowded highway as it is on lonesome back roads, a trait that helped the car earn our coveted 2010 Car of the Year award.

Safety

An Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick, the Ford Fusion offers a host of standard safety features. All 2012 Fusions come standard with dual front airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags, and side curtain airbags, for a total of eight airbags. The Fusion also comes LATCH ready, and with TPMS. The Fusion features Ford's SOS Post-Crash Alert System, which will flash the signal lights, and sound the horn if the vehicle has been involved in an accident.

EPA Fuel Economy

Fusion I4 S: 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway (manual); 23 mpg city/33 mpg highway (automatic)
Fusion I4 SE: 23 mpg city/33 mpg highway
Fusion V6 SE: 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway
Fusion I4 SEL: 23 mpg city/33 mpg highway
Fusion V6 SEL: 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway (FWD); 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway (AWD)
Fusion Sport: 18 mpg city/27 mpg highway (FWD); 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway (AWD)
Fusion Hybrid: 41 mpg city/36 mpg highway