This review is based on the initial impressions & also Ford’s overall strategy for the Indian market which they seem to have taken VERY seriously. I also had a brief test ride when I had my car in for inspection. My initial hunch is tru about the pricing. Thanks to recent discounts of close to 100, 000, there are quite a few Fusions on road now.
Fusion as the name suggests, promises the best of all the worlds. If not the best, it surely intends to give a product that combines virtues across the segments. As I just bought Ford Ikon 1.6 EXi makes me more curious as to what Ford has to offer. This affects overall brand image/equity & also helps/hurts the existing product’s perception in the market.
GLOBAL MARKET: During last few years the markets for car-based SUVs increased many folds in USA. Cars/SUVs like Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Lexus RX330, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV-4, Chrysler Pacifica are at large in USA now a days. Selling thousands of units, stealing sales from both the midsize car segment to minivans to traditional boy-on-frame SUVs. These SUVs give sense of security(kind of), better visibility, high seating position that women just love & ample space of minivans for the soccer-moms. These car based SUVs are often called as cross-over vehicles.
Ford in India seems to use the similar principle in India & have come up with a ’cross-over’ product in yet to be launched Ford Fusion. Built on the Ford Fiesta platform in Europe, Fusion offers the same wheelbase as Ikon but with a high seating position & a much square profile with styling which should give it an imposing look & respect on the street. (supposedly)
STYLING: A first look at Ford Fusion gives you with its squared-up profile which is highly attractive from the front with a fresh styling seen only on Swift in India. The sloping windshield is conventional/car-like & lends a sense of sophistication not found in many SUVs/trucks with their almost vertical windshield.
The rear-styling doesn’t look ’that’ attractive to me. I would have preferred square tail lamps or similar to that on the Santro Xing or even Getz. The vertical lights increase the average age of buyers three-fold! :-) The 15 inch wheel will do a better job of filling the wheel-area than pithy 13 inchers on some of the competitors. The alloys offered on higher trims should also enhance the looks.
Also, the fusion looks taller in pictures than it actually in reality. It is just a little taller than Getz/Palio but appears macho maybe due to the styling elements.
INTERIOR: The interior materials are supposed to be better than Ikon but won’t challenge say Honda City. The dash offers a very straightforward design that is also attractive. The knobs are of high quality and carry a precision feel like City. The seat fabric is also class-leading with leather offered on upper trim. The dashboard plastics could have been softer given price range though. Fusion offers a very comfortable seating position for 5 & also ample space for their stuff for a weekend outing.
ENGINE/TRANSMISSION: Ford is planning to import Duratec family 1.6 liter (aluminum block) engine that produces 100 Bhp & 14.9 kg-m torque. The Rocam 1.6 engine from Ikon will not be used as Ford wants to use a sophisticated (rather a different) engine in this higher priced car. The engine is more rev-happy than rocam per Ford & features 4 valves per cylinder. At the kerb weight of 1134kg I think this engine would help Fusion hit the 100kmph mark in aprx 14 seconds. Not too bad at all. However, I would have preferred lower price and 1.6 Rocam engine which is much better in urban traffic with low end grunt. Instead of giving discounts Ford should make it available with Rocam engine which is manufactured in state of the art Hindustan Motors’ lancer plant.
The transmission again will be a traditional 5 speed manual box. At this time it is not clear when exactly the Diesel Fusion will be launched. Ford thinks that in this price bracket & the sophisticated urban consumers (the ultimate target buyer) prefers petrol engines to diesel. I think they are wrong. Just check out the order-book with Hyundai for CRDI engined cars. Also checkout Octavia sales of 2.0 Petrol versus 1.9 TDI. They are selling Petrol Octavia for 1.5 lac disount & there is a wait for diesel Octavia! Same with Elantra.
RIDE/HANDLING: Ikon is prob’ly the best driver’s car in India this side of 10 lak Rs mark. Fusion however expected to be tuned softer. The reason ford gives is that the average Indian family wants a plush ride & also doesn’t travel at very high speeds of say 70mph or so & hence suspension is not needed to handle extended periods of high speed driving.
In short: Expect a plush ride & average handling. Anyways you are not buying this car to take it on track, are you? :-) I guess the front suspension is going to be the Mcpherson struct with twist beam at the rear. The tire size is 15 inch which is although better compared to other cars in India should be more for this taller vehicle.
PRICING: The base trim is 6.50 lac & the upper trim 70K more. At this price point Fusion is placed price wise up against Honda City & lower to Optra/Corolla etc. Ford might choose to shock the market with the price of 5.75 or less for the base trim but I find it tough given their keenness towards profitability. I am not too sure if they will be able to sell them for this price!?
From the point of view of utility & comfort Fusion will be hard to beat, from driving point of view driving pleasure the jury is still out. Need to check how much Ikon magic is instilled in this taller cousin by Ford. Ford has also promised 70% localisation from the start enabling to price it competitively. Recently after Rocam 1.3/1.6 engine production was started at Hindustan Motor’s engine plant (where Lancer’s engine is produced) & that helped Ford slash prices on Ikon by 40, 000-60, 000.
COLORS Color availability on Ikon has been pretty good except for the Red shades for some reasons The same Paprika red is given from years when hatchback like Palio is offered in two red colors! They have good variety in other colors. Let us hope Fusion will have better color availability.
After a ton of Shammi Kapoor & also Udit Narayan/Natwarlal review, this is my car review after many days! :) Please do rate it & leave a comment, helps to improve/clarify the contents