| Pros | Cons | What's New |
|---|---|---|
Great muscular looks | Dismal fuel economy in the base engine | Fully redesigned exterior and interior for 2019 |
Very potent brakes | Frontal safety scores not satisfactory | Grand Turismo and Sport Wagon get no changes |
Available hybrid option | Standard infotainment lacks almost everything | |
Precise and sharp handling | Cramped rear seat |
$22,840
price175 hp @ 6000 rpm
horsepower174 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm
torque6-Speed Automatic
transmission2.5L 4cyl FWD 6A
engine-
basic warrantyFord has made sure that their mid-size sedan entry stays relevant as the compact SUVs that have taken over the market fully. But as there are exceptions in every case, there are still buyers interested in these sleek-looking cars despite the trend. Ford Fusion was a popular sedan when it initially launched, but since then, many rivals have caught up. We aren’t even talking about the general Asian rivals like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
The base engine lacks the power for anything but carrying 4 passengers inside. So, getting the SEL trim with its 2.0L turbocharged engine gets our vote. It's not only about the engine, but there are also no optional packages to get the features you want on any trim. All the features are trim exclusive, therefore, the SEL trim with heated seats, keyless entry, and an 11-speaker premium sound system makes more sense economically.
The Nissan Altima and Hyundai Sonata have made sure to make their presence felt in the segment. Chevrolet Malibu is another rival to the 2019 Ford Fusion which offers a stunning design but isn’t doing well in the sales department. So overall it’s the American automakers that are suffering the most in the mid-size sedan segment. Despite having many rivals in the segment, the Ford Fusion performs really well in almost every area, from the peppy engine to the comfortable interior to the attractive styling, Ford has done a fantastic job. Moreover, it rivals the likes of cars like the 2019 Nissan Altima, 2019 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2019 Hyundai Sonata.
The 2019 Ford Fusion comes in 5 trim levels which are S, SE, SEL, Titanium, and V6 Sport. The trim management done by Ford is exactly what we generally see in this segment, give the bare minimum features to the base trim and keep on adding as you go higher up the trim levels. But interestingly, we still have some active features such as standards like blind-spot monitor, forward collision mitigation, and rear cross-traffic alert. The SE trim gets the 1.5L turbocharged engine as standard along with 17-inch wheels, a power-adjustable driver seat, and a better sound system.
|
Trim |
S |
SE |
SEL |
Titanium |
V6 Sport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MSRP (FWD) |
$22,840 |
$24,120 |
$28,580 |
$34,340 |
N/A |
|
MSRP (AWD) |
N/A |
$27,775 |
$32,065 |
$36,340 |
$40,015 |
|
Key Features |
16-inch steel wheels |
In addition to or replaces S trim features with: |
In addition to or replaces SE trim features with: |
In addition to or replaces SEL trim features with: |
In addition to or replaces Titanium trim features with: |
|
Automatic headlights, |
1.5L, turbocharged engine |
Keyless entry & ignition |
2.0L, turbocharged engine |
2.7L, turbocharged V6 engine |
|
|
Rearview camera, cruise control |
17-inch wheels |
Auto-dimming rearview mirror and driver side mirror |
19-inch wheels |
Different grille, 19-inch wheels |
|
|
Air conditioning, height-adjustable driver seat |
Keypad lock on the exterior |
Driver seat memory settings with heated front seats |
LED fog lights |
Leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats |
|
|
60/40 split seats |
Power adjustable front seats with a foldable armrest |
Leather-wrapped steering wheel |
Rear spoiler, sunroof |
Quad tip exhaust, rear spoiler |
|
|
4-speaker sound system |
6-speaker sound system with satellite radio |
11-speaker premium sound system |
Ambient interior lighting, heated and ventilated front seats |
Adjustable suspension dampers |
|
|
Blind-spot monitor, rear-cross traffic alert |
8-inch touch screen with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay |
Heated mirrors |
12-speaker Sony sound system with HD radio |
Automated parking system, adaptive cruise control |
The SEL trim is the best-equipped trim in our opinion, well it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, but it has all the necessary features like LED headlights, heated seats, and an 11-speaker sound system. The Titanium trim climbs in the luxury section with features like a sunroof, heated and ventilated seats, and a premium sound system. As the name suggests, the top trim V6 Sport gets the turbocharged V6 engine and sporty upgrades like adjustable suspension dampers and 19-inch wheels, etc. Overall looking at the feature management, there’s a car for everyone and every budget.
Which trim should you buy?
The base engine lacks the power for anything but carrying 4 passengers inside. So, getting the SEL trim with its 2.0L turbocharged engine gets our vote. It's not only about the engine, but there are also no optional packages to get the features you want on any trim. All the features are trim exclusive, therefore, the SEL trim with heated seats, keyless entry, and an 11-speaker premium sound system makes more sense economically.
The 2019 Ford Fusion comes with a lot of engine options, 4 to be precise. The base trim car comes equipped with a lethargic 2.5L Inline-4 engine which makes 175 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque, comes mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, and is FWD exclusive. The available torque range is pretty wide, so in simple words, it means you will have to rev the engine harder for better acceleration off the line. If you want a basic engine that will get the job done, then the 1.5L turbocharged engine with its 181 hp & 185 lb-ft torque will be a great choice as it will return better fuel efficiency as well.
Now coming to some serious horsepower action, the 2.0L turbo I-4 engine available on all but the S trim provides a decent 245 hp and a massive 275 lb-ft of torque. This is the engine you must get if traveling with a cabin full of passengers and a boot full of cargo is an everyday scene for you. At the top of the lineup, we have a V6 engine not natural but turbocharged, it produces 325 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. The 6-speed automatic transmission on all the engines works well enough to transfer the power to the ground.
|
Models |
2019 Ford Fusion |
2019 Nissan Altima |
2019 Chevrolet Malibu |
2019 Hyundai Sonata |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MSRP |
$22,840 |
$24,000 |
$22,090 |
$22,650 |
|
Engine |
2.5L, Naturally Aspirated, I-4 |
2.5L, Naturally Aspirated, I-4 |
1.5L, Turbocharged, I-4 |
2.4L, Naturally Aspirated, I-4 |
|
Drivetrain |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
|
Transmission |
6-speed automatic |
CVT |
6-speed automatic |
6-speed automatic |
|
Power |
175hp @ 6,000rpm |
182hp @ 6,000rpm |
160hp @ 5,700rpm |
185hp @ 6,000rpm |
|
Torque |
175lb-ft @ 4,500rpm |
178lb-ft @ 3,600rpm |
184lb-ft @ 2,500rpm |
178lb-ft @ 4,000rpm |
|
0-60 MPH (sec) |
8.9 |
8 |
8.5 |
6.8 |
|
Quarter mile (sec) |
16.7 |
16.2 |
16.0 |
16.1 |
|
Top Speed (MPH) |
135 |
120 |
131 |
130 |
Among the competition, all the cars in the comparison today are very well priced, and the engine choices as well reflect similarities. The Nissan Altima and Hyundai Sonata both come with similarly powered engines and perform better in the outright acceleration compared to our Ford Fusion. All vehicles come with 6-speed automatic transmission except the Nissan Altima that comes with CVT. The Chevrolet Malibu, on the other hand, performs very well despite having an underpowered engine.
The 2019 Ford Fusion has the best overall handling and driving dynamics in the segment, and no matter what engine you have under the hood, the car performs well. The steering response of the car is accurate, and the weight is well balanced for any given situation. At the low speed, it is very lightweight, but as you speed up, you start losing all the connection to the ground it has.
Despite this lack of feel, the car handles and maneuvers great. The suspension setup on such mid-size sedans is generally tuned for comfort, and on the 2019 Fusion, the ride quality is very plush, even if you get the optional 19-inch wheels, thanks to the folks at Ford. Overall, the 2019 Fusion is a fun-to-drive car especially in the urban areas, thanks to the smooth-shifting automatic gearbox and a solid chassis feel.
At a near 3500 lbs weight, the 2019 Fusion is not a lightweight car, yet the disc brakes it comes with do a great job in bringing it to a halt. The brakes feel confident and are easy to work with in traffic situations. In panic braking conditions, the sedan worked decently with just 122 feet stopping distance, much better than the rival cars. The front rotors measure a size of 11.8 inches, while the rear rotors measure 11.9 inches.
|
Models |
2019 Ford Fusion |
2019 Nissan Altima |
2019 Chevrolet Malibu |
2019 Hyundai Sonata |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Brake Rotors: Front (inches) |
11.8 |
11.7 |
11.8 |
12.0 |
|
Brake Rotors: Rear (inches) |
11.9 |
11.5 |
11.3 |
11.2 |
|
Curb Weight (lbs.) |
3410 |
3212 |
3126 |
3247 |
|
60-0 MPH (feet) |
122 |
116 |
N/A |
N/A |
Comparing the competition, the Nissan Altima comes with similarly sized brake rotors, but the performance it put on was amazing for its class. The Ford Fusion has average braking performance with a braking distance of 122 feet from 60 mph. All the cars are 200 lbs lighter than the 2019 Ford Fusion, and we expected better from these but still not at all bad for this segment.
The 2019 Fusion performs quite poorly in the fuel economy department, and we don’t really know why. The engine capacity isn’t the culprit here as similarly specced engines on the rivals are doing great. The 21/31/25 city/highway/combined MPG on the base Fusion is really poor, but there is hope. The 1.5L turbo engine makes things better with 23/34/27 MPG in the city/highway/combined driving cycles, respectively, but still, it isn’t even on par with the competition.
The 2.0L turbo engine will obviously see a downwards trend with 20/29/23 MPG figures city/highway/combined, but we can live with this as we are getting much better horsepower in return. The top-tier super-fast V6 engine gets a 17/26/20 MPG in the city/highway/combined driving cycles respectively. The fuel capacity is somewhat better, but it is of no use as the economy numbers themselves are pretty bad.
|
Models |
2019 Ford Fusion |
2019 Nissan Altima |
2019 Chevrolet Malibu |
2019 Hyundai Sonata |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MPG (City) |
21 |
28 |
29 |
26 |
|
MPG (Highway) |
31 |
39 |
36 |
35 |
|
MPG (Combined) |
25 |
32 |
32 |
29 |
|
Fuel Capacity (Gallons) |
16.5 |
16.2 |
15.8 |
18.5 |
|
Range (City/Highway/Combined, in Miles) |
346.5/511.5/412.5 |
453.6/631.8/518.4 |
458.2/568.8/505.6 |
481/647.5/536.5 |
In comparison, as we expect from the Asian brands, the fuel economy on the Nissan Altima is great if not best. Hyundai Sonata as well returns a great highway economy but not so much in the city. Chevrolet Malibu is the best performer in the urban areas, returning 29 mpg, while the Altima aces the long highway runs with a fuel economy of 39 mpg, which is quite impressive.
The interior of the 2019 Fusion is spacious enough for 5 people with a cabin feel quality ranging from raw to luxurious. The base model comes with cloth upholstery and cheap soft-touch plastics for the dashboard, while the top trims make the Fusion a close to a luxury experience, thanks to the leather upholstery and heated and ventilated seats. Well, you are not getting the base trim, we know that, but that tiny infotainment screen on it does look out of place by modern-day standards. Ford is using a rotary knob for the drive mode selection, and that may work for most people as it replicates that high-end feel of the European sports cars. The sound isolation done inside the cabin is great actually, you won’t hear the powertrain noises or even the outside noise for that matter.
What confused us a little was that the cabin on the base trim gets brushed aluminum-like treatment, while the top trims get a blacked-out overall interior with minimal silver trim pieces scattered around inside. Ford may be trying to compensate for the low-quality plastics used in the lower trims. The front seats are comfortable enough with the cloth lining, but the optional leather seats amplify the comfort a lot. The second-row seating is good enough for 2 people and 3 occasionally. The only concern with this seating arrangement is that the taller passenger might have issues due to that low-slung roof. If you want better overall quality and feel inside the cabin, then getting the SEL trim or better is the best way to experience the Ford Fusion.
|
Models |
2019 Ford Fusion |
2019 Nissan Altima |
2019 Chevrolet Malibu |
2019 Hyundai Sonata |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Seating Capacity |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
39.2/57.8/44.3 |
39.2/58.2/44.1 |
39.1/58.5/41.5 |
40.4/57.9/45.5 |
|
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
37.8/56.9/38.3 |
36.9/57.1/35.1 |
37.5/57.1/38.1 |
38/56.5/35.6 |
|
Cargo Capacity (cu ft) |
16 |
N/A |
15.7 |
16.3 |
All the competition cars have very similar inside dimensions with just minute differences, so there isn’t one clear winner. The Nissan Altima and Chevrolet Malibu do have better shoulder room on both rows, but an inch of difference isn’t going to make any worlds of difference. Might help a little in squeezing that third passenger though. Some of the standout interior features are as follows:
The 2019 Ford Fusion in its base trim comes with a 4.2-inch infotainment screen with Ford’s Sync 3 software as standard. The base car only comes with a 4-speaker stereo system with USB and Bluetooth connectivity. The optional Co-Pilot package will just get you steering-mounted controls, navigation system, and SD card support. For a better 8-inch touch screen system, you will have to get the SE trim. And in the upper trims, you get the high-end Sony sound system. Android Auto & Apple CarPlay is standard on all but the base trim. Standout infotainment features include:
Crossover SUVs took over the American market, so now everyone is designing their sedans in aggressive and attractive ways. Well, Ford isn’t new to this aggressive and attractive design scene, Mustangs are the living examples of this, and you can witness some design cues of the Mustang in the 2019 Fusion itself. The front end of this car with that chiseled-down hood and shiny grille does have muscle car vibes all over.
Some people say that it is a cheap Aston Martin knockoff due to the shape of the front grille, but we don’t see that anywhere. The 19-inch milled alloy wheels do make the Fusion look like everything but a mid-size family sedan. The rear end is where the family car vibes are more apparent with those simplistic LED taillights and chrome design inserts. The 2019 Fusion is really attractive, but it's now too late to show what they were capable of.
|
Models |
2019 Ford Fusion |
2019 Nissan Altima |
2019 Chevrolet Malibu |
2019 Hyundai Sonata |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Curb weight (lbs) |
3410 |
3212 |
3126 |
3247 |
|
Length (inches) |
191.7 |
192.9 |
194.2 |
191.1 |
|
Width (Inches) |
75.2 |
72.9 |
73.0 |
73.4 |
|
Height (Inches) |
58.1 |
56.7 |
57.3 |
58.1 |
|
Ground clearance (inches) |
5.3 |
4.9 |
N/A |
5.3 |
|
Wheelbase (inches) |
112.2 |
111.2 |
111.4 |
110.4 |
Lengthwise, the Ford Fusion is one the shortest cars, but it has that width that lets it have a more stable driving experience. With that balanced weight, no doubt the car has the best driving dynamics in the segment. The Nissan Altima has too low of ground clearance for a car in this segment, but we can’t deny the fact that it does make the car look sportier than it is. Standout exterior features include:
If safety is one of your major concerns, then the 2019 Ford Fusion is one of the best not just in the segment but in the overall industry. First, let’s take a look at crash tests. In the NHTSA tests, the car did fine in frontal crash tests with 5-stars for the driver side and 3-stars for the passenger-side protection. The side crash tests were very positive with 5-stars in all the categories. The 2019 Fusion comes with a 10.90% rollover risk and a 4-star rating.
Summing it all up, the overall safety rating becomes 5-stars, which is impeccable indeed. In the IIHS tests, the Fusion did great with a ‘Good’ rating in all the categories except for the headlights. However, the Fusion hit it out of the park with the addition of active safety features as standard. Standout safety features available with the sedan are:
There couldn’t be a more balanced rival to the Fusion than this. The Nissan Altima has a better overall interior, thanks to the modern center console layout, but the rest of the features set is very similar. Both cars have ample passenger room, and the seats are great with power adjustability. Nissan gets a much better fuel economy than the Ford, but the American has 4 engine options to choose from. The standard safety also is the same on both the cars, thus, fuel economy and overall looks should help you decide which one to get.
Both the cars are on the same page when you climb inside, the overall interior is not that appealing, but the exterior of Chevy Malibu is very much. The base turbo engine on the Chevy produces more torque than the Ford, and the optional turbo 2.0L turbo is the one you should consider. The safety features on the Malibu are trim exclusive and even the options are trim exclusive.
Hyundai Sonata has been strongly present in this segment for a long time, and it has already won over the trust of the buyers. The 2019 Hyundai Sonata offers a nice ride quality and great mileage. Something very important for a mid-size sedan and something the Ford Fusion can’t provide, we are talking about the economy. Sonata even has more power in its base engine, but the optional engines on both the cars again make things balanced. The 2019 Sonata is a great option for someone who wants an elegant-looking car that isn’t heavy on the bank account.
We wholeheartedly wanted to recommend the 2019 Ford Fusion, but the fuel economy and a dull-looking interior make us think twice. On the flip side, driving the Fusion would be one of the best experiences in this segment, but it is of no use if the car just keeps asking for a refill and it's not even a sports car. Yes, the 2019 Fusion does look great from the outside and has a great standard safety suite but that lackluster fuel economy and interior makes it hard to recommend. There are better choices out there. If performance is your only priority, then you cannot have a better car than the Fusion in this segment.
Car Name | 0-60 MPH | Quarter Mile | Top Speed | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 Ford Fusion Ranked #17 | 8.9 sec | 16.6 sec | - | |||
2019 Ford Mustang Ranked #1 | 5.2 sec | 13.6 sec | 120 mph | |||
2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LD Ranked #2 | 5.9 sec | 15.3 sec | 155 mph | |||
2019 Kia Stinger Ranked #3 | 6 sec | 14.5 sec | 145 mph | |||
2019 BMW 5 Series Ranked #3 | 6 sec | 14.5 sec | 130 mph | |||
2019 Nissan Maxima Ranked #4 | 6.1 sec | 14.6 sec | - |
Car Name | MPG City | MPG Highway | MPG Combined | Fuel Tank Capacity | Range (C/H) | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 Ford Fusion Ranked #8 | 21 mpg | 31 mpg | 25 mpg | 16.5 gal. | 346.5/528 mi. | |||
2019 Toyota Camry Ranked #1 | 29 mpg | 41 mpg | 34 mpg | 14.5 gal. | 420.5/594.5 mi. | |||
2019 Honda Accord Ranked #2 | 30 mpg | 38 mpg | 33 mpg | 14.8 gal. | 444/562.4 mi. | |||
2019 Nissan Altima Ranked #3 | 28 mpg | 39 mpg | 32 mpg | 16.2 gal. | 453.6/631.8 mi. | |||
2019 Chevrolet Malibu Ranked #3 | 29 mpg | 36 mpg | 32 mpg | 15.8 gal. | - | - | ||
2019 Chevrolet Cruze Ranked #3 | 28 mpg | 38 mpg | 32 mpg | 13.7 gal. | 383.6/520.6 mi. |
Car Name | Length | Width | Height | Ground Clearance | Wheelbase | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 Ford Fusion Ranked #21 | 191.7 in. | 75.2 in. | 58.1 in. | 6 in. | 112.2 in. | |||
2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LD Ranked #1 | 230 in. | 80 in. | 73.9 in. | 8.5 in. | 143.5 in. | |||
2019 Ford Ranger Ranked #2 | 210.8 in. | 85.8 in. | 71.1 in. | 9 in. | 126.8 in. | |||
2019 Ford Taurus Ranked #3 | 202.9 in. | 76.2 in. | 60.7 in. | 5.1 in. | 112.9 in. | |||
2019 Chevrolet Impala Ranked #4 | 201.3 in. | 73 in. | 58.9 in. | 7 in. | 111.7 in. | |||
2019 Dodge Charger Ranked #5 | 198.4 in. | 75 in. | 58.2 in. | 4.9 in. | 120.2 in. |
Car Name | Trunk Capacity | Passenger Volume | Max Trunk Volume | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 Ford Fusion Ranked #8 | 16 cu.ft. | 102.8 cu.ft. | 83.1 cu.ft. | |||
2019 Kia Cadenza Ranked #1 | 16 cu.ft. | 107.8 cu.ft. | 16 cu.ft. | |||
2019 Mazda 6 Ranked #2 | 14.7 cu.ft. | 99.8 cu.ft. | 148.9 cu.ft. | |||
2019 Buick LaCrosse Ranked #3 | 65.7 cu.ft. | 102 cu.ft. | 120.1 cu.ft. | |||
2019 Kia Stinger Ranked #4 | 23.3 cu.ft. | 93.8 cu.ft. | 40.9 cu.ft. | |||
2019 Ford Ranger Ranked #5 | - | 38.4 cu.ft. | 51.8 cu.ft. |
Car Name | Cargo Volume | Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area | Max Cargo Volume | Bed Length | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 Ford Fusion Ranked #1 | 83.1 cu.ft. | 16 cu.ft. | 83.1 cu.ft. | 67 ft. | |||
2019 Nissan Altima Ranked #2 | 9.1 cu.ft. | 15.4 cu.ft. | 15.4 cu.ft. | - | |||
2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV Ranked #3 | 83.7 cu.ft. | 13.8 cu.ft. | 83.7 cu.ft. | - | |||
2019 Chevrolet Impala Ranked #4 | 10 cu.ft. | 18.8 cu.ft. | 10 cu.ft. | 121 ft. | |||
2019 Kia Optima Ranked #5 | 57.3 cu.ft. | 15.9 cu.ft. | 57.3 cu.ft. | - | |||
2019 Volvo XC90 Ranked #6 | 85.7 cu.ft. | 41.8 cu.ft. | 85.7 cu.ft. | - |
Car Name | Towing Capacity | Gooseneck/5th Wheel Towing Capacity | Payload Capacity | Weight | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 Ford Fusion Ranked #5 | 1000 lbs. | - | - | 3410 lbs. | |||
2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LD Ranked #1 | 9400 lbs. | 9400 lbs. | 1860 lbs. | 5103 lbs. | |||
2019 Ford Explorer Ranked #2 | 5000 lbs. | - | 1717 lbs. | 4443 lbs. | |||
2019 Volvo XC90 Ranked #3 | 4000 lbs. | - | 1292 lbs. | 4394 lbs. | |||
2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV Ranked #4 | 3500 lbs. | - | 1340 lbs. | 4398 lbs. | |||
2019 Volkswagen Passat Ranked #5 | 1000 lbs. | - | 904 lbs. | 3285 lbs. |
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POPULAR TAGS
User Overall Rating
Posted On: June 23, 2024
Big enough to carry extra people, 4 doors, deep trunk so I can carry groceries or other items with ease.Turns itself off at traffic lights to save the gas, works well in the snow on the roads. Very quiet so you have to remember to turn it off. Does have noises when you don't buckle up or backing up and may hit someone or it senses you are to close to another car. Drives very well and uses reg. ga...
User Overall Rating
Posted On: June 19, 2024
I love my car! Definitely a trooper, good on gas and I have the features on my car. Wouldn't trade it for anything else! I am absolutely blown away and amazed with what I purchased. Only thing I'm not in love with the brake system. I love my car overall.
