The Ford->ke31 Fusion is becoming one of the biggest hits for any American automaker who dares tussle with the best-selling Accord->ke237 and Camry->ke246. A grunty and quick EcoBoost triple-cylinder 1.5-liter joins the engine and drive layout choices for 2014, which now reaches seven variations -- an unprecedented total for any American car starting at just $22,000.

So this handsome Ford->ke31 runs a three-banger in 1.5-liter EcoBoost specification? Will it have the speed of a lawnmower and the engine note of a go-kart? Nope and nope. This is a potent engine, with much more power at all revs than the base 2.5-liter, four-cylinder. It's also quite affordable to produce, so will hopefully take a larger percentage of Fusions than the pricier EcoBoost engine options.

Lastly, AWD is on the table with the top-spec 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine. Larger wheels look terrific, like they were milled from a solid block of aluminum, some swanky comfort and active safety tech, and a few new colors round out the Fusion's updates for the new model year.

All this sounds good, but buying a Camry->ke246 can be done blindfolded over the phone: are all these choices a recipe for confusion on American dealer lots?

Since becoming fans of the Fusion this summer with our Fusion Hybrid and Energi tester models, we're happy to keep the Fusion rocking the sales charts.

Even so, the gasoline choices are fantastic for keen drivers: the manual box 1.6 EcoBoost or the 2.0-liter AWD are arguably even better vehicles for their lack of electrified tech.

Click past the jump to read all the latest updates for the 2014 Ford Fusion, one of the most confident and stylish midsize cars available.

ford-fusion

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: ford-fusion
Pros
Cons

2014 Ford Fusion

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 Ford Fusion
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 168 @ 6000
  • Torque: 170 @ 4500
  • Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Still looking quite classy and expensive, the 2014 Ford->ke31 Fusion's exterior gains a few new colors for the Titanium trim, taking the total well past 10 choices to help the Fusion's great stance and styling come to life.

New wheels are also a welcome addition, because they really enforce the first reaction people have to seeing this car: something new, trendy and very attractive. If you were not a car person, this could easily pass for an Audi A7 competitor.

The Fusion is a bit dorkier in the Hybrid colors and 17-inch wheels, but all handle pretty confidently with good weight balance and steering response.

The Titanium's 18-inch rims barely harm the ride but help the Fusion to look much more hunkered down to the road. An available trunk spoiler and a painted exhaust shroud down below really class up this Ford->ke31's rump. The full LED rear lamps are terrific, with an LED halo for the taillights, and internal LEDs for the brake lights and indicators.

Ford->ke31 is really off the pace for front LED lighting. Short supply and high prices for all automakers have largely shut the blue oval out of the volume LED contracts like BMW's. No mind, the headlights up front are a sharp and squinty shape, with a projector ball for the low beams that is just halogen but still quite chic.

Lastly, a 19-inch rim option joins this list for 2014 and with summer tires coming as standard on this option, the Fusion will finally be as chuckable and fun as a Focus ST.

Interior

Inside the Fusion, things get massaged as well. Cooled seats are now part of the big package bundles, and a heated steering wheel makes an appearance for the first time on the 2014 model.

The backup camera that is built into the MyFord SE package is the best value route to get a touchscreen infotainment display and the full backup/cross traffic system. This $900 option is very worthwhile versus the standard 4-inch displays that come standard in the gauge cluster and the center stack.

On the safety front, the Fusion is spectacularly advanced for this price range. Cargo and roominess wise, the Fusion's interior closely matches the large new Camry->ke246 and bests it with 16 cubic feet of trunk space.

2014 Ford Fusion - Interior Leather Choices

Drivetrain, Suspension and Brakes

Aside from the new EcoBoost triple, the Fusion's gasoline engines carry over unchanged. This is a broad line of engines, and they all generally deliver an adequate driver experience. The base engine is a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder, but this is an old engine design. (Very similar to the Camry->ke246's four-banger: cheap and plentiful, hard to break, only so-so on mileage and available only on the bottom S trim.)

To be frank, the base engine is not nearly as good as any of the EcoBoost choices for refinement, throttle response or mileage.

The triple is a really awesome engine. This beast hits its projected 177 pound-foot torque peak at just 1,500 rpm -- at least 1,000 rpm sooner than any other EcoBoost Fusion. So it feels rapid, and will meet or exceed the 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder's 25/37/29 EPA stats.

The 1.6 turbo is offered in the six-speed manual, and nearly matches the automatic 2.0-liter EcoBoost at the top of the range on sprint pace.

The quickest standard spec is obviously the Titanium, which brings the 240-horsepower engine, a standard automatic and available AWD. The advantage of these EcoBoost engines is that there is hardly any mileage downside to the 2.0-liter, but tons of 'up side' on power, refinement and mileage.

2014 Ford Fusion - Performance Details

Engine

2.5-liter 16-valve I-4 With DI And iVCT

1.5-liter EcoBoost 12-valve I-3 With DI And iVCT

1.6-liter EcoBoost 16-valve I-4 With DI And iVCT

2.0-liter EcoBoost 16-valve I-4 With DI And iVCT

2.0-liter EcoBoost 16-valve I-4 With DI And iVCT

Fuel

Gasoline

Gasoline

Gasoline

Gasoline

Gasoline

Transmission

6-Speed Automatic

6-Speed Automatic

6-Speed Manual

6-Speed Automatic

6-Speed Automatic

Powertrain Layout

FWD

FWD

FWD

FWD

AWD

Power (Horsepower)

168 @ 6,000 rpm

178 @ 6,000 rpm (Ford Estimates)

178 @ 5,700 rpm

240 @ 5,500 rpm

240 @ 5,500 rpm

Torque (Torque)

170 @ 4,500 rpm

177 @ 1,500 (Ford Estimates)

184 @ 2,500

270 @ 3,000

270 @ 3,000

0-60 mph (Seconds)

9.9, est

8.5, est

8.3, est

7.5, est

7.9, est

Top Speed (MPH)

108, est

108, est

108, est

130, limited

130, limited

EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway/Combined)

22/34/26

27/38/31, est

25/37/29

22/33/26, est

22/31/25, est


Safety

2014 Ford Fusion - New Safety Features

Active safety tech is excellent, and includes:

- Lane-Keeping System

- Active park assist

- Cross-traffic alert

- Blind Spot Information System (BLIS)

- Adaptive cruise control

Pricing and Availability

The biggest change when moving from S to SE to Titanium trims is the standard feature set, which grows far better with standard MyFord Touch on the Titanium. Adding navigation into the system is about an extra $800, but is easy to drive home a gorgeous and loaded Titanium from about $33,000 all in.

The most popular SE trim starts just under $24,000 but needs about five option packs to get to the Titanium's standard spec

2014 Ford Fusion - Prices

2014 Ford Fusion

MSRP

S

$21,900

SE

$23,855

Titanium

$30,500


Competition

2014 Kia Optima

The Optima is another one to consider if the idea of driving a Camry->ke246 makes you want to scratch your eyes out with a fork. Also offered in multiple engine formats, the Optima brings a 270-plus horsepower, turbocharged four-banger to its top-level SX trim.

The Optima SX also gets a sharp body kit and quad LED lights in the lower bumper. Despite more power on paper, the Optima is not quick or very entertaining to drive fast. Center of gravity and weight balance for Hyundai-Kia is becoming a real problem. The sedans are top-heavy and even the engine is not mounted in the middle of the car.

2014 Mazda6

The Mazda6 is just about the only other value sedan that carries the same street presence as the Fusion and luxury cars costing $50,000-plus. The Mazda6 is quite a slinky machine on the road, with a low shoulder-line and roof graphic, a long-seeming hood and short overhang, and detailing that evokes the Tesla Model S.

Despite both companies claiming no ties between the Mazda6 and the Ford Fusion, these cars still share many of the same smart ideas to show shoppers that Accord->ke237 and Camry->ke246 are as dull as they seem. They also both loosely began from the same first-gen Mazda6 bones.

The Mazda6 has a more upright windshield angle, which improves visibility versus the Ford.

Conclusion

In this humble midsize machine, such advanced engines are a huge achievement for Ford's manufacturing process. It is also great news for buyers because it means there is a Fusion at every price level. The Hybrid and Energi plug-in models are well and good, but the real styling, tech and handling bang for your buck goes to the humble gasoline engines in the range.

The Fusion is a fantastic sedan, and materially superior to the Accord->ke237 and Camry->ke246 in almost every way. This is no empty praise; driving a Fusion is one of the best ways to get all the latest style and tech of the luxury brands, for barely half the price of their cheapest models.