What happens when you place a 2.5L I4 engine in a family sedan and match it up with a six-speed manual transmission all for around $22,000? Well, you get the 2010 Ford Fusion SE. Recently I had the opportunity to take one a for test drive, and to say the least, I was impressed. With the 2.5L I4 producing a smooth 175 horsepower and 172 pound feet of torque, the car accelerated quite nicely. Though the engine is only displacing 2.5L, the exhaust and engine tone were subdued but still sporty when accelerating into higher RPM. The manual transmission and clutch were very smooth and easy to operate as well. The Fusion handled well though the corners with its Independent Short-and Long-Arm (SLA) front suspension and its Independent Multi-Link Twist Blade rear suspension. With the electronic power-assisted steering some road feeling was lost when going over common road terrain. This loss of feeling gave me a disconnect between the car and I. Though the Fusion Sport model still has a hydraulic power-assisted steering system. The interior is classy, though still functional. The cloth seats were comfortable and good quality materials were used throughout the interior. Standard is a dual chrome-tipped exhaust system, and Microsoft's Sync system. Price as tested: $22, 378.00. Fun to Drive Factor: 6.
-Anthony Alaniz
(Photo: 2010 Ford Fusion SE from Car and Driver)
.jpg)
