The 2018 Ford Fusion is available in five trims – S, SE, Titanium, Sport, and Platinum. The S and SE trim come equipped with the 2.5L four-cylinder engine with an FWD configuration as standard. The SE trim is available in two more optional engine configurations: a 1.5L or 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine. 

The Titanium and Platinum models come powered by the 2.0L engine as standard. The performance-oriented Fusion Sport comes with a 2.7L turbocharged V6 engine. The all-wheel-drive configuration is optional with the SE, Titanium, and Platinum trims. The 6-Speed automatic gearbox is standard on all the trims and engine options.

Which trim should you buy?

We recommend the Titanium trim of the Ford Fusion, along with the 2.0L turbocharged EcoBoost engine. This is because it gets the SYNC 3 infotainment system along with stylish alloy wheels and other creature comforts for a small bump in price. The 2.0 L EcoBoost engine is good for both fuel economy and performance.

The 2018 Ford Fusion gets a 2.5L Inline 4 motor as standard on the S and SE trims. The Motor produces a meager 175 horses and 175 lb-ft of torque. The engine lacks luster in performance, while the acceleration is sluggish and there is a considerable lag in the engine response. The engine is noisy and produces a lot of vibrations at higher RPMs. Thankfully, there are two more engine options on offer from the SE trim. There is a 1.5L EcoBoost engine on offer which is great for fuel economy, that produces 170 horses and 203 lb-ft of torque. 

There is another 2.0L EcoBoost engine on offer, which produces 252 horses and 260 lb-ft of torque. The Fusion in this configuration is an exciting package, with good performance. But for the enthusiasts, Ford has another ace up its sleeves. This is the 2.7L Turbocharged V6 which is available in the Sport trim, which produces a healthy 325 horses and 379 lb-ft. of torque. All the engine options are mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The transmission is not the best in business but is enough for a good driving experience.

The Hyundai and the Kia are the fastest accelerating cars with 0-60 coming up in 6.8 seconds. The Toyota does it in 8.5 seconds, while the Ford takes the longest time of 8.9 seconds. The 2018 Sonata, Optima, and miraculously the Fusion cover the quarter-mile in 15.2 seconds. The Toyota on the other hand takes 16.4 seconds to cover the quarter-mile.

How well does the 2018 Ford Fusion Sedan handle?

The 2018 Ford Fusion offers balanced handling. The sedan stays composed on the highway at triple-digit speeds. The Fusion also handles corners pretty well. The body roll is negligible which allows aggressive cornering. The AWD configuration makes the package even sweeter. The handling is considerably better in the AWD trim level, with intelligent power distribution. Making turns is easy, even on uneven terrains. The feedback from the steering is a little bit lacking, but it is confidence-inspiring. 

There is a considerable amount of torque steer but it is not unnerving. The ride quality is very plush and comfortable. The suspension is tuned to devour potholes and to glide over road undulations. At the same time, it is not too soft and allows for high-speed cornering. The sedan is comfortable, spirited, and fun to drive.

2018 Ford Fusion Sedan Braking Performance

The 2018 Ford Fusion comes with disc brakes on all four wheels. As expected, ABS is standard, and the system is well calibrated. Though the brakes have good bite and feedback, after a few hours of use it felt spongy. The braking progression is good but the car becomes unstable on panic braking which is a bit unnerving. It is due to an improperly tuned ABS system and will be hopefully resolved in future updates. The Ford Fusion makes use of 11.8-inch rotors at the front and 11.9-inch rotors at the rear. Despite its heavier curb weight, the 2018 Fusion comes to a halt at 122ft, which is also the segment standard. 

The Hyundai is the heaviest car here, but it stops at the shortest distance of 113ft. The Toyota Camry is the lightest but takes considerably more distance to stop than the Hyundai. In our tests, the brakes of the Kia performed the best. The brakes on the Hyundai were equally prompt. But the same cannot be said about Toyota. The brakes on the Toyota have good bite, but the feedback is lacking. Moreover, there is also a considerably low amount of progression.

The base engine of the Ford Fusion is neither powerful nor fuel-efficient. The lackluster engine is not very green and delivers the lowest fuel economy figures amongst the competitors. Returning 21 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway, the engine needs some serious improvement in combustion efficiency. The Fusion gets a 16.5-gallon fuel tank which gives it a range of 346 miles in the city and 528 miles on the highway.

All the cars offer comparatively better fuel economy figures both in the city and on the highway than the Ford Fusion. The Kia Optima returns the best fuel efficiency figures both in the city and on the highway. The Kia and Hyundai also get the largest fuel tank of 18.5-gallons, but it is the former that has the maximum combined range of 536 miles. On the other hand, the Toyota is closely matched with the Kia in terms of mileage and averages 28.5 MPG. 

The 2018 Ford Fusion doesn’t perform well in the interior department. The materials used are below average. There are lots of hard plastics used all over the dashboard. The door panels are also made of hard plastics. The Fusion gets Adjustable front seating. There are loads of space on offer. It also gets 60/40 foldable rear seats. The car is great in practicality and comfort. 

The cabin offers minimal vibrations and good NVH levels. The ride quality is plush and comfortable. The rear seats will be able to accommodate even three medium-sized individuals comfortably. The rear seat knee room on offer is also ample. Headroom and knee room are decent for both the front and rear seats, but 6 footers will find it to be a bit of a squeeze.

All the sedans can seat 5 people comfortably. The rear seat space on the Hyundai Sonata is the best amongst the competitors. The Hyundai also has the maximum amount of trunk space on offer, while the Toyota gets the least amount of boot space of 14.1 cu.-ft. All three contemporary vehicles have better-looking cabins and feature a potent specification list.Some of the standout interior features are as follows:

Heated and ventilated front seats

• Leather seats
• 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat
• Six- or 10-way power-adjustable passenger seat
• Leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel

What’s there to keep you entertained in the 2018 Ford Fusion Sedan?

The 2018 Ford Fusion comes with a 4.2-inch SYNC infotainment system in lower trims and a Ford SYNC 3 8-inch touch-screen infotainment system in the higher trims. The system is intuitive to use and is responsive. The resolution is also good as well as the graphics. The system supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, so it will be a piece of cake to connect your smartphone to the system. 

The Fusion is also wired for Sirius XM satellite radio. The infotainment is linked to a 6 speaker audio system in the lower trims and a 12 speaker Sony Premium system in the top-end models. The system supports Bluetooth connectivity and also has USB and auxiliary audio ports. Some of the highlights of the infotainment features are as follows:

• 4.2-inch SYNC infotainment system in lower trims
• Ford Sync 3 Touch-screen Infotainment System on higher trims
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay Integration
• Two 12-volt powerpoints
• AM/FM
• CD Player
• MP3 Player

The Ford Fusion looks sleek and elegant with its beautifully crafted body. The creases on the bonnet claw downward towards the Ford badging. The Signature LED lighting gives the front fascia an aggressive stance. The lines and cuts along the side of the car running through the door handle give it an aggressive and sporty look. 

The taillights look elegant and give it character. The decklid spoiler looks amazing. The Chrome strip connecting the taillights adds elegance to the rear look of the car. The Quad Exhaust tips are not functional, but they look sporty. The fit and finish quality are excellent with good paint quality and negligible panel gaps. The new metallic colors are flamboyant and look really fantastic.

The Ford has the longest wheelbase amongst the competition of 112.2 inches. The Toyota is the longest car. The 2018 Fusion also has a maximum ground clearance of 5.7 inches. The Hyundai and the Kia have the shortest wheelbase, which resonates in their fun-to-drive character and agile handling. Some of the standout exterior features are as follows:

• Signature LED lighting
• Sport grille
• Roof rails
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• LED tail lamps

The NHTSA has given the Ford Fusion a five-star rating with 4-star in the frontal collision test. IIHS has designated the 2018 Fusion under ‘Top Safety Pick’, which is impressive. The IIHS has given ‘Good’ scores on the crash tests and a ‘Superior’ score for front crash prevention. So, you can have complete peace of mind regarding its safety. The Fusion comes with stability control, traction control, speed limiter, front and rear park assist, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, lane keep assist, and automatic high beams. 

The advanced safety features such as rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, an automatic parking function, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, and the automatic emergency braking are only available in the top-end trims. Some of the standout safety features are as follows:

• Front and rear parking sensors
• Forward collision warning
• Adaptive cruise control
• Tire specific low tire pressure warning system

2018 Ford Fusion Sedan vs 2018 Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry is one of the best-selling sedans in the United States. It is renowned for its robust engineering, rock-solid reliability, and sturdy mechanicals. The Camry offers more performance than Ford’s base engine and is also more fuel-efficient. The Ford Fusion has a very well-appointed interior and the styling also looks sporty, while adding to the handling characteristics as well. 

2018 Ford Fusion Sedan vs 2018 Kia Optima

The Kia Optima produces 10 horsepower more than the Ford Fusion, and it is absolutely bonkers in terms of performance and also has more up-market and premium interiors along with soft-touch materials and loads of space in both the front and the rear rows. The Ford’s interiors feel like it is from a class or two above. It is nicely laid out, sophisticated dashboard design with the futuristic infotainment system is sporty and mesmerizing to the eyes. The Fusion is also incredibly fun to drive due to its liveliness, agility, and bang-on throttle response. 

2018 Ford Fusion Sedan vs 2018 Hyundai Sonata

The Hyundai Sonata has a stunning interior design with a better infotainment system. The power and torque from the engine are also more than the Ford. It is faster in acceleration and has better driving dynamics than the Ford. The Ford, on the other hand, promises top-notch build quality, comfort, and safety. The interiors use premium soft-touch materials and it wouldn’t feel out of place even at a higher price point.

The 2018 Ford Fusion comes at around the same price point while offering more of everything, more power, more spritely performance, more fuel economy, more road presence, a futuristic and sporty dashboard and instrument cluster, a sophisticated infotainment system, more premium interiors, and better driving dynamics, agility, and crisp handling. All these make the Fusion tremendous value for money and our number one recommendation in this category.