2008 Ford Fusion Reviews, Pricing & Specs
Expert review
The Ford Fusion is a unique midsize sedan that offers a refreshing deviation from the "ho-hum" norm in the segment.
For decades, the Ford sedan lineup was highlighted by the popular Taurus sedan, which halfway into the 21st Century was in need of an update. Its replacement came for the 2006 model year as the Fusion, a sporty, European-inspired sedan.
Much of the Fusion’s sporty nature is derived from sharing a platform with Mazda’s Mazda6, a refined and athletic sedan. The Fusion shares much of this nature, and it adds a distinctive style all its own. This helps it stand out from tough competition, such as the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima, and Chevrolet Malibu.
out of 10 expert review
Look & feel
You won't be confusing the Fusion for any of those aforementioned rivals. Only the Accord can touch the Fusion on progressive styling. The Camry and Malibu go far more conservative, and as a result, you could lose them in a crowded parking lot. Meanwhile, the upright headlights, angular three-box design, and stout rear end convey the Fusion's sporty nature.
The cabin is not as exciting, but it matches the exterior in terms of sharp, angular design language. The centre stack of controls is very straightforward and all the functions are easy to locate and use.
Standard features include a six-way power driver seat, air conditioning, cruise control, power door locks, remote keyless entry, variable-speed intermittent wipers, and power windows. Upgrading to the SEL adds automatic climate control, 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, heated side mirrors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, and more. A sunroof is an extra-cost option.
The Fusion's look can be enhanced with the newly available Sport Appearance Package. It provides a rear spoiler, fog lamps, a smoked-out grille, and 18-inch aluminum wheels. Inside, the Sport Appearance Package adds leather seating surfaces with red inserts and red stitching.
Performance
The base engine is a 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine, making power specs of 160 horsepower and 156 pound-feet of torque. If that’s just not enough, Ford also offers a 3.0-litre V6, putting out 221 horsepower and 205 pound-feet of torque.
The four-cylinder engine routes power to the front wheels through either a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. The V6 powertrain comes with a six-speed automatic transmission, and can be had with either a front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) drivetrain.
The four-cylinder provides adequate acceleration and the manual transmission pays fuel economy dividends, but the V6 makes more robust acceleration, and the added capability of all-wheel drive will provide peace of mind in winter driving.
Despite being called the Sport “Appearance” Package, it actually adds some performance substance, in the form of a stiffer suspension. No added power, but no worries, as the Fusion has refined handling that even errs on sporty at times.
Form & function
The Fusion provides 447 litres of trunk space, which is better than the Honda Accord, Chevy Malibu, and Toyota Camry. The trunk space can be accessed via a helpful 60/40 split-fold rear seat.
The Fusion provides a decent amount of backseat legroom, and the angular design of the car allows for a straight enough roof to maintain solid rear headroom. Adults can sit in this roomy backseat comfortably for a couple of hours.
Technology
Standard features on the Fusion include a Bluetooth connectivity, a four-speaker stereo with AM/FM/CD player, as well as an auxiliary audio jack and satellite radio capability. The SEL trim adds a six-disc CD player and steering wheel audio controls.
Buyers can select options such as a moonroof and an upgraded Audiophile stereo with six-disc CD changer and eight speakers.
The Fusion is also optional with Ford’s SYNC communications system which provides hands-free connectivity with your smartphone. This allows for hands-free calling, as well as the ability to stream your music from your phone. A voice-activated navigation system is optional.
Safety
For 2008, the Fusion adds previously optional safety features such as an anti-lock brake (ABS) system and a tire pressure monitoring system as standard equipment. This joins the full array of front- and side-impact airbags that come standard on the Fusion.
Traction control is offered with the V6 engine on the Fusion in Canada. The Fusion also includes standard rear parking sensors.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the 2008 Ford Fusion a Good rating in its moderate overlap front and side crash tests, but it rates roof strength as Acceptable and head restraints and seats as Marginal. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the Fusion five starts in its frontal crash tests, five stars on the driver’s side and four on the passenger side, and five stars for rollover with AWD but four stars with FWD.
Cost-effectiveness
The most fuel-efficient version of the Fusion is the four-cylinder with the manual, returning 10.1 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving and 6.9 on the highway. The four-cylinder with the automatic transmission returns 10.2 L/100 km city, 7.0 highway.
If you are considering the V6, the more efficient version is with FWD, returning 11.7 L/100 km city, 7.7 highway. With AWD, that goes up to 12.4 L/100 km city, 8.1 highway. That’s not great fuel economy, but it is the trade-off for V6 power and AWD.
Base MSRP for the 2008 Ford Fusion SE in Canada is $23,899. The Ford Fusion SEL trim starts at $26,399. A V6 Fusion SE starts at $27,299, while the SEL V6 with AWD starts at $31,399. These prices actually undercut the 2008 Honda Accord, making the Fusion a solid value both as a new car and a used car.
Note: Images show a US model.
What owners say
"Overall, owners of the 2008 Ford Fusion appreciate its comfort, gas mileage, and handling. Many drivers find it fun to drive, enjoy the spacious interior, and value the available features like navigation and sound systems. However, some reviewers expressed disappointment with its power, especially in the four-cylinder models, and noted issues like engine noise and limited rear visibility."
This is a really comfortable car that is fun to drive. In the desire to reduce the amount of gas I was using, I opted for the 4 cylinder model with the 5 speed automatic. Acceleration is sluggish off the start but once the rpm's increase, the car can accelerate pretty fast. Plenty of power to merge or pass on the highway. The tail end of the car is high, limited view out of the back window. The back of the car also curves in toward the end so seeing the end of the car in the mirrors is impossible. I am thankful my car comes with the park assist sensors in the rear bumper.
February 2, 2009lacks power, handling is benign at best, noisy under acceleration. On the plus side, it is reliable, comfortable even on long drives, and has above-average amenities and sound system. overall, for the price I paid it has been one of the better values among the automobiles I have owned.
October 21, 2012I think it looks good for a family sedan and it is very practical. It is very reliable and I have only had two mandatory services because the milage is still low. AWD is great for traction in the snow or mud. Consumption is around 19 to 20 mpg accourding to the onboard computer. There is plenty of V6 power on tap so it is a pleasure to drive. The sound system is great for my needs and it is very comfortable to drive with great handling as well.
June 9, 2012What owners say
This is a really comfortable car that is fun to drive. In the desire to reduce the amount of gas I was using, I opted for the 4 cylinder model with the 5 speed automatic. Acceleration is sluggish off the start but once the rpm's increase, the car can accelerate pretty fast. Plenty of power to merge or pass on the highway. The tail end of the car is high, limited view out of the back window. The back of the car also curves in toward the end so seeing the end of the car in the mirrors is impossible. I am thankful my car comes with the park assist sensors in the rear bumper.
February 2, 2009lacks power, handling is benign at best, noisy under acceleration. On the plus side, it is reliable, comfortable even on long drives, and has above-average amenities and sound system. overall, for the price I paid it has been one of the better values among the automobiles I have owned.
October 21, 2012I think it looks good for a family sedan and it is very practical. It is very reliable and I have only had two mandatory services because the milage is still low. AWD is great for traction in the snow or mud. Consumption is around 19 to 20 mpg accourding to the onboard computer. There is plenty of V6 power on tap so it is a pleasure to drive. The sound system is great for my needs and it is very comfortable to drive with great handling as well.
June 9, 2012Just a totally superb car, well made. My husband bought mine wrecked, and I thought--man, this is going to be horrendous to fix. Well, it took a little while (the front and left side had to be re-done and bondo-ed--I'll post pics later so you can see how long my husband worked on it!) and overall, I thought I'd be a money pit. We paid a little over 4,000 (I should mention this car had 18K miles when purchased and was approximately a year old--so that tells you that whoever bought it bought to ride it hard and fast!) but the car was an beauty inside. Other than the obvious parts that needed replacement/cosmetic work, the inside of the car was a beauty (black leather!)and well worth what my husband paid for it. He dumped an additional 4-5k in parts into it. By the time I got it, I thought for sure it wouldn't ride. But it worked and it drives like a dream. It accelerates smoothly, braking is excellent as well as handling. You wouldn't know it had ever been wrecked unless you had seen it before. Interior, as I said, leather. What else is there to say? As for exterior, ugly when it started, a beauty by the end. Styling is excellent and Ford did a great job with both interior and exterior styling. This car is made to be driven as a family car but if you're single and looking for a hot car that will lead into the next stage of your life, this car is it. Cost of ownership is a middle of the road--I use fully synthetic oil, but I make my own oil changes, and I bleed my own brakes when necessary, so it's fairly easy to maintain and keep running well. As for fun? This car is the definition of a fun family car!!!
October 23, 2011I love everything about this car. There are only a few options that, in comparison to a Lexus, it doesn't have. The warranty is great, it performs like crazy on the highway, and I wouldn't trade it in for anything. The brakes are awesome, road noise is about average to low, the appearance is sexy and it is too much fun to drive.
September 23, 2009Our Fusion is great in town or when we travel. We have lots of room for packing. We get great gas mileage and it is so much fun to drive. We also love our navigation and sirius radio system. This is our first car with both those features. We also have a sunroof. It is easy to attach a bike rack to so we can take our bikes with us.
July 23, 2008It has decent performance levels, considering it is a 4 cylinder. With that comes pretty good gas mileage as well. Car looks awesome and the interior is also great. Half cloth half vinyl. Very comfortable. The only downfall is the noisy engine.
July 12, 2008Smooth and quiet ride, good gas mileage, and good handling. Worth every penny!
February 11, 2008The car provides dependable transportation. It is one of the most sought after vehicles that Ford produced. After the 2013 makeover the car looked totally different and lost some visual appeal.
January 20, 2022The vehicle excelled in acceleration and handling. Had many safety features. The Fusion has a premium sound system along with Sirus radio and a 6 cd changer. Driving the Fusion was such a pleasure with it's smooth ride, quiet and comfortable interior.
March 9, 2014
