Thursday, September 29, 2016

Changes for Fusion, but good stuff stays in place

A menu of Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen on the Business page of The Sacramento Bee’s website  www.sacbee.com/news/business/article4005306.html

Sacramento, California – Ford’s popular Fusion sedan gets some major upgrades for the 2017 model year, but the old-school charms of the car remain intact.

It still looks pleasingly angular and sporty.  Interior comfort and controls are more than you’d expect in this segment.  Handling is superb for a car that starts on the low end of the $20,000s bracket.

And for me, a bonus.  My tester was the 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid, a technologically advanced fuel sipper with a four cylinder/electric combination putting out nearly 200 horespower at full song.

Ford really has gone the extra mile to pack more technology into its latest Fusion. Yes, mine had extras, but who’s complaining?

My ride included adaptive cruise control, a highly versatile navigation system, a lane-keeping system and cross-traffic alert.

Wasn’t it just a few years ago that these things were only found in the luxury levels?

Speaking of that, how about luxury appointments on this mainstream sedan?  Yes, those were plentiful on the tester.

The list included 12 Sony speakers, leather-trimmed seats/steering wheel and aluminum sport pedals, easily overlooked by some but a nice touch for those who appreciate the little extras.

It took me just a short time to warm up to the rotary gear shift dial.  It negates the rush you get from occasionally slamming a center-mounted shifter into gear, but it’s not a major downer.

I noticed only the slightest bit of electric whine during operation, certainly not enough to jolt me.  Response off the line was good, and the tested Fusion was quick to move out of harm’s way during nose-to-tail freeway commutes.

As with past Fusions, the tester steered with ease and whipped around pokes with tight, precise cuts.

For me, the hybrid Fusion stacks up as a long-term investment, covering a lot of consumer target likes. Take your pick: practical-size sedan, fuel saver, four-door transportation that doesn’t require you to refinance your home and safety feature-packed passenger car that’s easy to drive in city traffic or on wide-open interstates.

My guess: Ford is going to sell a bunch of these newly reworked Fusions.

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