2007 Ford Fusion Overview Change Vehicle

This 2007 Ford Fusion overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2007 Fusion, and includes Ford Fusion safety, reliability, and fuel economy rating.

Just a year after its debut, the 2007 Ford Fusion receives numerous changes. Perhaps in response to criticism about its lack of standard safety features, every version of this year’s Fusion is equipped with front-seat side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags. An optional all-wheel-drive system also arrives for 2007, available on models with a V6 engine. The various models also gain standard features this year, starting with an auxiliary audio input jack for all models. The Fusion SE now includes a fold-flat front passenger’s seat to make carrying long items even easier, 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, and a six-speaker stereo with a six-disc CD changer. Upscale SEL models add automatic headlights, heated side mirrors with puddle lamps, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a compass as standard equipment. Finally, Ford adds satellite radio and a navigation system as options for the SE and SEL models.

For 2007, the Ford Fusion is available in entry-level S, popular SE, and luxurious SEL trim levels. Air conditioning, cruise control, a tilt/telescopic steering wheel, power windows, power mirrors, and power door locks with remote keyless entry are standard on the S. Cloth seats with a manual driver’s seat height adjuster, floor mats, intermittent windshield wipers, visor vanity mirrors, map lights, and a rear defroster are also included. The stereo is equipped with a CD/MP3 player and an auxiliary audio input jack for plugging in a portable music player. Spring-assist, fold-flat, 60/40 split rear seatbacks provide expanded capability for the already large 15.8 cubic-foot trunk. If there’s anything to complain about here, it’s the plastic wheel covers tamped into 16-inch steel wheels. Ford offers few options on the Fusion S, but the ones you’re most likely to consider are the automatic transmission and the antilock brakes.

For 2007, the popular Fusion SE gains standard equipment in the form of alloy wheels, fog lights, a better stereo with a CD changer, and a folding front passenger’s seat to expand cargo-toting capability. These items join features carried over from last year, including a six-way power driver’s seat, a trip computer, an exterior temperature display, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and illuminated visor mirrors. Like the Fusion S model, the SE can be equipped with an automatic transmission and antilock brakes, as well as a V6 engine, a power moonroof, leather, aluminum interior trim, satellite radio, a navigation system, and more.

The upscale Fusion SEL features 17-inch alloy wheels in a handsome split-spoke design, woodgrain or piano black interior trim, automatic climate control, automatic headlights, heated side mirrors, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a compass. All of the optional features from the S and SE are available on the SEL, along with heated front seats.

No matter which Fusion you choose, you can get either a four-cylinder or a six-cylinder engine paired with a manual or an automatic transmission. The 2.3-liter four-cylinder generates a modest 160 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque, and comes with a five-speed manual transmission. A five-speed automatic transmission is available as an option, and most Fusions are equipped with one. In California, the four-cylinder engine receives a Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) emissions rating, making it clean and green in addition to fuel-efficient. The EPA says a Fusion with a four will get 23 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway regardless of transmission choice.

A 221-hp, 3.0-liter V6 with 205 lb-ft of torque is optional on the Fusion SE and SEL. The V6 is connected to a six-speed automatic transmission, and it drives the front or all four wheels. Ford says the front-driver can accelerate to 60 mph in 8.5 seconds. The EPA says the Fusion V6 will get 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive, and 19-mpg city/26-mpg highway with all-wheel drive.

The Fusion’s new optional all-wheel-drive system continuously monitors vehicle speed, throttle input, and steering angle and automatically distributes engine power to the driver’s best advantage.

Last year, we encouraged Ford’s product planners to add more standard safety equipment to the Fusion. Here’s what we opined: “Safety should not be optional. Safety should be standard.”

For 2007, Ford has taken steps to rectify the situation. Every Fusion now comes standard with side-impact airbags for the front seat occupants and side curtain airbags for both rows of seats, in addition to the dual front airbags that came on the car last year. However, and that’s a big however, antilock brakes and traction control remain, inexplicably, optional, and stability control is not even on the menu.

Now that side airbags are standard, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has given the Fusion better crash-test ratings. Specifically, the side-impact rating for the driver rises from 4 Stars to 5 Stars, and the rollover resistance rating with the new AWD system is also 5 Stars. The rest of the ratings remain intact at 4 Stars.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) puts cars through a more rigorous set of tests that exceed federal standards. Since the Fusion gained new safety features for 2007, the IIHS ran the car through its testing regimen again. Twice. Pay attention, because this is going to get a little squirrely. Fusions built before February of 2007 receive an Acceptable rating in the offset frontal impact and the side impact tests. If you buy one built after January of 2007, your car gets the IIHS’s highest rating of Good for these two tests. Rear impact crashworthiness remains Marginal and roof crush strength is still Acceptable.

Reliability nets out at better than average according to Consumer Reports and J.D. Power and Associates. Specifically, CR gives the V6 model its highest rating, the four-cylinder model an above average rating, and the AWD model an average rating.

Last year, we wanted to recommend the Ford Fusion, but could not because of its lack of standard safety features and mediocre crash-test scores. This year, the story is a little different. We’re still flabbergasted as to why ABS and traction control are optional, or why stability control is not even offered, but now that the crashworthiness issue seems to be ironed out, we’re ready to recommend the 2007 Ford Fusion. As long as it was built after January of 2007.

By Christian Wardlaw