2006 Ford Fusion SEL review from North America

Nothing so far.

I am a 21 year old guy. This is only my second car. I got so frustrated with my old car, with 294,000 miles on it, I bought it with 262,000 miles, so my parents gave me the down payment on a new trouble free, reliable car. The old car, even though paid for, was costing me about $500 a month in repairs. My payment on my Fusion is only $317 a month with a full warranty till 100,000-miles.

Lesson learned; don’t buy a used old 1992 cheap car for cash, even from your uncle who bought it new and had virtually no problems. A car will get so old and literally just fall apart at some point. You will pay more in repairs and have tons of headaches. A/C compressor, engine mounts-no the car was never “hot rodded”-they just broke, alternator, FWD wheel bearing, Fuel pump, power windows, gas tank, leaky radiator, rotten a/c condenser, burned out LED’s on the rear center stop lamp on top of trunk, and the little nickel and dime repairs just goes on and on as I look at these receipts. The trade in was only $400 so we kept the car, but we don’t drive it much. It still runs and drives great, but what will break next?

Anyway I am getting an average of 26.2 mpg with a combined HWY (half) and city (half). The much heavier Cadillac got 17.2 on the same exact driving.

The headlights are bright at night.

The handling is super and this car will corner like my sister’s newer Mazda Miata.

The engine, even thought much less powerful than the Cadillac, but just a 4cyl, will get up to speed quick and I don’t hesitate to pass slower cars.

The transmission is almost as silky smooth as the Cadillac’s with downshifts being right on time to keep the car up to speed without having to push the gas down.

The steering wheel truns easily in parking lots, but not as nice as the Cadillac.

Wind noisy is very low. The only wind sound starts around 65mph and comes from the mirrors on the doors. You can tell if the window is cracked down a bit. No sound comes from the windshield area, or the roof. Tire road noisy is not a quiet as the Cadillac. My 4cyl Fusion does transmit some engine sound under heavy acceleration at lower speeds. The Cadillac is ultra quiet unless it is at wide open throttle passing someone.

The Fusion is super smart in space and is very comfortable. I’d say that this $22,000 Fusion is just as comfortable as the old Cadillac that cost twice as much in year 1992 dollars.

My interior is super well laid out with a warm and inviting feel and everything is super easy to reach and learn. I really love the steering wheel radio controls. Mine has the warm tanish interior in leather with the rich and luscious red/maroon exterior.

The heater and A/C are fast acting.

If I could improve some stuff about his car, this is what I would do.

Give the car full LED brake lights.

The center front arm rest is too short.

The Fusion needs a diesel, not that my mpg as bad, but instead of 26.2mpg, I’d be getting 30% better than that, which would translate to 34.06mpg. My girlfriend has a Bug diesel that gets 37mpg.

I’d put cornering lamps on the Fusion. The Cadillac got me so spoiled. Cornering lamps make turning into dark driveways so easy and secure. I have excellent eyes, but if you have never owned a car with cornering lamps you won’t understand.

I’d put a digital speedometer on the dash. Digital translates to a quick read when you see that cop up parked in the ditch radaring. No guess work and unneeded panic slamming on the brake.

I really love this car and I hope to drive it for many years to come. I was the first one in my whole town to get one, that I could see, now I see quiet a few Fusions around.

The reason that I marked the dealership service so low is that they are always so busy. I take the car in to the “Quicklane” to have the oil changed and it seems to take a lot longer than the mom and pop shop that I took the Cadillac to.

If you buy a Fusion, get the SEL in dark/red burgundy, with the tan leather, or tan cloth. People constantly tell me how rich the paint looks and how the interior looks so good.

Get the SEL because it has the outside temp display, and automatic headlights just like a Cadillac.

I really love and enjoy driving this car. It still runs/drives/and smells brand new.