2012 Ford Fusion

Base MSRP: $20,705 to $29,175

Reviewed

July 2011

Pros

Roomy and comfortable
Available all-wheel drive
Tech options like Ford Sync

Cons

Interior materials and design lag slightly
AWD hinders fuel economy
Interior still knocked as cheap-looking by some
Garish interior on Fusion Sport

Our Analysis

Its athletic chassis makes the 2012 Ford Fusion one of the critics' favorite family cars, but it's edged out by the slightly less expensive, slightly more fuel-efficient 2011 Hyundai Sonata (Base MSRP: $19,395 to $27,245) in reviews. The 2012 Fusion has changed little since it got a major refresh in 2010. For a full analysis, see our page on the 2010 Ford Fusion (Base MSRP: $19,695 to $28,355).

Fuel economy breakdown

Fuel economy varies depending on which powertrain you pick. The most efficient 2012 Fusion is the base four-cylinder model with front-wheel drive and an optional automatic transmission (23 mpg city/33 mpg highway/26 mpg combined). Stick with the standard manual transmission, and you'll lose an estimated 1 mpg all around. Fuel economy dips further if you opt for the 3.0-liter V6 engine (20 mpg city/28 mpg highway/23 mpg combined) or more powerful 3.5-liter V6 (18 mpg city/27 mpg highway/21 mpg combined). Optional all-wheel drive drops fuel economy to 20 mpg combined with the smaller V6 (18 mpg city/26 mpg highway) or 19 mpg combined with the bigger one (17 mpg city/24 mpg highway). A hybrid model is also available, covered separately in our report on Hybrid Cars.

Good safety scores

Improved roof strength makes the 2012 Fusion a Top Safety Pick at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, where it now aces all crash tests – front, side, rollover and rear. But in the latest, beefed-up crash tests at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the 2012 Fusion earns 4 stars out of 5 overall (3 stars in frontal crashes and 4 stars in side crashes). In NHTSA's rollover-resistance tests, the front-wheel-drive Fusion gets 4 stars and the all-wheel-drive version gets 5 stars. The 2012 Fusion comes with the usual complement of standard safety equipment for its class, including antilock brakes, traction and stability control and front, front-side and curtain airbags.

Pricing stands pat for 2012, ranging from a base MSRP of $19,850 for the entry-level Fusion S to $29,000 for the all-wheel-drive Fusion Sport.

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Our Sources

1. Edmunds.com

Edmunds.com editors call the 2012 Ford Fusion "a truly great family sedan" and make it a Top Recommended pick. The 2012 Fusion hasn't changed significantly this year, editors say.

Review: 2012 Ford Fusion, Editors of Edmunds.com

2. FuelEconomy.gov

This government website lists EPA fuel economy estimates for most cars, including all powertrain variants of the Ford Fusion. Expect 19 to 26 mpg overall with the non-hybrid Fusion, depending on which engine and transmission you select, and whether you pick front- or all-wheel drive.

Review: 2012 Ford Fusion, U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency

3. SaferCar.gov

In new, tougher crash tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the 2012 Ford Fusion earns 4 stars out of 5 overall. The Fusion gets 3 stars for frontal crash protection and 4 stars for side crash protection. In rollover-resistance tests, the front-wheel-drive Fusion gets 4 stars and the all-wheel-drive version gets 5 stars.

Review: 2011 Ford Fusion 4DR FWD and AWD, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

4. IIHS.org

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety -- an independent organization funded by the insurance industry - crash-tests most cars, including the 2011 Ford Fusion (which is largely unchanged for 2012). It's a Top Safety Pick, earning the highest rating of "good" in front, side, rear and rollover crash tests.The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety -- an independent organization funded by the insurance industry – crash-tests most cars, including the 2011 Ford Fusion (which is largely unchanged for 2012). It's a Top Safety Pick, earning the highest rating of "good" in front, side, rear and rollover crash tests.

Review: Ford Fusion, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

5. ConsumerSearch.com

The 2012 Ford Fusion hasn't changed much since its major refresh in 2010. Our report on the 2010 Fusion evaluates all major aspects of the car, based on a variety of expert tests.

Review: 2010 Ford Fusion, Editors of ConsumerSearch.com, Sept. 2010

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