Looking for a nice family vehicle and are comparing the 2014 Ford Fusion and the 2014 Toyota Camry?
Want to know more?
Monaco Ford in Glastonbury can help you out.
When compared to the Camry, US News gives the Ford Fusion better ratings for overall, critics’, performance, and safety.
For 2014, the Ford Fusion sees a number of minor changes, including a new 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine option and some newly available features. These features include inflatable rear seatbelts, a heated steering wheel, and ventilated front seats.
When it was redesigned last year, the Ford Fusion was an instant hit with midsize sedan shoppers thanks to its handsome styling, accommodating cabin, and engaging handling.
There’s a variety of powertrains available for the Fusion. Base Fusions are powered by a naturally aspirated (non-turbocharged) 2.5-liter four-cylinder, while a trio of turbocharged engines is available. New this year is a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that joins the previously available 1.6-liter turbo-4. These two are the fuel economy champs of the 2014 Fusion lineup.
In lieu of a V6 option, the Fusion also offers a muscular 240-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo that earns a solid 26 miles per gallon rating for combined city/highway driving. This engine is also available with all-wheel drive, making the Ford Fusion one of the few midsize sedans to offer this traction-enhancing feature.
Another Fusion strength is cutting-edge convenience and safety technology. Highlights include adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection, the Sync voice command system, and even automated parking assist – which automatically steers the car into a parallel parking spot.
There’s also the latest generation of MyFord Touch, which utilizes a customizable touchscreen display to control many of the Fusion’s electronics features. US News gives the 2014 Ford Fusion a check for keyless start, remote engine start, navigation from telematics, onboard hands-free communications system, and variable speed intermittent wipers – features the Camry doesn’t have.
The Ford’s combination of classy styling, competitive fuel economy, and useful features puts it at the top of the midsize-sedan class for 2014. Shoppers looking for a family sedan that provides an engaging driving experience, high-end technology options, and head-turning looks will be well served by the 2014 Ford Fusion.
The 2014 Ford Fusion is a four-door, five-passenger midsize sedan available in three trim levels: S, SE, and Titanium.
The Fusion S and SE come standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that’s rated at 175 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.
For the SE, there are three engine options. There’s a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder that produces 178 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. It comes with a six-speed manual transmission only. There is also the new turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder, which comes matched to a six-speed automatic. Power output is an estimated 178 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque.
Those looking for maximum thrust should consider the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 240 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. It also comes only with the six-speed automatic (with paddle shifters). The Fusion Titanium comes standard with the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and automatic. All-wheel drive is optional for the Titanium as well.
In testing, a 2013 Ford Fusion with the 1.6-liter and automatic transmission (a combination no longer available) went from zero to 60 miles per hour in 8.8 seconds, which is average for four-cylinder family sedans. This year’s 1.5-liter engine and auto should be pretty much identical. A Fusion Titanium with the turbo 2.0-liter and all-wheel drive accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, which is on par with V6-equipped AWD sedans in this price range.
Official EPA-estimated fuel economy stands at 26 miles per gallon combined (22 miles per gallon city/34 mpg highway) with the 2.5-liter engine, which is average for this class. Both the 1.5- and 1.6-liter engines feature automatic engine stop-start functionality to optimize fuel economy. The 1.6 earns 29 miles per gallon combined (25 city/37 highway), while the 1.5 is just slightly less at 28 miles per gallon combined (23 city/36 highway).
Front-wheel-drive 2.0-liter-equipped Fusions earn 26 miles per gallon combined (22 city/33 highway), while the AWD Titanium rates 25 miles per gallon combined (22 city/31 highway).
It’s impossible to go wrong with any of the 2014 Ford Fusion’s engine choices. Even the base 2.5-liter engine offers competitive power, while the optional turbocharged engines provide an appealing blend of fuel efficiency and performance. The 1.5- and 1.6-liter engines are likely the best bets for most buyers, and they make the Fusion feel quicker than acceleration testing numbers indicate.
The 2014 Ford Fusion comes standard with antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front seat side airbags, front knee airbags, and side curtain airbags. The Ford Sync system includes an emergency crash-notification feature that automatically dials 911 when paired with a compatible cell phone. Also standard is Ford’s MyKey, which can be used to set certain parameters for teen drivers.
Optional equipment includes blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, driver-drowsiness detection and lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, collision warning (with brake intervention), and inflatable rear seatbelts.
In brake testing, a Fusion Titanium stopped from 60 miles per hour in 123 feet, an average distance for this class of car.
The government gave the Fusion five out of five stars for overall crash protection, along with five stars for frontal protection and four stars for side protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Fusion the highest possible rating of “Good” in its moderate-overlap frontal-offset, side-impact, and roof strength crash tests. In the institute’s new small-overlap frontal-offset test, the Fusion earned a second-best rating of “Acceptable.”
Inside the 2014 Ford Fusion, tasteful style and high-quality materials abound. The dashboard and center stack are uncluttered and tastefully designed.
With the highly adjustable power driver seat, just about everybody should be able to find a comfortable driving position. The passenger seat is just as supportive – US News notes the lumbar seats – while the split-folding rear seats are well contoured and have plenty of legroom.
The optional MyFord Touch system has a clean look. The 8-inch main display controls various audio, phone, and navigation functions via voice (Ford’s Sync), touch controls, or buttons on the steering wheel.
Trunk space stands at 16 cubic feet, which is slightly above average for this class.
On the highway, the 2014 Ford Fusion offers a comfortable and controlled ride. It’s also remarkably quiet. What’s really nice, however, is that these qualities don’t come at the expense of engaging handling. Driven through turns, the Fusion is confident and composed, and the steering is remarkably communicative.
US News gives the Ford Fusion a check for front all-season tires, rear all-season tires, and a full size spare tire, front disc/rear drum brakes, and front tow hooks.
Check out Monaco Ford in Glasonbury's new Ford vehicles – as well as our pre-owned Fords and certified pre-owned Fords.
Monaco Ford is family owned and operated since 1922, currently employing its 4th generation of ownership. The dealership currently has over 80 employees. It has received Ford’s prestigious President’s Award an outstanding 8 times in the past two decades by surpassing all requirements, proving itself as one of Connecticut’s elite dealers. Visit www.monacoford.com for more about the dealership and the inventory. Our cars and our company are reliable and trustworthy. What more could you ask for?
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