2010 Ford Fusion Quick Drive

In our last mid-size-sedan comparo ("The Familial and Frugal"), the 2008 Ford Fusion finished fifth out of ten.

"Surprisingly athletic chassis hampered by wheezy engine and irritating transmission," wrote technical editor Kim Reynolds in summation. Then he added: "Advice to Ford: The Fusion's staid styling misrepresents this dynamite chassis. Pitch the blocky bodywork and the interior inspired by file cabinets. Bring the NVH guys doughnuts and coffee for a nonstop month of overtime. Trust us, you'd be nipping at first place here."

Apparently, the story didn't land on deaf Dearborn ears. For its significantly revamped 2010 Fusion, Ford has addressed nearly all of our previous criticisms. In addition to unveiling the mega-efficient new 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, Ford has graced the gas-only Fusion lineup (and the equivalent Mercury Milan models) with improvements that should make the mid-size sedan a class front-runner. These include:

* Redesigned skin -- including new front end with reshaped headlamps and a more aggressive air dam -- makes a far bolder statement than its wallflower predecessor
* Restyled interior considerably ramps-up cabin elegance and high-quality feel
* S and SE models dump standard five-speed manual transmission in favor of six-speed manual
* New six-speed automatic, optional on S and SE and standard with six-cylinder engines. V-6 automatics also feature SelectShift, finally allowing full manual gear selection
* Base engine upgraded from 160-horse 2.3-liter four to 2.5-liter Duratec making 175 hp, nearly matching base Accord (177 hp) and far more than base Camry (158 hp). In combo with the new transmissions, Ford claims 1.1-second improvement in 0-60 and a ten-percent increase in fuel efficiency
* 3.0-liter V-6 (optional in SE, standard in SEL) uprated from 221 to 240 hp, plus gains at least six percent in fuel efficiency. Engine is also now flex-fuel capable (makes 250 hp when running on E85)
* New Fusion Sport features twin-cam, 3.5-liter V-6 with variable intake-cam timing; engine produces 263 hp @ 6250 rpm and 249 pound-feet at 4500. Sport also gets specially tuned suspension, racier bodywork, 18-inch painted wheels, unique interior accents
* All-wheel drive available on SEL, Sport
* Electric power steering now standard on all models
* Available Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert detects moving objects within 65 feet of either side of the vehicle; provides early warning when, say, pulling blindly out of a parking space