[BlackGTP]

OHH MYYYY
*Thanks George*

That over with (Someone had to)

The fusion, as with many of the Ford line ,will sell. It is the person's first impression that catches attention. The Fusion does that. Fusion looks like an Aston Matin. It's the car that has a sporty look and feel, and marketed on TV has being a sporty car for young active people and families. Ford has taken a chance of cutting edge styling and I think it is working. This car is anything but plain.
I have found that the people who are most likely to buy a car like this are not readers of CR. They will however see the ads talking about the car in glowing terms.
It 's not til the car is in enough consumers hands that any issues really become evident. So even though CR is MEH, Chevrolet needs to really step up if we are to compete. Like it or not Ford, on the surface, did good.

When I saw pictures of the Fusion as a show car a year ago I thought it would be unstoppable based on looks. But seeing it in real life it now doesn't look as good. It looks nice, but not unstoppable. To me the top of the line (Titanium?) looks overdone. In pictures I see the Aston Martin, in life I don't see it so much. Just my opinion - but if that's what I'm seeing, I'm sure others do as well. So the Fusion may not become the segment leader as we all thought a year ago. Though I'm sure it will sell well - but possibly like the Malibu - keep the status quo in sales volume, but no major increases/conquests.

And CR is NOT irrelevant. Tons of people make their choices based off of CR - just because we don't like their ratings doesn't mean we can dismiss CR. Also, based on the fact that on occasion GM cars are recommended means that CR isn't totally biased against domestics. So maybe the hard truth is that GM's vehicles aren't always up to snuff.

 

[TiburonJT]

Was kind of surprised to hear that. But I guess "looks" isn't everything. The fusion is definitly a "looker" in my eyes. In regards to myfordtouch....why don't auto manufacturers just leave the hvac controls alone? Stick to push button\rotary knobs for those crucial functions. Having to go through multiple screens to access the simplest of functions is baffling and dangerous.

There are also more traditional controls for HVAC in Fusions with MFT. However, if you want, changing HVAC settings in MFT is an option, and it is simple for me. With that said, I don;t mind the buttons in my car with Sync and without MFT.

 

[WishIhadatruck]

Ford's hybrid powertrain is a joke. They set a target on Toyota's technology and failed.

Even CR says it has the best fuel economy of any hybrid family sedan, 39mpg overall. Better than the Camry's 38.

 

[EcoBustier69]

C/R is pretty critical of all hybrids. Mitsu should just throw in the towel after that review.

 

[the_smurf2008]

When I saw pictures of the Fusion as a show car a year ago I thought it would be unstoppable based on looks. But seeing it in real life it now doesn't look as good. It looks nice, but not unstoppable. To me the top of the line (Titanium?) looks overdone. In pictures I see the Aston Martin, in life I don't see it so much. Just my opinion - but if that's what I'm seeing, I'm sure others do as well. So the Fusion may not become the segment leader as we all thought a year ago. Though I'm sure it will sell well - but possibly like the Malibu - keep the status quo in sales volume, but no major increases/conquests.

And CR is NOT irrelevant. Tons of people make their choices based off of CR - just because we don't like their ratings doesn't mean we can dismiss CR. Also, based on the fact that on occasion GM cars are recommended means that CR isn't totally biased against domestics. So maybe the hard truth is that GM's vehicles aren't always up to snuff.

Did not say CR was irrelevaent, I said that most people who buy cars marketed toward younger customers, are bought by people who do not use CR as a resourse. They get their information from mainstream, popular, many times electronic media.
In my opinion CR is "MEH" because their opinons appear suspect at times as to whether they follow an agenda supporting imports, not that people do not use the magazine/website as a resourse..
I never disputed in the post that "the hard truth is that GM's vehicles aren't always up to snuff" I said GM needs to step up. The context of which is that Ford is taking chances, and love or hate them, the chances taken are getting notice.

 

[hydrogen]

Even CR says it has the best fuel economy of any hybrid family sedan, 39mpg overall. Better than the Camry's 38.

I was referring that the Fusion and C-Max hybrid don't come close to the claimed 47 overall mpg.

CAFE standards are based on totally flawed older EPA ratings so the cars sold today are rated MUCH higher for CAFE than what you see on the sticker. The entire system is rigged to make it look like cars are more efficient than they really are.

Very interesting. I always assumed that CAFE standards were strict and precise.

 

[BlackGTP]

Did not say CR was irrelevaent, I said that most people who buy cars marketed toward younger customers, are bought by people who do not use CR as a resourse. They get their information from mainstream, popular, many times electronic media.
In my opinion CR is "MEH" because their opinons appear suspect at times as to whether they follow an agenda supporting imports, not that people do not use the magazine/website as a resourse..
I never disputed in the post that "the hard truth is that GM's vehicles aren't always up to snuff" I said GM needs to step up. The context of which is that Ford is taking chances, and love or hate them, the chances taken are getting notice.

Sorry, I piggy-backed on the CR is irrelevant comment, others are saying it. I should have quoted someone.

 

[Bernieyeball]

New to this board. My daily Google of 2013 Ford Fusion News landed me here. I hope to buy a new 2013 Ford Fusion S next month. Have owned 3
F-150's that I've logged 550,000 miles on since 1989. It's kinda like switching to a Go Kart. I guess my only concern is the A/D (ass draggin') factor.
In the F-150 my ass was draggin about 2.5 feet above the pavement. In the Fusion it will be a lot closer to the road. When will there be an underseat air bag?

 

[GHull3]

CR doesnt comment on value in its reviews. Price is not a factor in their ratings, they only rank cars by size class and thus you will often see cars in the same category differing in price by 10 or 20 grand. CR is the only "consumer" oriented publication that doesn't factor in price when talking about cars.

Ed753 already posted the direct quote but here's the link to CR's write-up dated Dec. 18, 2012 where they comment on value.
http://news.consumerreports.org/car...ly-sedans-review-redesigned-honda-accord-excels-subaru-legacy-loses-ground.html

I'm not saying it's right or wrong, just posting information about what CR commented on concerning the Malibu.

 

[goatgary]

Ed753 already posted the direct quote but here's the link to CR's write-up dated Dec. 18, 2012 where they comment on value

I'm not saying it's right or wrong, just posting information about what CR commented on concerning the Malibu.

"Value" is for the most part subjective and is the opinion of the reviewer. That said, comparing Malibu to Sonata or Optima, it is a loser all day long when comparing features for the $$. But what about the value of long term reliability, crashworthiness, NVH, etc.?

Compared to Fusion, Malibu IS the value leader.

 

[BORG]

Whatever CR, if cars were designed to your specs, we'd still be driving a 1992 Toyota Camry.

Suffice it to say Ford and GM have a history of iterative improvements so your complaints are very likely obsolete already.

 

[staspeterson]

Yes and no. The EPA actually only tests about 15 to 20 percent of new cars for mileage. The rest are usually good faith estimates by the manufactures.

What do you want. The bureaucrats to get paid top dollar, AND have to do the work themselves too? Sacre Bleu

 

[vanshmack]

When I saw pictures of the Fusion as a show car a year ago I thought it would be unstoppable based on looks. But seeing it in real life it now doesn't look as good. It looks nice, but not unstoppable. To me the top of the line (Titanium?) looks overdone. In pictures I see the Aston Martin, in life I don't see it so much. Just my opinion - but if that's what I'm seeing, I'm sure others do as well. So the Fusion may not become the segment leader as we all thought a year ago. Though I'm sure it will sell well - but possibly like the Malibu - keep the status quo in sales volume, but no major increases/conquests.

Quoted for truth.

This car looks stunning in pictures, looking every bit an Aston. But in real life, it just doesn't translate. The front end looks chopped off and stubby, while the profile is unremarkable. The interior is where I have the biggest beef, as it is a sea of monochrome plastic unless you opt for the highest trim levels. And while I wouldn't call the interior fit and finish "poor", it certainly won't remind anyone of an Audi, either.

In terms of the overall package, the Fusion is no better than the Malibu, though they each have different flaws. If I were in the market for a mid-sizer, neither would make the short list, with my preference being the 2014 Mazda 6.

 

[Beau Tie]

Consumer Reports complaining about fit and finish in an American car? Get outta town....never..

 

[staspeterson]

No they don't because they are EPA ratings not CAFE ratings. EPA ratings are not carefully documented and can change on a bureaucrat's whim, and have just like 2008 when they simply downgraded every car but by differnt amounts.(Who was *****rdly in their bri... er, campaign contributions?).

CAFE is a set of tests legislated by law and comprises a duplicate journey, real world test of a car driven around Los Angeles back in the early 70's; and kept constant since then. So you can see how cars have gotten better over the car generations since the best milege car then, had 42 HP and got 16 mpg hiway and 14 mpg combined while spewing all kinds of pollution from the tailpipe.

Now its hard to find even an enormous gas guzzler truck that does as badly. We indeed have come a long way. Ever since a bureaucratic war took place in which the EPA bureaucrats beat the NHTSA bureaucrats for the empire building budgets, the EPA WiLL NOT publish the CAFE prepared by its vanquished foes, for CAFE ratings of individual car models.

In general the CAFE mieage ratings are about 25-30% higher than an EPA window sticker rating. But they are still less than the over-optimistic European NEDC tests that yield 50-70 mpg estimates. Those over-inflated European estimates that are used as propaganda to make us feel as if we are still uncaring glutanous individuals who drive gas guzzlers when such is not the case any longer.

North Americans cars are much more advanced than European cars; and which are even frequently the same model cars, but with much less polluting engines that are also more powerful and efficient by and large. The World's carmakers can save a buck or two selling dirty, pollution-spewing cars in Europe legally, So they do. The Euro phony Greens collect bribe, er, campaign money; and ignore the pollution, and say not a word. So much for Socialist, Green, ethics.

Did you know that the as-sold American model year 2011 auto fleet averaged the legislated 2020 CAFE target of 35 mpg ? The government's own EIA reports confirm it. To do so there had to be and were, plenty of American car models that achieved the hoped for 50+ mpg CAFE figure, already.

 

[the_smurf2008]

Sorry, I piggy-backed on the CR is irrelevant comment, others are saying it. I should have quoted someone.

NP...In reading my post I did come off as dismissive of CR. They influence their base quite well. It's that base of consumers that GM needs to convert.

 

[the_smurf2008]

Whatever CR, if cars were designed to your specs, we'd still be driving a 1992 Toyota Camry.

Suffice it to say Ford and GM have a history of iterative improvements so your complaints are very likely obsolete already.

Whole lot of Camry from 1992 running around...not too many Luminas.....

I can see CR's point. To use a sports reference, "You are only good as this play." We need good product now, not next season.

 

[JeffInDFW]

I always said that NOTHING could stop Consumer Reports from being Toyota Fanboys, but even "I" was surprised that Toyotas KILLING THEIR OWNERS was not enough! LOL! Toyota could install a device that literally punches the driver in the crotch as they drive, and CR would just RAVE about how great that punch crotch device was. Blows my mind that so many idiots actually believe this magazine.

 

[JeffInDFW]

Whole lot of Camry from 1992 running around...not too many Luminas.....

I can see CR's point. To use a sports reference, "You are only good as this play." We need good product now, not next season.

On this, you are EXACTLY correct. But, Toyota isn't building quality products anymore like they were in the 1980s and 1990s. When they decided to drive to be #1, their quality went right out the window. In order to cut costs, they eliminated a lot of engineering, lowered their engineering standards, and demanded such massive cost cutting from their suppliers that their suppliers were FORCED to cut the quality of the parts. The result has been over a decade of crap product coming from Toyota, but their customers are so uninformed they have not noticed. They remember that their parents 1988 Camry ran forever with never a single problem, so they assume their NEW one will be the same. When it is a pile of garbage, they just tell themselves, "At least it is not an American car! They are worse". Meanwhile, GM and Ford are not building garbage like the Lumina anymore either.

 

[the_smurf2008]

On this, you are EXACTLY correct. But, Toyota isn't building quality products anymore like they were in the 1980s and 1990s. When they decided to drive to be #1, their quality went right out the window. In order to cut costs, they eliminated a lot of engineering, lowered their engineering standards, and demanded such massive cost cutting from their suppliers that their suppliers were FORCED to cut the quality of the parts. The result has been over a decade of crap product coming from Toyota, but their customers are so uninformed they have not noticed. They remember that their parents 1988 Camry ran forever with never a single problem, so they assume their NEW one will be the same. When it is a pile of garbage, they just tell themselves, "At least it is not an American car! They are worse". Meanwhile, GM and Ford are not building garbage like the Lumina anymore either.

True, but it does take time for the public to notice the change. Until then, every offering has to be spot on. Those who profit from promoting imports should not be handed more smoke to blow in people faces....