Is it a hatch? Is it an SUV? No, it’s the new Ford Fusion, which combines different talents to create a new superhatch. But is it a hero or the Car from the Black Lagoon?

“A lot of thought has gone into making use of every inch of the cabin.”

FORD FUSION
Price (estimate)
Rs 6.0-6.5 lakh
Top speed 185kph
0-60kph 4.89 seconds
Kpl 12.1 (overall)
For Practicality, performance, flexible interior
Against Low-speed ride, inferior plastic quality

This is Ford’s idea of the perfect family car. Almost an SUV, almost an MPV and almost a hatch, the Fusion is a mixed bag of a lot of automotive solutions, some of which we haven’t even listed here. The Fusion, on sale this month, will sit a notch above Ford’s saloon, the Ikon.
The company is hoping that this amalgam of style, shape, space and performance will be more than enough to make Indian customers part with their hard-earned bucks. The Fusion is difficult to categorise and doesn’t fit squarely into any segment.
On one hand, it will compete with the Getz, a large hatchback and on the other it will also take on the Honda City, a three-box sedan. With the Fusion, Ford has attempted to combine everything Indian car owners look for: a car that is agile to drive on congested roads, has loads of space, is fuel efficient and comes at a good price. Does Ford’s radical new package hit the sweet spot?