Ford returns to the top of the Automotive World with the Ford Fusion.  Voted Motor Trend’s Car of the Year; Ford has reclaimed title after an 8 year hiatus.  Ford decided to take a page out of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry handbook; which have been the best selling cars in the mid-sized segment for the last few years.  The Fusion’s main reason for winning the Motor Trend COTY is the flexibility.  While the Fusion has been around since 2006, it was not until this year that Ford totally redesigned the car top to bottom, and without any bailout money from the government.  The Ford Fusion scored incredibly well on six different categories such as: function, engineering, efficiency, design, safety, and value.  

Starting at around $20,000 for the base model, you get a great mid-sized sedan that has a sporty ride while getting an EPA 22 MPG in the City and 31 MPG on the highway.  This puts the Fusion 4-cylinder well above the pack in terms of fuel economy.  Opt for the Appearance Package at just under a grand and you get a whole lot for a little including: 18-inch rims, performance tires, a rear wing, leather wrapped steering wheel, and cruise control.  A great deal no doubt!

For those that need more than the 175 Horsepower the inline four produces; there is a V-6 engine available for added power.  The Duratec 3.5L engine puts out a nice 263hp and 249lb-ft. of torque.  This is the middle of the pack for the mid-sized sedan segment.  The top performer of the Fusion platform is called the Fusion Sport.  This nifty package adds a SelectShift six-speed auto transmission, sport suspension, dual exhaust, and body enhancements.  You can also add all-wheel drive for added safety.

The hybrid version of the Fusion has been winning accolades from just about every car publication for the past few months.  The Fusion is by far, the best hybrid vehicle any American manufacturer is offering.  In fact, the EPA has named the Fusion Hybrid the 2nd most fuel efficient automobile for 2010!  What is really cool about the Fusion Hybrid is the parallel hybrid system that allows the Fusion to operate up to 45 MPH on battery power alone.  Paired with an Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder engine, the Fusion obtains an EPA gas mileage figure of 41 MPG in the City (the Honda Insight only gets 40 MPG) and 36 MPG on the Highway.  Couple this with lighter batteries and a continuous variable transmission; the Fusion is the leader in mid-sized hybrid vehicles.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Ford Fusion.  The interior is well-designed and full of features.  Power everything, cruise control, leather upholstery, heated seats, dual climate control, Satellite Navigation, and Bluetooth capabilities are just a few of the options and features available on the new Ford Fusion.

The Fusion with Stability Control also made it to the IIHS Top Safety Pick’s () for the year.  Helping the Fusion make this elite list are disc brakes at all four corners of the car along with ABS.  Dual-Stage Airbags, a lane change alert system, and a rear view camera all aid in the safety department.

The Ford Fusion beat out some top contenders for Motor Trend’s Car of the Year.  But this award is well deserved and Ford went a long way in updating the 2010 Fusion by addressing some of the sore spots in the first generation.  And they have been rewarded for their attention to detail with numerous accolades.  The New 2010 Ford Fusion represents an affordable, fully loaded, mid-sized sedan.

Stop by your local Ford Dealer to test drive the award-winning 2010 Ford Fusion.