Why you should buy this car: For a commodious family four-door, the Fusion s priced right, undercutting its rivals by some margin. (Depreciation is another matter.) The Fusion s also a bit of a handler, both nimble and tenacious through the twisties.

Why you shouldn t buy this car: If you want to drive a rental car, why not rent one?

Suitability Parameters:
· Manufacturer: FoMoCo
· Speed Merchants: No
· Fashion Victims: No
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: Yes
· Hairdressers: No
· Penny Pinchers: Yes
· Euro Snobs; No
· Working Stiffs: Yes
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: No
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: Yes

Vitals
· Model tested: Fusion SEL
· Model year: 2006
· Price as Tested: $22,360
· Engine type: 3.0-liter DOHC 24-valve V-6
· Horsepower: 221hp @ 6,250 rpm
· Torque: 205 lb.-ft. @ 4,800 rpm
· Redline: 6550 rpm
· Wheels and Tires: P205/60TR16 on 16 x 6.5-inch steel wheels
· Drive type: front wheel drive
· 0 - 60: 7.5 secs
· 1/4 mile: 16.2 secs.
· Top speed: better you than me
· Fuel economy city/highway: 21/29
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: 4/TBR/4

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Ford Fusion, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]