The Hindu Business Line : Ford Fusion exceptionally good at high speeds

I AM planning to buy a new car, though my initial plan was to buy a Sedan, I waited for the Ford Fusion to be launched. Now I have to choose between one of the Sedans available in the Rs 6-8 lakh range and the Fusion. Is the Fusion worth the price?

I am not an SUV fan, and so am worried about the Fusion's driving dynamics. Is it a stable car? I am an NRI who lived in the Gulf for 15 years, and so I'm used to driving automatics. Any chance that Ford will launch the Fusion with an automatic gearbox?

A. Narayanan

The Ford Fusion sports SUV looks, but drives like a Sedan. During our test drive, the Fusion's on-road behaviour, especially on the highway, was exceptionally good.

Straight-line stability is excellent and the highly responsive, speed sensitive power-steering complements the rigid chassis and suspension set-up to offer a fairly confident, stable ride even at speeds of up to 130 kmph.

The Fusion also has good cornering ability, though there is a bit of body roll.

So, stability will be superior to B-segment cars and can be expected to be right up there with the rest of the sedans in the same price segment.

Engine noise inside the Fusion's cabin is low, despite the absence of insulation under the bonnet. Braking is through ventilated disks for the front wheels and self-adjusting drums for the rear.

Anti-lock braking (ABS) is an optional addition in the top-end Fusion+ variant. Our test drive car had ABS, however, overall braking even in the non-ABS versions will be class leading. The paint job, and fit and finish quality are also top notch in the Fusion.

The air-conditioner in the Fusion is extremely efficient and cools the interiors quickly. It does not need a twin air-conditioner, unlike full-sized SUVs and family vans.

The nifty ball-type vents for the air-conditioning also do a good job of ensuring good airflow throughout the car.

The only minus is the fan, which tends to get noisy at the third and fourth speed settings.

Overall, the Fusion is more a sedan than an SUV on all parameters , except for its looks and massive 198mm ground clearance.

No, Ford does not plan to launch an automatic gearbox or even the Durashift auto-manual transmission in the Fusion, though it is available in other markets.

Now for the difficult question of whether the Fusion is worth the Rs 6.2 lakh to Rs 7.3 lakh .

The Fusion has an innovative mix of attributes, and stands apart in the small car and sedan categories. But, at those ex-showroom prices, its unique positioning does not come cheap.

As such, the Ford Fusion will be a good choice for car buyers who are not too hung up on fuel efficiency, and are looking for a unique vehicle with international fit and finish quality.

I am planning to buy a car in the C-segment. My budget Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7.5 lakh. I have shortlisted the Honda City, Maruti Suzuki Baleno and Hyundai Accent (petrol).

I am told that the Baleno offers good riding comfort and fuel efficiency at a lower price. It hasn't, however, been able to penetrate the market to the extent that other sedans have.

Is it an expensive car to maintain? Is the higher price of spares a drag on the car? Should I buy the Baleno, the Honda City or the Hyundai Accent?

Jim Joseph

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is the cheapest sedan of its size available in the market now. Priced at Rs 5.75 lakh (ex-showroom) for the Euro III LXi (base) variant, the Baleno is bigger, more spacious compared to the slightly cheaper entry-level sedans such as the Maruti Esteem and the Ford Ikon.

The Baleno's 1.6 litre, 16-valve engine is comfortably powered and offers a flat torque curve, a big plus for a vehicle its size.

Maruti Udyog out-priced the Baleno when it was launched a few years ago. But, with sales being sluggish, Maruti lobbed a sizeable chunk off its price.

The reduced price has not exactly lead to a surge in Baleno sales, but bargain hunters in the sedan category have taken to the it. Maintenance costs and spare-part prices tend to be connected with the volumes that the company manages for the car.

Resale value is another factor that tends to be affected by the popularity of the vehicle in the market. So, if dated design, a lower resale value, and a marginally higher maintenance cost are acceptable compromises, the Baleno is a good enough sedan to own.

Otherwise, our pick will be the new Honda City.

Queries may be sent to: q&a@thehindu.co.in or by post to Q&A, Business Line, 859/860, Kasturi Buildings, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002.

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