Ford Fusion

A 2013 redesign brought turbocharged and non-turbo four-cylinder engines, as well as a more solid and upscale feel, with a supple ride, quiet cabin, and handling rivaling a European sports sedan. Electronic stability control, traction control, and antilock brakes are standard. Ford's standard MyKey system lets parents program a key for their teen driver to set limits on speed, Bluetooth phone use and radio volume. As usually, MyFord Touch generated a lot of complaints for its unintuitive interface. Spotter mirror inserts are provided on the outside door mirrors to show vehicles in the blind zone along the sides of the car. While this low-tech solution is effective, it isn't easy to use at night. For 2016, the much better Sync 3 replaced the MyFord Touch system.

The 2010 update rectifies the turning circle shortcomings of the original car, plus the V6 engine is still responsive and gets good fuel economy. Ride and handling remain competent and stability control is standard. Interior fit and finish are improved too. Rear-seat room is acceptable, but falls a bit short compared with the competition. Ford's SYNC system, which allows hands-free, voice-activated control of music players and cell phones can be used through dashboard and steering wheel controls. A Hybrid version was added for 2010, which got 34 mpg overall in our tests.