Mazda\u2019s 1992 929<\/a>\u00a0which was years ahead of its time in looks and handling. Recently both brands have taken detours down Ugly Alley \u2014 Ford with its three-bar grilles; Mazda with faces taken off Halloween jack o\u2019 lanterns.<\/p>\nGoodbye to all that. Sexy is back. But which date to you take to the ball?<\/p>\n
Fusion\u2019s grille is unmistakable. But at $38,820 my loaded Titanium tester isn\u2019t just a pretty face. Its trim flanks and arse are Son of Audi A8. The Ford only lacks 20-inch wheels to give it world-class luxe proportions.<\/p>\n
Like Fusion, the Mazda\u2019s curb appeal begins with an anthropomorphic, full-lipped face. If the Ford is slender, pout-mouthed English supermodel Kate Moss, the Mazda\u2019s swollen front wheel arches and full lips recall the vivacious Sofia Vergara. Not a flaw in the lot.<\/p>\n
From behind, these yoga-toned bodies are hard to tell apart. Curved hip lines sweep upward under coupe-like greenhouses \u2014 then taper into round, high-decked trunks. Only the exhausts differ as the Mazda goes for a twin-pipe sports car look while the Fusion wears elegant, flush chrome-tips.<\/p>\n
Surprisingly, the coupe styling doesn\u2019t sacrifice rear passengers to muscle cramps. I easily folded my 6-foot-5-inch frame into both cars \u2014 \u201csitting behind myself\u201d with headroom to spare. These cars offer interior room that ranks with the best in class.<\/p>\n
Inside, the Mazda gets Euro-envy. Push the starter and a Bimmer-like heads-up display rotates dramatically into place. Wrap-around interior. Pop-up nav screen. Even a console-mounted infotainment dial are oh-so-German \u2014 and oh-so-distracting in the case of the controller. So distracting that I went straight for the voice commands rather than fool with its rotary idiosyncrasies. I wasn\u2019t disappointed. My every command was expertly followed \u2014 by a sexy female voice, natch \u2014 for radio and navigation. \u201c760 AM\u201d I\u2019d bark, and she\u2019d respond immediately.<\/p>\n
Ford mimics Aston outside, but blazes its own trail inside. Detroit automakers boast autodom\u2019s most intuitive interiors these days \u2014 reflecting a driving culture where Americans live in their vehicles. Touchscreen infotainment package. Space for XXL smart phones. Console storage with a toolbox-full of audio jacks, USB ports, and a 12V charger.<\/p>\n
Fusion answers the question \u2014 why do modern automatics bother with a tac? \u2014 by locating the speedo front and center in a digital instrument display and shoving RPM off to the side with the fuel gauge. Only the rubberized button overlay seems dated \u2014 sure to be upgraded when the Fusion gets its mid-cycle refresh next year. Cupholders abound. Park assist, heated\/cooled seats, heated steering wheel. All for $38K? Pinch me, I\u2019m dreaming.<\/p>\n
The quality and quantity of the safety and comfort systems \u2014 on par with luxury cars costing $10K more \u2014 in these mainstream beauties begs another question: What defines luxe anymore?<\/p>\n
Oh, yeah. The drivetrain.<\/p>\n
Washington\u2019s nannies are determined to neuter mainstream sedan performance to save us from our carbon sins. Which means only the monied will be able to afford fun accessories like multiple cylinders, turbochargers, and battery-assist.<\/p>\n
Credit Ford with bucking this trend despite a chairman who sounds like Green High Priest Al Gore. While Mazda6 surrenders to the scolds, the Fusion matches its looks with power.<\/p>\n
To be sure the 6 is the best-handling car in segment while delivering an impressive 32 mpg. Sharing DNA with its Miata MX-5 sibling, it\u2019s tight, even throwable \u2014 a word usually not in the same dictionary with \u201cmidsize sedan.\u201d But stomp on it and the lone, four-banger option hesitates as if contemplating the plight of the polar bear. ZOOM ZOOM goes HUM DRUM.<\/p>\n
The base $23,425 Fusion brings a similar four-holer, but also offers coach class first-class upgrades with two turbo fours (a 181-horsepower 1.5-liter and a 240-horse 2.0-liter) and a hybrid. Brand snobs eat your heart out. The 2.0L turbo cranks out 25 percent more power than the Mazda and is on par with a $50,000 all-wheel-drive, 2.0-liter turbo BMW 328i X-drive.<\/p>\n
Speaking of all-wheel-drive (in Detroit winters, Mrs. Payne speaks of little else as in \u201cThe plow didn\u2019t come again! Thank goodness my car has AWD!\u201d), the Fusion offers it. The Mazda does not.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a gift that keeps giving even after the snows have melted. Though the Fusion won\u2019t bite in corners like the 6, its AWD gives a handy assist to the inevitable front-wheel-drive push.<\/p>\n
So note the early 21st century for two related trends: As SUVs displace family sedans, so have midsize sedans like the sexy Fusion and 6 become the equal of pricier chariots. All they lack is the luxe badge. If it\u2019s a big problem for you, just replace the Blue Oval with Aston wings.<\/p>\n
2016 Ford Fusion<\/p>\n
Vehicle type:\u00a0Front-engine, front or all-wheel-drive, five-passenger sedan<\/p>\n
Price:\u00a0$23,425 base ($38,820 as tested)<\/p>\n
Power plant:\u00a02.5-liter, inline 4-cylinder; 1.5-liter, turbo 4-cylinder; 2.0-liter, turbo 4-cylinder; 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder paired with AC electric motor and lithium-ion battery (hybrid)<\/p>\n
Power:\u00a0175 horsepower, 170 pound-feet of torque (2.5L 4); 181 horsepower, 185 pound-feet of torque (1.5L 4); 240 horsepower, 270 pound-feet of torque (2.0-L 4); 188 horsepower (hybrid)<\/p>\n
Transmission:\u00a0Six-speed automatic (with steering-mounted paddle shifters as tested); Electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission (hybrid)<\/p>\n
Performance:\u00a00-60 mph: 7.3 seconds (Car & Driver); top speed: 124 mph (governed)<\/p>\n
Weight:\u00a03,461 pounds, base; (3,821 pounds AWD as tested)<\/p>\n
Fuel economy:\u00a0EPA 22 mpg city\/34 highway mpg\/26 mpg combined (2.5L 4); 24 mpg city\/36 highway mpg\/28 mpg combined (1.5L turbo-4); EPA 22 mpg city\/31 highway mpg\/25 mpg combined (2.0L turbo-4); 44 mpg city\/41 mpg highway\/42 mpg combined (hybrid)<\/p>\n
Report card<\/p>\n
Highs:\u00a0Liveable interior; buffet of drivetrain choices<\/p>\n
Lows:\u00a0Options push price close to $40k; outdated rubberized buttons<\/p>\n
Overall:\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n
Mazda6<\/p>\n
Vehicle type:\u00a0Front-engine, front-wheel-drive, five-passenger sedan<\/p>\n
Price:\u00a0$22,315 base ($33,395 as tested)<\/p>\n
Power plant:\u00a02.5-liter 4-cylinder<\/p>\n
Power:\u00a0184 horsepower, 185 pound-feet of torque<\/p>\n
Transmission:\u00a0Six-speed manual transmission (base); Six-speed automatic (with steering-mounted paddle shifters as tested)<\/p>\n
Performance:\u00a00-60 mph: 7.9 seconds (Car & Driver); top speed: 130 mph<\/p>\n
Weight:\u00a03,232 pounds<\/p>\n
Fuel economy:\u00a0EPA 28 mpg city\/40 mpg highway\/32 combined<\/p>\n
Report card<\/p>\n
Highs:\u00a0Smorgasbord of standard features; quick handling<\/p>\n
Lows:\u00a0Rotary-dial infotainment controller; more engine options, please<\/p>\n
Overall:\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Here\u2019s an idea for \u201cPunk\u2019d,\u201d MTV\u2019s version of \u201cCandid Camera.\u201d Set up a fake Aston Martin auto dealership. Stock it with two dozen Ford Fusion Titaniums, strip off their \u201cFord\u201d logos, and replace them with Aston\u2019s winged badge. Then watch the buyers descend. Whoa! When did Aston come out with a $38K midsize sedan? I\u2019ll […]<\/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\/16923"}],"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=16923"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16923\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16925,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16923\/revisions\/16925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16923"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Ford](\"http:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/-mm-\/a9843d11ea511ea599a86485fbc680dbe54d5461\/c=0-157-1500-1285&r=x513&c=680x510\/local\/-\/media\/2015\/07\/22\/DetroitNews\/DetroitNews\/635731752794739578-intro.jpg\")
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