2019 Ford Fusion
It is no secret to most that the Ford Fusion is on its final leg, but the automaker wanted to make sure that the final years of this model make an impression. The 2019 Ford Fusion made its debut during the New York Auto Show, showing off a long list of updates, and more recently, we learned about pricing for the most-recent Fusion.
Standard Co-Pilot360 Protect
Perhaps the most notable enhancement to the 2019 Ford Fusion is the inclusion of Ford’s Co-Pilot360 Protect as standard. This is a suite of accident-avoidance technology that includes blind-spot warning, rear-cross-traffic warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist along with automatic wipers and automatic high beams. With these newly standard features, The Ford Fusion is on par with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry in terms of standard safety tech, although it is worth noting that both of those competitors come standard with adaptive cruise control but not blind-spot warnings.
Adjusted Trims
There are also some adjustments to the trim levels, simplifying the lineup as well as the options. The SE trim level now uses the 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. It also comes standard with features that used to be optional on this trim, such as the 8-inch Sync 3 touchscreen, in-car Wi-Fi capabilities, and dual-zone automatic climate control. With the engine change, the base S trim is now the only trim to feature the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. Instead of the previous SE Luxury Package, you can now opt for the SEL trim level. The Titanium trim level also has an expanded list of features, such as adaptive cruise control. The Sports trim with its 325-horsepower V6 engine is now the top trim level as the Platinum is gone.
According to Ford, there were 2,000 variations available for the 2018 Fusion, but just 36 with the Fusion. Ford hopes that this reduction in variations will help turn around the lack of profitability recently associated with the Fusion. Additionally, it will help dealerships by minimizing the configurations they have to keep on hand that do not sell and make it easier for customers to find their ideal Fusion without being overwhelmed.
The Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi
The updates for the Fusion Hybrid are pretty much in line with those of the gas-only 2019 Fusion, including the reorganized trim levels. The Fusion Energi Titanium does, however, see a pleasant change: It gets a 20-percent increase to its electric-only range courtesy of a new 9-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery, reaching 25 miles. Even so, the Chevrolet Volt can go twice as far.
When and How Much
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The 2019 Ford Fusion will start arriving at dealerships late this summer. Therefore, you will still be hard-pressed to find a review letting you know what it is like behind the wheel. We do, however, have more information about pricing now. The MSRP for the base Fusion S now starts at $23,735, with destination fees already included. This is a $645 increase from 2018, a very low bump in price considering the addition of Co-Pilot360. The top trim, the Fusion Sport, now starts at $40,910, which is an increase of $6,190. Of course, it also includes navigation, cooled seats, parking sensors, and a moonroof. Adding those features to the 2018 version would have cost you more than $43,000, making the Fusion Sport a relative bargain.
