Ford Fusion 2.0 TDCi Titanium

Ford’s replacement for the Mondeo took its sweet time making a public appearance, but it was well worth the wait. Once the covers were pulled back, we were greeted with a machine that, while not revolutionary, was fresh and bold enough to make us stand up and notice.

The first striking detail is the styling that looks as if it was lifted right out of the Aston Martin design handbook. A large trapezoidal air dam in the nose, a long, creased bonnet and angular LED headlights give the Fusion a GT-like appearance. The angular front end is complemented by the spot lights and lower splitter – all standard items on the 2.0-litre TDCi Titanium we were testing.

Exterior

Unfortunately, it seems that all the design energy was used up on the front end and when it came to the flanks and back, it was knock off time, so they did a quick sketch and called it a day. It’s not that they’re ugly or unattractive, they just lack the detail and inspiration that the front end has. The back end looks great when the lights are on and if you don’t have the dual exit exhausts and diffuser that you get on the Titanium model, it comes across as a little bland.

The wheels are another sore point and try as hard as I might, I just can’t picture what style of wheel would look good on the Fusion. Usually I’m pretty good at this sort of thing. If it’s that hard for me, I can forgive the designers for leaving us with a multi-spoke 18-inch wheel. I would have preferred to see a larger 19-inch wheel, which would have filled the arches better and given it a look fitting the lines.

Interior

Inside, things flow considerably better and time was spent working on the look and feel of the cabin. The cosseting dashboards layout is a design cue that I really like, the swooping centre console and raked fascia give the front wheel drive Fusion a rear wheel drive cabin feel. The leather seats are heated and quite comfortable and the overall fit and finish of most of the panels is very good. Everything that your hand is supposed to come into contact with, feels just right – it’s when they go exploring that some of the plastics are not of the same grade.

The interior is crammed full of technology and convenience with almost every imaginable box ticked and checked. Dual zone climate control, the aforementioned heated and electrically adjustable seats with memory and lumbar support, auto headlights, rain sensing wipers, customisable ambient lighting, heated windscreen, Lane Departure Warning and lane keeping assistant and more presented in a tidy, stylish package. The latter forms part of the driving aids, of which there are just as many – Active City Stop, Active Park Assist, Pull Out Park Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and more.

The infotainment system is for the tech savvy consumer. Ford’s Sync II system is a Microsoft powered system and while it takes a little getting used to, it can be a fantastic companion for the business man and audiophile alike with calendar sync and a Sony 9-speaker sound system; it’s not short on convenience or entertainment.

The power plant in the 2.0 TDCi Titanium produces 132kW and a strong 400Nm from as low as 2000rpm. This gives the Fusion ample get up and go even if the short gearing from the 6-speed Powershift automatic gearbox seems to stunt acceleration. Consumption figures are respectable, considering the size of the Fusion, with manufacturer claims of 5.1-litres / 100km on the combined cycle.

One wouldn’t call the drive sporty, despite the looks of the mid-size sedan. It’s compliant and well-mannered but it’s certainly not a sports car with precision handling and a firm suspension setup - it’s comfortable and sufficient for the daily commute or the long haul and eating up mile after mile of South African highway is where the Fusion will come into its element.

The Ford Fusion 2.0 TDCi Titanium retails for R449 900 (at time of compilation) and is sold with a 4-year / 120 000km comprehensive warranty and a service plan of 5-year / 90 000km.

Want to know more? Watch our video review here