Ford Fusion Hatchback full 9 point review

  • Performance

    2 out of 5 stars

    Review-OnRoad The Fusion’s no ball of fire, but it’s happy enough in town. Out of town, though, both the 1.4- and 1.6-litre petrol engines need working hard, and the smaller unit can struggle, particularly when the car is laden.

  • Ride & Handling

    1 out of 5 stars

    Review-OnRoad The Fusion is based on the previous-generation Fiesta, but it isn’t as good to drive as that model, let alone the current one. Admittedly, it still handles better than some superminis and it steers fluently, but the raised ride height means there’s more lean through bends. The ride is irritatingly firm, too.

  • Refinement

    1 out of 5 stars

    Review-OnRoad Neither of the petrol engines is particularly smooth at high revs, a fact which is exaggerated because they need working so hard. To make matters worse, the Fusion’s cabin is noisy at motorway speeds – you’ll find yourself cranking up the stereo to drown out the excessive wind- and road noise.

  • Buying & Owning

    1 out of 5 stars

    Review-OnRoad Given that the Fusion costs around about as much as an equivalent Fiesta, it doesn’t give you a lot for the money – even with the large discounts on offer. Not only are the resale values relatively weak, the engines’ fuel economy is disappointing – neither averages much more than 40mpg – and costs for road tax and insurance are on the high side.

  • Quality & Reliability

    1 out of 5 stars

    Review-Ownership The interior is very plain and very plasticky, but it feels as if it will stand up to a hard life. However, it's not the same story everywhere: in the 2010 JD Power survey, the Fusion was rated as below average for its reliability and interior quality, with a large number of mechanical problems reported.

  • Safety & Security

    1 out of 5 stars

    Review-Ownership The Fusion scored four stars in Euro NCAP crash tests, and all models come with front airbags – but that’s pretty much it. To get side- and curtain airbags and stability control, you need to buy them all in a pack that adds a hefty £700 to the price of either model. Deadlocks and an immobiliser are provided across the board, but only the top Titanium trim gets an alarm.

  • Behind The Wheel

    3 out of 5 stars

    Review-Cabin The Fusion driver sits higher than in the Fiesta. While that’s not to all tastes, it makes getting in and out easier, and the wide expanse of glass gives an excellent view out. The steering wheel adjusts for height only and there’s limited seat-height travel, however; plus, while the dash is well laid out, the centre console on top-spec models has too many fiddly buttons.

  • Space & Practicality

    2 out of 5 stars

    Review-Cabin There’s good space for four adults in the Fusion’s cabin, but it offers little extra practicality over the Fiesta. Admittedly the boot is bigger and easier to load, but the car’s split rear seats don’t do anything particularly clever, while oddment storage is also limited.

  • Equipment

    2 out of 5 stars

    Review-Cabin There are just two models in the Fusion range, with 1.4-litre cars coming with Zetec trim and Titanium trim on the 1.6. models. All of them have air-conditioning, electrically operated door mirrors, a heated windscreen, power steering and central locking, and we think that Zetec is best trim to buy – the less you spend on a Fusion the better. However, if you want an adjustable driver’s seat, automatic wipers, an alarm, alloy wheels and a better stereo, you’ll need to step up to Titanium.

Fusion rivals

Fusion used car reviews