Ford Fusion (02-12) - Review

There are two petrol engines available in the Fusion - a 1.4-litre and a 1.6-litre, both of which are quiet and smooth enough on the move. Of course the Fusion is hardly bought for its performance capabilities and can be a little slow away from the lights, but there is sufficient power available at higher revs to allow it to happily keep up with motorway traffic. The smaller diesel is a 1.4 TDCI unit which takes a leisurely 16.3 seconds to reach 62mph from a standstill and feels very sluggish. The 1.6 TDCi is far better for everyday driving as it offers more in-gear punch than either petrol. All models come with a positive shifting five-speed manual gearbox as standard, while the 1.6-litre engine is available with a four-speed Durashift manual. The 1.4-litre petrol is available with the Durashift EST gearbox - a clutchless manual system that retains most of the control of a manual gearbox but only requires a push or pull on the gear selector to change gear.

As it's based on the excellent Fiesta, the Fusion is very similar to drive with safe and predictable handling. It does however feel more top heavy and isn't as nimble on twisting roads. However body roll is kept pretty well in check and is only noticeable when pushed through corners at higher speeds. All round visibility is excellent and thanks to a tight turning circle the Fusion is a doddle to park and manoeuvre in and out of tight spots.