2011 Ford Fusion

header-image
Rating8.2

Ranked #6 in 

Midsize Sedan
Write Review
$19,850 - $29,000
Starting Price 
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on January 31, 2024

ProsConsWhat's New

Excellent fuel economy

Underwhelming range

No major changes

Spacious cabin

Cargo volume

Specs & Features

$19,850

price

175 hp @ 6000 rpm

horsepower

172 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm

torque

6-Speed Manual

transmission

2.5L 4cyl FWD 6M

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

The Ford Fusion is one of those vehicles which is overloaded with amazing qualities as it offers an impressive level of comfort on the road. For 2011 MY, Ford offers 4 trim levels- S, SE, Sport, and SEL. The base trim 2011 Fusion S starts at 19,850 and comes with an FWD drivetrain configuration as standard with further advancements in higher trims. 

Buying Advice

Although all four trims look interesting, we would suggest going for the ‘SEL’ trim. It is available in two engine configurations and offers better comfort altogether. The set of safety features also gets updated by the addition of a blind-spot warning system. Additional features such as a 12 speaker Sony sound system can be availed of in this trim which is no less than an impact. The handling perspective is also top-notch in it with the availability of additional packages and that too within an affordable range. 

Comparative Analysis against Competition

Since Ford Fusion was only refreshed last year, thus it comes with little to no major change this time. But it has been given a Blind-spot monitor, MyKey system, HD radio, and more power adjustments for the front seats for the higher trims. All these make it lethal against rivals such as Toyota Camry, Mazda 6, and Honda Accord.

Features
9.0/10

The 2011 Ford Fusion is available in four trim levels i.e. S, SE, SEL, and Sport. Moreover, the availability of three engine configurations makes everything even more interesting. As for the features, the Base ‘S’ Trim gets a four-speaker sound system for musical notes, 16-inch alloy wheels for going around the corners, and keyless entry. The SE trim upgrades over it by having 17-inch wheels which give a better contact patch and a six-speaker sound system for the same musical reverberations. In addition to those, one even gets Satellite radio at one’s service along with Automatic headlights for visibility concerns.

Trim

S

SE

SEL

Sport

MSRP (FWD)

$19,850

$21,850

$25,300

$27,150

MSRP (AWD)

NA

NA

$28,760

$29,000

Key Features

16-inch alloy wheels

17-inch steel wheels

Blindspot warning system

Sport-tuned suspension and steering wheel

 

Keyless entry

fog lamps

Heated exterior mirrors

18-inch alloy wheels

 

Blindspot mirrors

Automatic headlights

Numerical keyless entry pad

Auto-dimming rearview mirror

 

MyKey system

Dual exhaust tips

Ambient lighting

Leather-wrapped steering wheel

 

Cruise control

Eight-way power-adjustable driver seat

Dual-zone automatic climate control

10-way power driver seat

 

Tilt and telescopic steering wheel

Steering wheel radio controls

Heated front seats

Four-way power front passenger seat

 

Four speaker sound system with CD player

Six speaker sound system

Leather upholstery

Unique leather-trimmed seats

 

Full power accessories

Satellite radio

 

Sync entertainment and communication interface

After the description of the lower-tiers, we land at the SEL trim which has been given some extra touches on top of those that include the names of the heated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control inside the cabin and heated exterior mirrors outside the cabin. The eldest among all is the Sport trim that gets the most muscular 18-inch alloy wheels along with leatherette wrapping over the seats and steering wheel. Other dynamic pursuits in this trim are the sport-tuned suspension and assistive steering feedback. Thus, Fusion is quite a case and has all to have a high reputation in its peers.

We Recommend

Although all four trims look interesting, we would suggest going for the ‘SEL’ trim. It is available in two engine configurations and offers better comfort altogether. The set of safety features also gets updated by the addition of a blind-spot warning system. Additional features such as a 12 speaker Sony sound system can be availed of in this trim which is no less than an impact. The handling perspective is also top-notch in it with the availability of additional packages and that too within an affordable range. 

Engine and Performance
8.6/10

The 2011 Ford Fusion is available in three engine configurations. By default, the S, SE, and SEL are available with a 2.5 Liter inline-4 cylinder engine which manages to produce 175 horsepower and a torque of 172 lb-ft. Power is sent to the front wheels via six-speed manual transmission which can be leveled up to six-speed automatic transmission if wished. Further adding to that, an all-wheel-drive system is also available but only for SEL and Sport trim. As for the engine, it manages to reach 60 mph in 8.1 seconds and can finish a quarter-mile in 16.3 seconds. 

The figures are impressive when viewed holistically. Apart from the base variant, the SEL trim is also available with a 240 horsepower 3.0 Liter V6 engine which is naturally faster on the road. It churns out 223 lb-ft torque and comes mated to a 6-speed automatic. Lastly, comes the Sport trim which is equipped with a 263 horsepower 3.5 Liter V6 engine. This engine kicks in 249 lb-ft and manages to reach 60 mph around 7 seconds.

Models

2011 Ford Fusion

2011 Toyota Camry

2011 Mazda MAZDA6

2011 Honda Accord

MSRP

$19,850

$20,195

$19,990

$21,380

Engine 

2.5L Inline-4

2.5L Inline-4

2.5L Inline-4

2.4L Inline-4

Drivetrain

FWD

FWD

FWD

FWD

Transmission

6-speed manual

6-speed manual

6-speed manual

5-speed manual

Power 

175hp @ 6000 rpm

169 hp @ 6,000 rpm

170hp @ 6000 rpm

177hp @ 6500 rpm

Torque

172lb-ft @ 4500 rpm

167 lb-ft @ 4,100 rpm

167lb-ft @ 4000 rpm

161lb-ft @ 4300 rpm

0-60 MPH (sec)

8.1

8.3

8.4

8.5

Quarter mile (sec)

16.3

16.2

16.6

16.6

Top Speed (MPH)

134

118

135

136

The standard four-cylinder engine of Ford Fusion performs decently. However, compare it to its rivals and you will see it falling behind the Camry on the quarter-mile drag that can be fixed by opting for the V6 variant which is significantly faster. All cars in the competition offer the option of a 6-speed manual transmission along with an automatic gearbox. Honda has more power on tap but it is still a few tenths of a second slower than the rest owing to its low torque. On the whole, if we have to conclude then it has to be Fusion for its overall performance with a top speed of 134 mph. 

Fuel Economy
8.6/10

The 2011 Fusion is a blend of performance and mileage all at once. Its I-4 variant returns 22 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highways, and 25 mpg when combined. These numbers are incredible for its class. On top of that buyers get a fuel tank capacity of 17.5 gallons with which it can hit up to 560 miles at the max because of which its practicality and family-friendliness stature are magnified. The figures do go down as soon as you switch to the V-6, simply for the fact that it has a higher capacity for performance trade-off.

Models

2011 Ford Fusion

2011 Toyota Camry

2011 Mazda MAZDA6

2011 Honda Accord

MPG (City)

22

22

21

23

MPG (Highway)

32

33

30

33

MPG (Combined)

25

26

24

27

Fuel Capacity (gallons)

17.5

18.5

18.5

18.5

Range (City/ Highway) (miles)

385/560

407/610.5

388.5/555

425.5/610.5

The impressive fuel economy of Ford Fusion is somewhat similar to what its rivals offer. However, its fuel tank is smaller than the rest and as a result, it lags behind them on the odometer scaling. On the other hand, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are the segment leaders by a slight margin but with a capability to travel for more than 600 miles quite easily, therefore, making them a little more desirable. 

Interior
8.6/10

The cabin accent of the 2011 Ford Fusion has been maintained to retain the charm of its predecessors. Step inside and you will get welcomed by a beautiful interior design that looks premium with a mixture of dark and metallic accents. The material quality is decent and the dashboard looks interesting with backlit gauges and a standout center console. 

The tilt and telescopic steering wheel offer good adjustments and it can be upgraded to a leather-wrapped version. A panoramic roof is also available on higher trims which enhances ambient lighting inside the cabin. After that, the seating description comes into play with the introduction of bucket seats with power-adjustability and heating function as per trim level. All in all, it is comfortable enough with high cushioning at its disposal.

Models

2011 Ford Fusion

2011 Toyota Camry

2011 Mazda MAZDA6

2011 Honda Accord

Seating Capacity

5

5

5

5

Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)

38.7/57.4/42.3

38.8/57.8/41.7

39.4/57.3/42.5

41.4/58.2/42.5

Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)

37.8/56.5/37.1

37.8/56.9/38.3

37.3/56.5/38

38.5/56.4/37.2

Cargo Capacity (cu-ft)

16.5

15

16.6

14

Compare it to its rivals and you will see that Fusion offers a spacious cabin that is somewhat similar to the others. One’s freedom to stretch as much as he or she wants to is something taken care of by the engineers. The cargo capacity does have the same storyline line. All of them are generous in their space management and can be equivalent in all respects. So, it remains inconclusive in this category and one could prefer anyone in the lot. Some of the standout interior features in the 2011 Ford Fusion include:

  • Leather upholstery
  • Panoramic sunroof
  • Heated front seats
  • Power adjustable front seats
  • Keyless entry
  • Leather-wrapped tilt and telescopic steering wheel

How intuitive is the 2011 Ford Fusion’s infotainment unit?

The infotainment system of the 2011 Ford Fusion is powered by Ford Sync which works pretty nicely. It is true that the center console is overloaded with too many buttons but the system works flawlessly. You also get Sync’s voice-activated communication and entertainment system. Along with that, you have the access to use audio controls on the steering wheel, audio input jack, vehicle health report, 911 assist, USB ports, and turn-by-turn navigation with real-time traffic.

As for the rhythmic experience, a four-speaker sound system with a CD player is available as standard. A six-speaker audio system can also be spotted in higher trims but we would recommend the optional 12-speaker Sony sound system which is significantly better than the others. Some of the standout infotainment features in the 2011 Ford Fusion include:

  • Ford Sync interface
  • 6-speaker stereo
  • Optional 12 speaker Sony sound system
  • SiriusXM
  • Navigation system with real-time traffic
  • Audio input jack

Exterior
8.6/10

Ever since its major redesign last year, Ford Fusion is looking more spectacular than ever before. What used to be a bit mainstream looks attractive in the crowd now. Nice flow and appealing front fascia conjugated with bulged out fenders on the sides are nothing but the brief of its design language. The top is equally attractive as it gets a sunroof for ambient lighting. A body-colored grille with sharp headlamps further enhances the feel. The wheel gets bigger to 17-inch format as we move up the trim hierarchy. One may also avail of the additional packages but that will cost extra bucks and that is more taste-oriented.

Models

2011 Ford Fusion

2011 Toyota Camry

2011 Mazda MAZDA6

2011 Honda Accord

Curb Weight (lbs.)

3285

3263

3258

3217

Length (in.)

190.6

189.2

193.7

194.1

Width (in.)

72.2

71.7

72.4

72.7

Height (in.)

56.8

57.9

57.9

58.1

Ground Clearance (in.)

5.3

5.5

5.1

6.1

Wheelbase (in.)

107.4

109.3

109.8

110.2

The Ford Fusion dimensions are somewhat close to its rivals but it sure is lighter than the others which translates to better handling and maneuvering around the corners. The ground clearance is also at par with others except for the Honda Accord. The Accord is the most stretched one among which gives you considerable spaciousness inside the cabin but takes away the prowess of stability down the straight and curved tracks. But the variation is not too much that it makes a major impact. Some of the standout exterior features in the 2011 Ford Fusion include:

  • 18-inch premium aluminum wheels
  • Body-colored power mirrors
  • Sunroof
  • Dual exhaust tips
  • Front fog lamps
  • Automatic headlights

Safety
8.6/10

When it comes to safety, the 2011 Ford Fusion scored four stars in crash tests conducted by NHTSA. On the other hand, IIHS gave it the maximum possible rating of ‘good’ with the ‘Top Safety Pick’ title. As for the safety features AdvanceTrac with brake actuated traction control, cruise control, tire pressure monitoring system, and multiple airbags at various key positions are available as standard. 

Higher trim even unlocks the Blind spot warning system. MyKey system is also available which includes early low fuel warning, audio volume limiter, and top speed limiter. Lastly, you also get a backup camera and rear parking sensors for easy parking. Some of the standout safety features in the 2011 Ford Fusion are:

  • Blindspot warning system
  • Back up camera
  • Rear parking sensors
  • AdvanceTrac with brake actuated traction control

Final Verdict

By now it should be clear how the Ford Fusion brings a perfect combination of comfort and practicality. Not only can it haul occupants with a great level of comfort but offers amazing cargo capacity. On top of that, 2011 Fusion performs greatly on the road and the list of features it holds is pretty good. Characteristics like these are the reason why it is one of the best vehicles in its class. Thus it is advisable to own it. 

Trims

    S
    $19,850 onwards
    • 16-inch silver aluminum Wheels
    • A-Spec Sport Seats
    • AM/FM stereo
    • Front manual air conditioning
    • Premium cloth Seat trim
    • Remote keyless entry
    • Seek-Scan Radio
    SE
    $21,850 onwards
    • 17-inch steel Wheels
    • Driver Lumbar support
    • Front Fog/driving lights
    • Seek-Scan Radio
    • Sirius AM/FM/Satellite
    SEL
    $25,300 onwards
    • 17-inch machined aluminum Wheels
    • Dual zone automatic front air conditioning
    • Front passengers heated-cushion
    • Heated mirrors
    • Leather Seat trim
    Sport
    $27,150 onwards
    • 18-inch painted aluminum Wheels
    • Front manual air conditioning

Compare to similar cars

Price

$19,850- $29,000

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

8.22

Horsepower

263 hp @ 6250 rpm

Torque

249 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm

Capacity

5

Read Review

$27,130- $33,900

Gasoline

8.01

182 hp @ 6700 rpm

172 lb.-ft. @ 4900 rpm

5

Read Review

$21,975- $27,165

Gasoline

8.1

169 hp @ 6400 rpm

160 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm

5

Read Review

$24,010- $30,035

Gasoline

6.82

211 hp @ 5800 rpm

216 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

5

Read Review

$16,525- $22,225

Gasoline

7.88

136 hp @ 6300 rpm

123 lb.-ft. @ 3800 rpm

5

Read Review

$19,245- $31,940

Gasoline

8.52

173 hp @ 6000 rpm

166 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm

5

Read Review

$19,245- $23,745

Gasoline

7.54

173 hp @ 6000 rpm

166 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm

5

Read Review

$15,605- $25,490

Gasoline

8.05

140 hp @ 6300 rpm

128 lb.-ft. @ 4300 rpm

5

Read Review

$21,380- $31,930

Gasoline

8.06

177 hp @ 6500 rpm

161 lb.-ft. @ 4300 rpm

5

Read Review

$19,395- $27,245

Gasoline

8.25

198 hp @ 6300 rpm

184 lb.-ft. @ 4250 rpm

5

Read Review

2011 Ford Fusion vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    8.1 sec16.3 sec-
    5.9 sec--
    6.4 sec14.8 sec-
    6.7 sec--
    6.8 sec15.3 sec-
    7.1 sec15.8 sec-

    2011 Ford Fusion vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      SourceCompare
      23 mpg32 mpg25 mpg17.5 gal.385/560 mi.
      28 mpg38 mpg32 mpg12.8 gal.358.4/486.4 mi.
      28 mpg35 mpg31 mpg13.2 gal.369.6/462 mi.
      22 mpg36 mpg30 mpg15.6 gal.405.6/561.6 mi.
      25 mpg34 mpg29 mpg13.2 gal.343.2/448.8 mi.
      24 mpg35 mpg28 mpg18.5 gal.444/647.5 mi.

      2011 Ford Fusion vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        SourceCompare
        190.6 in.72.2 in.56.8 in.5 in.107.4 in.
        206.6 in.72.8 in.68.7 in.5.7 in.125.9 in.
        200 in.73 in.58.7 in.7 in.110.5 in.
        2011 Saab 9-5

        Ranked #3

        197.2 in.83.2 in.57.8 in.6 in.111.7 in.
        196.9 in.73.1 in.59.2 in.7 in.111.7 in.
        195.9 in.74.4 in.58.1 in.5.2 in.115.6 in.

        2011 Ford Fusion vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          16.5 cu.ft.100.3 cu.ft.17.7 cu.ft.
          12 cu.ft.90.9 cu.ft.6 cu.ft.
          15.5 cu.ft.94.1 cu.ft.168 cu.ft.
          27.1 cu.ft.105.4 cu.ft.113 cu.ft.
          2011 Mazda 3

          Ranked #4

          11.8 cu.ft.94.1 cu.ft.95.2 cu.ft.
          13.5 cu.ft.100.5 cu.ft.50.3 cu.ft.

          2011 Ford Fusion vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            Bed Length
            SourceCompare
            83.1 cu.ft.16.5 cu.ft.17.7 cu.ft.-
            62.51 cu.ft.16.6 cu.ft.62.51 cu.ft.-
            15.1 cu.ft.13.3 cu.ft.13.1 cu.ft.-
            -16.5 cu.ft.-73 ft.
            72.1 cu.ft.15.4 cu.ft.72.1 cu.ft.180 ft.
            14.1 cu.ft.15.1 cu.ft.14.1 cu.ft.244 ft.

            2011 Ford Fusion vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Towing Capacity
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              --3285 lbs.
              2011 Saab 9-5

              Ranked #1

              3748 lbs.3968 lbs.-
              2000 lbs.1144 lbs.3576 lbs.
              1500 lbs.-2734 lbs.
              1000 lbs.-3829 lbs.
              1000 lbs.925 lbs.3263 lbs.

              2011 Ford Fusion Sedan Problems, Issues, Complaints, Recalls, and which year to avoid?

              9

              Recalls

              4

              Investigations

              2744

              Complaints
              Overall Safety Rating
              Read More

              Top Ford Cars

              2011 Ford F-150 Raptor

              Horsepower : 411 hp @ 5500 rpm

              MPG Combined : 12 mpg

              0-60 : 6.4 sec

              #1

              2011 Ford F-150

              Horsepower : 360 hp @ 5500 rpm

              MPG Combined : 19 mpg

              0-60 : 7.5 sec

              #2

              2011 Ford Expedition

              Horsepower : 310 hp @ 5100 rpm

              MPG Combined : 16 mpg

              0-60 : 7.6 sec

              #3

              2011 Ford Mustang

              Horsepower : 305 hp @ 6500 rpm

              MPG Combined : 22 mpg

              0-60 : 5.8 sec

              #4

              2011 Ford Explorer

              Horsepower : 290 hp @ 6500 rpm

              MPG Combined : 20 mpg

              0-60 : 7.3 sec

              #5

              2011 Ford Edge

              Horsepower : 285 hp @ 6500 rpm

              MPG Combined : 21 mpg

              0-60 : 6.8 sec

              #6

              2011 Ford Taurus

              Horsepower : 263 hp @ 6250 rpm

              MPG Combined : 22 mpg

              0-60 : 7.1 sec

              #7

              2011 Ford Flex

              Horsepower : 262 hp @ 6250 rpm

              MPG Combined : 19 mpg

              0-60 : 7.4 sec

              #8

              2011 Ford Crown Victoria

              Horsepower : 239 hp @ 4900 rpm

              MPG Combined : 19 mpg

              0-60 : 7.6 sec

              #9

              2011 Ford E-Series

              Horsepower : 225 hp @ 4800 rpm

              MPG Combined : 14 mpg

              0-60 : 10.2 sec

              #10

              2011 Ford Fusion User Reviews

              0.8

              [5 Reviews]

              1

              [0.0%] [0 Reviews]

              2

              [20.0%] [1 Reviews]

              3

              [0.0%] [0 Reviews]

              4

              [0.0%] [0 Reviews]

              5

              [0.0%] [0 Reviews]

              POPULAR TAGS

              EG

              Erick Garza

              2011 Ford Fusion

              S 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)

              4

              User Overall Rating

              Posted On: July 23, 2024

              Old realiable

              Pros - ["The lights in the inside they change colors an being able to hook up to Bluetooth", "It's great on gas"]

              Cons - ["The leather seats cause it be too hot", "The seats don't go up high enough"]

              I think it has pretty good performance. It hasn't broke down on me in like two years that I had it. It runs good on gas light miles per gallon is 15 and sometimes I just put five dollars in it and it gets me everywhere. The breaking is pretty good. I don't like the interior. I don't like leather seats because it's too too hot in the summer. The Bluetooth in it I can hook up my phone and I can lis...

              Not Rated
              Features
              Not Rated
              Interior
              Not Rated
              Design
              Not Rated
              Safety
              Not Rated
              Reliability
              Not Rated
              Deal Value
              Not Rated
              Dealer Review

              KC

              Kristina Connell

              2011 Ford Fusion

              S 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)

              Not Rated

              User Overall Rating

              Posted On: July 6, 2024

              Ford fusion

              Pros - ["It's like driving on air, you'd be speeding before you know it.", "Perfect fit my me and my lil family.. plenty of storage space."]

              Cons - ["The senors on it are a made poorly", "And the dealership who comes up with these deadlines for all these recalls is crazy"]

              I have the 2011 Ford fusion se sedan.. maroon color. Has the tan interior.. milage is great on this. Plenty of storage space.. however, when the dealership made the recalls. They failed to let the people know that there's deadline to get them corrected..

              Not Rated
              Features
              Not Rated
              Interior
              Not Rated
              Design
              Not Rated
              Safety
              Not Rated
              Reliability
              Not Rated
              Deal Value
              Not Rated
              Dealer Review

              EG

              Erick Garza

              2011 Ford Fusion

              S 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)

              Not Rated

              User Overall Rating

              Posted On: June 15, 2024

              Old realiable

              Pros - ["The lights in the inside they change colors an being able to hook up to Bluetooth", "It's great on gas"]

              Cons - ["The leather seats cause it be too hot", "The seats don't go up high enough"]

              I think it has pretty good performance. It hasn't broke down on me in like two years that I had it. It runs good on gas light miles per gallon is 15 and sometimes I just put five dollars in it and it gets me everywhere. The breaking is pretty good. I don't like the interior. I don't like leather seats because it's too too hot in the summer. The Bluetooth in it I can hook up my phone and I can lis...

              Not Rated
              Features
              Not Rated
              Interior
              Not Rated
              Design
              Not Rated
              Safety
              Not Rated
              Reliability
              Not Rated
              Deal Value
              Not Rated
              Dealer Review