AWD Fusion

[Edgey]

Are there any cars in the Fusion's class that are available with AWD? If not, will there be any?

 

I ask because I think it's tragic that this fact will probably go unheralded until the competition swoops in and takes the sales lead with their own AWD sedans.

[Ford Rules]

If the Fusion still even competes with it, the VW Passat probably still has optional AWD. I'm guessing if so, they might go head-to-head in some comparisons. Other than that, I can't think of any others among the midsize sedans.

[ZanatWork]

The Passat and the Legacy are the only awd competitors I'm aware of...and the Fusion needs some additional power to really deal with them.

[Edstock]

And the MazdaSpeed 6, which I wish was available with the wagon.

[waymondospiff]

Already mentioned Passat & Legacy & to a lesser extent the MSpeed6 and Ford's own 500. And I think the "next-gen" Epsilon chassis (Malibu/G6/Aura) is supposed to be AWD capable. But we won't see it until 2010+ I believe.

 

And of course the real competition, which is convincing SUV owners to ditch the 'utes and come back to cars. The AWD helps give them piece of mind. Never minding, of course, that a FWD sedan is probably easier to drive than any RWD-biased 4/AWD SUV. But that's another issue.

 

Scott

[RichardJensen]

With a list price $9,000 higher than the Fusion, it's hard to see how the Passat 4Motion qualifies as part of the Fusion's 'class'. It is, rather, almost directly opposed to the MKZ.

 

The Legacy is closest to it in price, but features, at that price, has the 175hp NA 4-cyl.

[Michael Reynolds]

With a list price $9,000 higher than the Fusion, it's hard to see how the Passat 4Motion qualifies as part of the Fusion's 'class'. It is, rather, almost directly opposed to the MKZ.

 

The Legacy is closest to it in price, but features, at that price, has the 175hp NA 4-cyl.

 

In other words there isn't.

[silvrsvt]

I've always seen the Passat as D sized car (well it sure as hell is one in pricing) and the Jetta as closer competition to the Fusion

[NightHawk150]

I don't think the old one was that big, was it? I mean, I know the new one is, but the old one seem smaller than the Fusion, at least in my eyes, then again, i don't have the best eyes in the world :shrug:

Edited October 3, 2006 by NightHawk150

[igor]

I don't think the old one was that big, was it? I mean, I know the new one is, but the old one seem smaller than the Fusion, at least in my eyes, then again, i don't have the best eyes in the world :shrug:

 

no it was not .. a couple generations old Passat is as big as the current Jetta - VW has grown considerably in size.

 

Igor

[dford36]

The Fusion SE AWD V6 starts at $23800. Totally loaded it's $29900 - including navi, leather etc..

[mrjones944]

The Fusion SE AWD V6 starts at $23800. Totally loaded it's $29900 - including navi, leather etc..

At the loaded price it would be comparable to the legacy. What about the impreza vs fusion debate as a new impreza is due out soon?

[dford36]

A loaded Legacy 6 cylinder with navi is $29k? The Legacy 3.0R LL Bean AWD w/ Navi starts at $32,295. That's almost MKZ money - where you'll get the bigger v6 and more hp.

[Roadrunner]

I agree that VWs have grown considerably in size, but then again so have Toyotas and Hondas. I'm guessing that the Japanese marques will keep growing their cars and eventually the Camry will replace the Avalon. Not sure about the Accord's growth, but it looks like a phat ass now.

 

Imagine this: One generation is hooked onto, say, Camries, and they keep buying them as the car grows along with that generation's needs. The name and image is right, so they won't change. It's thinking outside of the box, that.

 

// That was the appearance of "guy who shows up with his ideas well after the conversation is over"