2011 Ford Fusion

The 2011 Ford Fusion is one of our top picks for a midsize family sedan. After last year’s extensive refresh, the Ford Fusion sees only detail changes involving standard features for 2011. Other changes include a new Luxury package and a standard manual-shift feature for the six-speed automatic transmission.

2011 Ford Fusion

The 2011 Fusion’s slightly smaller size than some other sedans doesn’t negatively impact interior room, and it gives the Fusion more agility than the norm. For power, there’s a fully competitive 175-horsepower four-cylinder base engine, a 240-hp 3.0-liter V6 or a 263-hp 3.5-liter V6 in the Fusion Sport.

The 2011 Ford Fusion is a midsize sedan available in S, SE, Sport and SEL trim levels. The base S comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, blind-spot mirrors, keyless entry, the MyKey system (limits top speed and audio volume), full power accessories, a trip computer, cruise control, air-conditioning, 60/40-split rear seats, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a four-speaker stereo with a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack. The SE adds 17-inch steel wheels (alloy-look covers), foglamps, automatic headlights, dual exhaust tips, a fold-flat passenger seat, an eight-way power driver seat with manual recline and lumbar, steering-wheel radio controls and a six-speaker stereo with satellite radio.

The Sport adds a sport-tuned suspension and steering setup, 18-inch alloy wheels, exclusive styling cues inside and out, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, a 10-way power driver seat, a four-way power passenger seat, unique leather-trimmed seats and the Sync entertainment and communications interface. The Fusion SEL adds heated exterior mirrors, puddle lights, a numerical keyless entry pad, ambient lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats and leather upholstery.

The Sport model can be optioned with the SEL’s standard equipment plus a blind-spot warning system, a back-up camera, a sunroof and a 12-speaker Sony sound system. The 2011 Ford Fusion features three different engines. The base power plant — standard on S, SE and SEL models — is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 175 hp and 172 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel drive is optional on the Sport and V6-powered SEL.

Fuel economy ratings for the four-cylinder Fusion with the automatic check in at 22 mpg city/31 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined.

Antilock disc brakes, stability control, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags are standard on all Fusions. In the side-impact test, the Fusion earned five stars for front passengers and four stars for those in the rear. The 2011 Ford Fusion’s cabin features soft-touch materials and a somewhat austere but attractive design. There’s plenty of room for passengers in the Fusion.

The 2011 Ford Fusion is one of the most engaging family sedans from the driver’s perspective. The Sport model feels particularly buttoned-down thanks to its sport-tuned suspension.