In a few weeks, the 2010 Fusion will arrive with a round of improvements and additions that make the car much more enticing. The most significant change is obviously the arrival of the Fusion Hybrid model. Other trim levels include SE, SEL and Sport.
The Fusion didn’t get a total redesign, and looks pretty familiar from its profile, but the front and rear fascias are new. The car’s shnoz looks futuristic, as the three-bar chrome grille that composes Ford’s corporate face is bigger and extends above the slimmer headlights. The bumpers are sportier and the taillights are also reshaped.
Inside, the car gets a new dashboard which houses improved climate controls and an instrument panel that glows blue instead of the old green and red. The seats are redesigned and are more comfortable, according to Ford. The interiors of each trim level are dressed up differently, as the SE gets a brushed finish, the SEL gets woodgrain trim and the Sport model obtains an anodized finish and red or blue patchwork on the leather seats.
The big news is the long-awaited Hybrid variant that includes a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder that runs an Atkinson cycle and that works hand in hand with an electric motor and battery pack to provide a combined output of 191 horsepower. The hybrid also features a CVT automatic. Like the Escape Hybrid, the electric Fusion can run on battery power alone, but up to about 75 km/h before the combustion engine helps out.
The Fusion SE includes air conditioning, a CD/MP3 player, keyless entry, power windows and mirrors, a 6-way power driver’s seat, SIRIUS satellite radio, cruise control, wheel-mounted audio controls, fog lamps, an alarm system and six airbags. Mechanically, it also features 17-inch wheels with P225/50R17 tires, disc brakes with ABS as well as a stability-control system.
The SEL adds a mandatory automatic transmission, heated mirrors with puddle lamps, a dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting, leather-wrapped wheel and shift knob, SYNC and alloy wheels. Options include the 3.0-litre V6 and all-wheel drive.
The Fusion Sport gets the bigger V6, all-wheel drive, a sport suspension, a blind-spot monitor, aerodynamic add-ons, a power sunroof, rear park assist with camera, 18-inch wheels with P225/45R18 tires, an upgraded sound system with 6-CD changer and 12 speakers, a power front-passenger seat and heated leather seats.

Finally, the Fusion Hybrid offers roughly the same equipment as the SEL but adds rear park assist, a 6-CD changer and a dazzling LCD instrument cluster that displays the hybrid powertrain at work.
A navigation system and a remote starter are optional on SEL, Sport and Hybrid models, while the sunroof, SYNC and a 6-CD changer are available on the SE.
Pricing for the 2010 Fusion ranges from $22,799 for the base SE to $35,299 for the Sport AWD version. The 4-cylinder SEL will probably be the volume seller and starts at $25,799, while the Hybrid will carry a base price of $31,999.
It’s not a total redesign, but the 2010 Ford Fusion should be a solid improvement over the current and competent Fusion. The mid-size sedan market is a tough one, and Ford’s contender has all it takes to battle its numerous rivals. In addition, the Hybrid version is expected to give the Camry Hybrid a serious challenge.