{"id":14482,"date":"2014-03-13T21:17:09","date_gmt":"2014-03-14T01:17:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=14482"},"modified":"2014-03-13T21:17:09","modified_gmt":"2014-03-14T01:17:09","slug":"class-clash-audi-a4-vs-ford-fusion-titanium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2014\/03\/class-clash-audi-a4-vs-ford-fusion-titanium","title":{"rendered":"Class clash: Audi A4 vs. Ford Fusion Titanium"},"content":{"rendered":"

Like Dug, the golden retriever \u2014 SQUIRREL! \u2014 in Pixar\u2019s\u00a0classic movie<\/a>\u00a0\u201cUp,\u201d I am easily distracted. Especially by attractive vehicles. I\u2019ve been driving this terrific AWD Audi A4 with the S-line package \u2014 FUSION! \u2014 but I find my eyes wandering to gorgeous, AWD Ford Fusion Titaniums.<\/p>\n

Still, the A4 is a luxury car and the \u2014 FUSION! \u2014 Titanium is a mainstream midsize, right? First class vs. coach class. Rolex vs. Timex. Ginger vs. Mary Ann. Think again. Though Ford has been coy about the inspiration for the Fusion\u2019s Aston Martin-cloned grille, company execs have made no secret that the Fusion sets an upscale standard for Ford family design.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur new styling is about bringing in a more premium look,\u201d says Naj Nair, Ford Motor Co.\u2019s group vice president, Global Product Development.<\/p>\n

The exterior pairs with an interior strategy that stuffs Fords \u2014 from Fiesta to Fusion \u2014 with electronic entertainment and safety systems, thus encouraging buyers to pay a premium or even cross-shop against more expensive luxury offerings. Works for me.<\/p>\n

Consider the specs shared by the $43,845 Audi A4 and the $36,285 Ford Fusion Titanium I drove: AWD, 2.0-liter turbocharged engines, traction control, ABS, backup alert cameras, voice-activated navigation systems, Bluetooth connectivity, and reclining Barca lounge rear seats with digital massage (just kidding on that last one).<\/p>\n

Now consider what the midsize Fusion has that the compact-size Audi doesn\u2019t: 15 more cubic feet of interior space, USB ports, lane-assist, and blind-spot warning. Replace the blue oval on the Fusion\u2019s trunk with Audi\u2019s four ring badge and you\u2019d snap up the Fusion in a heartbeat, yes?<\/p>\n

Ahhh, but that\u2019s the beauty of marketing. Only\u00a0the Audi<\/a>\u00a0gets the four rings. But are they \u2014 FUSION! \u2014 worth $7,500? Drivers, start your engines.<\/p>\n

Exterior<\/h3>\n

For under $80 grand, the Audi and Fusion are my pick for Miss Sedan. Audi\u2019s full fascia grille and LED headlights revolutionized the luxury segment, while the Fusion looks like a $200,000 Aston coming and a $90,000 Tesla Model S going.<\/p>\n

Only by the sheer volume of Fusion sales will its gorgeous face and sleek body become commonplace. If the Aston Martin Rapide is the prettiest sports sedan made (the Porsche Panamera looks like a station wagon by comparison), then the Fusion is the mainstream sedan that Aston Martin would make if it were a mass manufacturer.<\/p>\n

Is it any coincidence that Ford once owned Aston?<\/p>\n

You could decorate the interiors of a Toyota Camry or Chevy Malibu with gold-leaf trim and a Steinway piano and you couldn\u2019t get luxury buyers past their vanilla wrapping. But just one look at that pouting Aston grille and Audi-like creased flanks and the Fusion could start a conversation with Robin Leach.<\/p>\n

The Fusion\u2019s architectural detail is startling for a car in this class. From its slit eyes to its tapered front skirt, the Fusion matches the Audi\u2019s sultry good looks. Marketed globally, both cars even share front skirt \u201cfangs\u201d that comply with\u00a0Europe\u2019s pedestrian safety rules<\/a>. Finally, a government regulation that actually looks good.<\/p>\n

But the rear quarters are where the comparison really gets interesting. I have swiveled my head more than once at a receding Titanium, confusing its caboose for a Jaguar XF or Tesla Model S. These cars look like Beyonce in heels. In comparison, the cute A4 is Mary Ann to Titanium\u2019s Ginger. Even the Fusion\u2019s tail-pipes exude luxury with fully integrated, dual, chrome-tipped pipes. The Audi? A single pipe protrudes ingloriously from the left rear.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sorry, madam, but that violates our dress code here at Chez Premium.<\/p>\n

Tapered rooflines on the A4 and Fusion are pleasing to the eye, but a detriment to tall rear seat passengers. My 6-foot-5-inch giraffe neck hit the ceiling in both cars, though that\u2019s less of a concern in the Fusion because of its ample legroom. It is, after all, a midsize car on a D-segment platform, while the A4 rests on a C-segment, compact chassis.<\/p>\n

And that, my friends is the Fusion\u2019s\u00a0piece de resistance<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Interior<\/h3>\n

At\u00a0118.8 cubic feet<\/a>\u00a0of interior volume, the AWD Fusion is a class above the Audi in space. Indeed, the\u00a0Audi\u2019s 103.4 cubes<\/a>\u00a0of interior room is barely bigger than the Fusion\u2019s compact, 103.1-cubic-feet sibling, the Focus.<\/p>\n

So stretch your legs, spread your knees, and enjoy a leather-appointed interior that is not just as plush as the Audi, but is more functional as well. With a touch screen and redundant console buttons, the Fusion is more intuitive in negotiating the console\u2019s infotainment systems. The Audi, by contrast, insists on a single rotary control. While a cool toy, it is impractical in a moving automobile \u2014 especially as it is located below the driver\u2019s eyeline in back of the shift stalk.<\/p>\n

The rotary dial is most annoying when used to enter an address in the navigation system. Every blasted letter must be located in the alphabet by the rotary wheel. Not that I use the nav system in the Fusion either. In fact, both these high-tech cars are evidence of how clunky, proprietary auto nav systems lag the simple smartphone.<\/p>\n

\u201cUse the nav system to find where we are going,\u201d I ask my long-suffering wife upon entering each new car I test. \u201cNo thanks,\u201d is her patient reply, \u201cI can do it faster with Google Maps.\u201d<\/p>\n

And carmakers want $800 for the nav option?<\/p>\n

Performance<\/h3>\n

Size matters, and the smaller A4 is more nimble than the Fusion. But with its Audi-like AWD churning, the Fusion is a wonder in the snow and a blast to drive in the dry. Attack a 180-degree interstate entrance ramp and you\u2019ll merge with a grin on your face and your foot through the floor.<\/p>\n

And what\u2019s this? Only the Fusion offers sporty paddle shifters to row its 6-speed gearbox. Audi declines. Good thing, actually. Using the A4\u2019s manual shifter option, I got lost in the eight gears and happily reverted back to automatic mode.<\/p>\n

Both makers brag about their efficient, turbo power plants, and rightly so. The 3,516-pound Audi\u2019s 2.0-liter engine returns 220 horsepower and an impressive 24 city\/32 highway mileage. Ford\u2019s Ecoboost 4-banger, carrying the 150 pounds heavier Fusion on its back, boasts 240 ponies and 22\/31 mileage.<\/p>\n

Stomp these babies over 3,000 RPM and hooooold on, Nelly. Both will blow through 60 mph in a little over 6 seconds.<\/p>\n

A near dead heat, just like their overall specs. Yet the Fusion will leave $7,500 in your pocket. So you gotta ask yourself: How important is that four ring logo? With the cash you save on the Titanium, you can also buy a \u2014 SQUIRREL! \u2014 used 2004 AWD Audi A4 with 100,000 miles. Hubbah hubbah.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

2014 Audi A4 Quattro Tiptronic<\/h3>\n

Vehicle type:<\/b>\u00a0Front-engine, all-wheel-drive, five-passenger sedan
\nPrice:<\/b>\u00a0$35,900 base ($43,845 as tested)
\nPower plant:<\/b>\u00a02.0-liter turbocharged, direct-injection, inline four-cylinder engine
\nPower:<\/b>\u00a0220 horsepower, 258 pound-feet of torque
\nTransmission:<\/b>\u00a0Eight-speed Tiptronic automatic
\nPerformance:<\/b>\u00a00-60 mpg, 5.7 seconds (Car & Driver); 128 mph top speed
\nWeight:<\/b>\u00a03,693 pounds
\nFuel economy:<\/b>\u00a0EPA 22 mpg city\/29 mpg highway\/24 mpg combined
\nHighs:<\/b>\u00a0Looks great day or night; tight handling
\nLows:<\/b>\u00a0Rotary dial-controlled infotainment; Where are the USB ports?
\nOverall:<\/b>\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

2014 Ford Fusion Titanium AWD<\/h3>\n

Vehicle type:<\/b>\u00a0Front-engine, all-wheel-drive, five-passenger sedan
\nPrice:<\/b>\u00a0$32,500 base ($36,285 with options)
\nPower plant:<\/b>\u00a02.0-liter Ecoboost, direct-injection, inline four-cylinder engine
\nPower:<\/b>\u00a0240 horsepower, 270 pound-feet of torque
\nTransmission:<\/b>\u00a0Six-speed automatic
\nPerformance:\u00a0<\/b>0-60 mpg, 6.5 seconds (Car & Driver); 120 mph top speed
\nWeight:<\/b>\u00a03,681 pounds
\nFuel economy:<\/b>\u00a0EPA 22 mpg city\/31 mpg highway\/25 mpg combined
\nHighs:<\/b>\u00a0Aston Martin good looks; roomy interior
\nLows:<\/b>\u00a0Drab, rubberized console buttons; roomy \u2014 except rear headroom
\nOverall:<\/b>\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Like Dug, the golden retriever \u2014 SQUIRREL! \u2014 in Pixar\u2019s\u00a0classic movie\u00a0\u201cUp,\u201d I am easily distracted. Especially by attractive vehicles. I\u2019ve been driving this terrific AWD Audi A4 with the S-line package \u2014 FUSION! \u2014 but I find my eyes wandering to gorgeous, AWD Ford Fusion Titaniums. Still, the A4 is a luxury car and the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,87],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14482"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14482"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14482\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14484,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14482\/revisions\/14484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14482"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14482"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}