Test drive Ford Fusion 2002 - 2005 hatchback

According to the laws of the streets

The goods are face
Last year, Ford presented the Fusion model as an urban car for the active life of UAV (Urban Activity Vehicle). According to the creators, the new machine successfully combines the impressive appearance of the SUV, the capacity of the station wagon and the agility of a small car.
The company expects that the fusion will over time take the second line after the focus in the sales rating of Russian Fords (though with a significant margin from the leader).
Trend and Elegance are delivered to Russia with 1.4 liter gasoline engines, 58 kW/ 80 liters. With. and 1.6 l, 74 kW/100 liters. With. and a mechanical five -speed gearbox. Together with a 1.4 liter engine, the buyer will be offered a box with a robotic switching mechanism (without a clutch pedal).
Ford prices now indicate in the European currency. We give them in dollars at the rate at the time of preparation of the material. The Trend version (from $ 16 900) can be called well equipped, closing his eyes to the absence of air conditioning. This includes ABS, four safety pillows, a skin-covered steering wheel, a heated electric-riveting, fog lights, an electric drive of front door glasses, adjusting the height of a driver's seat and steering wheel, large 15-inch wheels (steel), a split rear seat, as well as a number of interesting little things We will talk about a little later.
In the Elegance configuration (from $ 18,100), only air conditioning will be added from a large one. In addition to him: chrome radiator edging, front -ended plafons of individual lighting and leather handle handle.
Cars supplied to Russia are painted in ten colors, two of which are not metallic. The rest will have to pay 200 euros. They also offer several options for audio training (from 210 euros).
On our test, a car with a 1.6 liter engine and a mechanical gearbox in the Elegance configuration ($ 18,800).
Outside and inside
The designers made a lot of effort to make a fusion car convenient for life in the city. For example, large wheels with tires 195/60R15 need Ford not for the sake of handling on the highway, but for painless parking with a race for borders (also pay attention to the height of overhangs and thresholds). And high substetricians on the hood is not only a tribute to the style or element that increases rigidity. They should help the driver of small height feel good to the corners of the car. With such a struggle for visibility, modest external mirrors are not entirely clear. At least the right can see less than you want.
For solidity, the car was equipped with the protruding wheel arches a la PARTER and the largest oval of the Ford Emblem among European machines of the brand. But the engineers did not forget about practicality. To protect against small abrasions, rubber moldings are installed around the perimeter. It was very small to make loading height.
The salon of the fusion is very high. Even in a car with a hatch in a roof that traditionally eats about 5 cm of freedom, a sufficient supply of space remains above the driver's head. If a large person does not like it, it is modest front seats. True, their pillows seemed to the author very energy -intensive unusual, but, I believe, the exact characteristic.
A high landing allows you to get a place for the knees of the rear passengers: there will be no average adults to two adults. You’ll sit down the three of them to talk a little shoulders. By the way, there are three seat belts from the back, but the average headrest is offered only as an option.
With the length of the car, only 4 meters of 337 liter trunk is very good. One of the terms of such success of the compactors compactly placed under the bottom the rear springs and shock absorbers.
The owner of this machine will probably like that under the folding pillow of the right front seat there is a box for small objects, and the back easily turns into a table with a small plastic countertop.
Foujn boasts such a curious trifle as forced turning off the starter after starting the engine. Advertising materials claim that electronics do it instantly, and a person sometimes admits a significant delay.
The rear janitor will automatically turn on if, when working front wiper brushes, the driver goes to the rear gear. The electronic trunk lock will stop working after the car accelerates faster than 7 km/h. If the forgetful driver leaves the car with working electricity consumers, some of them will automatically turn off in 10 minutes, the rest after 20.
In general, there are a lot of convenient in a modern car. The only thing we will complain about the individual’s individual backlight on the driver is very bright and hits the eye.
How to go
If it is difficult for someone to imagine what a city car is to go to Ford Fusion.
Absolutely not a sharp steering wheel (3.4 turns from the stop to the stop) as if calling you to relax, and the selection of gear rates of the box together with a 1.6-liter engine allows some liberties with the choice of transmission. You turn on the second or the third car is almost indifferent. If the engine is slightly spinning during acceleration, you can jump through the step. What helps short transmissions or a painful motor? Probably both. On the second, without straining the engine, you cross the lying policemen, on the third you climb the turn to the bridge. If you press the gas to the floor and wait for 4000,4500 revolutions you will feel the energy of the stable declared in the characteristics of the stable, but there will be no clearly expressed pickup. For a city car, this is good: it will never spur you with aggressive driving.
The diameter of the turn is more than eloquent about maneuverability of 9.8 m.
Fusion pleased the good insulation for his class. The engine is heard at high speeds, but does not distract from a conversation with fellow travelers.
For the comfort of the driver and passengers, the engine control system is trained to compensate for inaccurate operation with gas in the first gear, preventing the car jerks. Trying to be friendly and suspension. She copes well with work on long and medium waves, but does not really like small, by our standards, fits that usually allow fast driving. If, on such a slightly broken road, nimble, one -pipe rear shock absorbers of Ford sometimes tap.
The character of the car as a whole is flexible, to active driving, despite the designation UAV, does not have, but to an active way of life in a metropolis, it is quite an active way. Probably, Fuzhn would have shut up a focus of Focus, but there is one annoying circumstance. Dear.

Prices for spare parts and then, dollars. USA
Then 20,000 km 100
Then 40,000 km 100
Then 60,000 km 100
Front brake pads 108
Rear brake pads 117
Front bumper 320
Rear bumper 265
Hood 370
Front door 450
The rear door 420
Front wing 150
Windshield from 175
Block Fara 160
Rear lamp 220
Norma for locksmith work 55
Normal for bodywork 60

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT
Car Ford Fusion
Option price, $
Air conditioner for Trend 1170
Luke in the roof 300
Single curtains 370
The electronic system
stabilization (for 1.6) 1470
Front seats heating 180
Windwall heating 360
Audio training and radio tape recorder from 252
Audio training, radio, radio,
CD changer, manager. On the steering wheel 800
Cigarette lighter 12
 
 
Alexander Budkin. Photo: George Sadkov

Source: The magazine "Driving"