This is a STATIC comparison of the 07 Aura XE and 07 Fusion FWD V6 SES. I did not drive them – I just spent about 20 minutes of quality time with each car- poking around the interior and exterior.
Aura
+ styling
+ feel of doors and handles
++ the VW looking location of trunk popping button (on driver’s door)
- trunk has no grab spot
+ the little net/stowage area on the right side of the trunk
- the junction box cover – if a (curious) owner opens it – it takes 10 minutes to close.
+ hood on struts
+ engine bay detailed / covered
+ 2 tier armrest bin
(small -) sort of learning curve with the latches to pick which one you want to open
+++ feel of cup holder cover
--- the rear cup holders
+++ feel of ashtray cover
- ashtray should be lighted
- small glove box
- cheap feeling compartment on the left side of the steering wheel
+ for having that compartment
+ rear legroom
+++ IP Illumination
++ AC controls – I have to say – WOW – this is a huge thing for me – they looked and FELT awesome -
+ the stereo actually looked pretty good in person
--- the “there almost was an LCD here” spot above the vent bothers me
- even after I closed the center vents with the little wheel, it did not change the airflow
--- KEY – too small and looks outdated and cheap…
++ dash materials
++ built of interior
++ built of exterior
Fusion
+ styling
+ feel of handles and doors
+ grab on trunk
- no struts under hood
- no detailing under hood
- fake wood inside
+ lots of soft plastics on dash practically only the glove box is not soft touch)
- corporate stereo – feels incredibly cheap.
- corporate climate control – the Automatic CC unit felt loads cheaper than the basic AC in the Aura
+ controls on the steering wheel – esp. the AC controls
+ analog clock
+ rear legroom
+ 2 tier armrest bin
+++ rear armrest with cup holders
+ removable rubber inserts in cup holders – front or rear – and the top tier of the armrest bin – nice thoughtful touch (this is almost Ford’s signature actually).
+ very nicely soft armrest
- some rough plastic edges
+ the perforated “leather” on the doors – looked really nice
++++ spring loaded rear seats with releases from trunk
-- somewhat hard to put them back up though
- small glove box
(I did not have the keys for the fusion, so I could not turn it to A/C and see how it looks “alive”)
Overall, my extensive familiarity with Ford, puts the Fusion in disadvantage – I would be bothered by the corporate stereo and climate control unit – not so with the GM – even though those parts are also shared – they not only felt superior, my lower familiarity with other GM products , makes them less bothersome. Another place where this shows is with trunk popping button. Ford always places it on the left side of the steering wheel – which is a great spot for it (about as good as the door location on the Aura), but since I had that on my Focus – I barely noticed … while I noticed the button on the Aura)
Since interior is crucial for me .. maybe the Aura would get the nod … but I didn’t drive the vehicles – and of course that is VERY important. Also – arguably the Milan is the competitor of the Aura – not the Fusion – and while the differences are not radical, I am sure I would have found something different …
Anyways – I have not sat in the 07 Camry yet … and it has been a while since I have sat in the Accord – so I will likely go and do that in the coming days and give you a verdict which one I would pick. For now, both Aura and Fusion look very competitive.
Thanks for reading
Igor
Aura
+ styling
+ feel of doors and handles
++ the VW looking location of trunk popping button (on driver’s door)
- trunk has no grab spot
+ the little net/stowage area on the right side of the trunk
- the junction box cover – if a (curious) owner opens it – it takes 10 minutes to close.
+ hood on struts
+ engine bay detailed / covered
+ 2 tier armrest bin
(small -) sort of learning curve with the latches to pick which one you want to open
+++ feel of cup holder cover
--- the rear cup holders
+++ feel of ashtray cover
- ashtray should be lighted
- small glove box
- cheap feeling compartment on the left side of the steering wheel
+ for having that compartment
+ rear legroom
+++ IP Illumination
++ AC controls – I have to say – WOW – this is a huge thing for me – they looked and FELT awesome -
+ the stereo actually looked pretty good in person
--- the “there almost was an LCD here” spot above the vent bothers me
- even after I closed the center vents with the little wheel, it did not change the airflow
--- KEY – too small and looks outdated and cheap…
++ dash materials
++ built of interior
++ built of exterior
Fusion
+ styling
+ feel of handles and doors
+ grab on trunk
- no struts under hood
- no detailing under hood
- fake wood inside
+ lots of soft plastics on dash practically only the glove box is not soft touch)
- corporate stereo – feels incredibly cheap.
- corporate climate control – the Automatic CC unit felt loads cheaper than the basic AC in the Aura
+ controls on the steering wheel – esp. the AC controls
+ analog clock
+ rear legroom
+ 2 tier armrest bin
+++ rear armrest with cup holders
+ removable rubber inserts in cup holders – front or rear – and the top tier of the armrest bin – nice thoughtful touch (this is almost Ford’s signature actually).
+ very nicely soft armrest
- some rough plastic edges
+ the perforated “leather” on the doors – looked really nice
++++ spring loaded rear seats with releases from trunk
-- somewhat hard to put them back up though
- small glove box
(I did not have the keys for the fusion, so I could not turn it to A/C and see how it looks “alive”)
Overall, my extensive familiarity with Ford, puts the Fusion in disadvantage – I would be bothered by the corporate stereo and climate control unit – not so with the GM – even though those parts are also shared – they not only felt superior, my lower familiarity with other GM products , makes them less bothersome. Another place where this shows is with trunk popping button. Ford always places it on the left side of the steering wheel – which is a great spot for it (about as good as the door location on the Aura), but since I had that on my Focus – I barely noticed … while I noticed the button on the Aura)
Since interior is crucial for me .. maybe the Aura would get the nod … but I didn’t drive the vehicles – and of course that is VERY important. Also – arguably the Milan is the competitor of the Aura – not the Fusion – and while the differences are not radical, I am sure I would have found something different …
Anyways – I have not sat in the 07 Camry yet … and it has been a while since I have sat in the Accord – so I will likely go and do that in the coming days and give you a verdict which one I would pick. For now, both Aura and Fusion look very competitive.
Thanks for reading
Igor
