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What Is It?

2006 Ford Fusion

What's Special About It?

On the heels of an onslaught of new vehicles offered by Ford in 2005 comes the Ford Fusion midsize sedan. The Fusion arrives as a 2006 production model, which Ford hopes will steal sales away from the ultra-popular Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

The Fusion is loosely based on the Ford 427 concept car which debuted two years ago at the North American International Auto Show. Styling cues carried over to the Fusion's exterior include a striking three-bar grille and multielement headlamps.

Inside, the Fusion offers a straightforward, functional cabin with class-leading rear legroom and a spacious 15.8-cubic-foot trunk with flat-loading floor. Interior options include a height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-and-telescope steering wheel, heated front seats with six-way power adjustments and an in-dash six-disc CD/MP3 player.

Two engines are offered in the Fusion — a 2.3-liter inline four-cylinder that makes 160 horsepower, and the same 3.0-liter V6 engine that powers Ford's larger Five Hundred flagship sedan, although at 210 hp, the Fusion's 3.0-liter has been tweaked for more power. The 2.3-liter uses a five-speed manual or automatic transmission, while the 3.0-liter is paired with a six-speed automatic.

What's Edmunds' Take?

Ford has made good on its 2005 mantra of "more products, faster" but not all of the vehicles score home runs. The Five Hundred has most of the right elements, but lacks one serious building block, and that's adequate power. The Fusion, a lighter car packaged with the same 3.0-liter engine, combined with a good-looking body and a solid list of features, seems a better choice to knock one out of the ballpark. — Kelly Toepke