2024 Ford Fusion has been a popular midsize sedan for years, and the latest 2024 model is no exception we hope will come with a sleek new redesign, updated specs, and a slew of new features. Back in 2019, Ford Authority reported that the Ford Fusion, which was discontinued last summer, would return as a crossover for global markets. Then, last October, we saw an early prototype sporting body parts bit by bit.
The reborn 2024 Ford Fusion will likely be called the Fusion Activ in North America, and the Mondeo Activ in Europe and China, where it will replace the existing Mondeo sedan.
The new model will likely use the Ford C2 platform, which was shared with the Ford Focus, Ford Escape, Lincoln Corsair, Ford Bronco Sport, and the upcoming Ford Maverick pickup.
2024 Ford Fusion Review
The Ford Fusion 2024 appears to be more of a high-riding wagon in the shroud of the Subaru Outback than an SUV-like crossover. The vehicle has a very sedan-like styling, albeit with a taller greenhouse and a hatchback-type design at the rear that should allow for more cargo space than the previous sedan.
This prototype is highly camouflaged, which makes it difficult to distinguish additional details. But in the leaked photos we saw last week, the Fusion sported a very similar front grille to the one on the 2021 Ford Edge. The Fusion crossover seems to make the Edge a bit redundant, as it offers many of the same qualities.
All-New 2024 Ford Fusion Update
A company’s success can sometimes be overwhelming. When Ford announced that it was discontinuing all vehicles except the Mustang, the Fusion was an unlucky victim. Without attracting much attention from the automotive press, the Fusion quietly took the Taurus’ place: a popular, practical, and reliable sedan. The Ford Fusion Energi, a plug-in hybrid model of the popular sedan, was introduced in 2013. The time has come to reintroduce the Ford Fusion hybrid.
The model applied to the Ford Fusion Energi certainly does not look “hybrid-like”. On the contrary, the Fusion is fashionable. Although it was released in the peak years of angry-looking cars.
Ford managed to make it look sleek and graceful. Rather than overloading the sedan with clunky bodywork, Ford opted for subtle metallic embellishments and smooth, flowing curves.
In other words, the Fusion Energi is designed for those who want more than just fuel efficiency on four wheels.
Ford’s hybrid sedan was not only one of the best-looking hybrid cars of its time, but it also earned good reviews. It was powerful enough to be fun, handled well enough to make driving enjoyable, and was widely regarded as one of the better choices for someone who wanted to save money on fuel while also enjoying driving.
The Fusion Energi is the only plug-in hybrid midsize sedan for the time being.
The Fusion Energi was the sole plug-in hybrid midsize sedan for a while. A survey of contemporary plug-in hybrids in the car industry reveals that, once again, no one is producing one.
Looking at a list of contemporary plug-in hybrids is like looking at an endless parade of family-friendly SUVs and crossovers, with the occasional hatchback tossed in for variation. Nobody is developing a plug-in hybrid sedan. The market void is there, swaying in the breeze like a ripe fruit on a branch.
It is important to note that we are confident that the Ford Fusion is able to give the impression of green energy because it implements a stylish and well-received hybrid energy sedan that does not sacrifice design for fuel economy. This leaves a gap in the market for plug-in hybrid sedans that no longer exists.
The Ford Fusion had a popularity with staying power that is still sustainable to this day which may lead to a revival of the Fusion hybrid. It still has a following and some loyal users and is recognized by those who appreciate its quality.
In addition, as more and more people are concerned about fuel economy and demand to be able to deliver efficient cars that are fun to drive. There is no reason why Ford Fusion can’t demonstrate the ability to make a fuel-efficient vehicle that people love as more and more people care about fuel economy.
We strongly believe that this is a sign of the right time for the return of the Ford Fusion hybrid.
Next Generation Ford Mondeo/Fusion as Svelte Sedan With Evos Styling
Named after the Latin word for world, the Mondeo entered Ford’s lineup in 1992 as the Sierra successor. Three decades later, Blue Oval is preparing a redesign for Europe and possibly the US as well.
Featured by Evos for the Chinese market, the successor to the Mondeo and Fusion was recently spied on in Germany with a sedan-like physique and coupe-inspired roofline that slides gently into the trunk door. Based on this particular look, one of our favorite pixel artists envisioned a new model with no camouflage hiding the front panel and grille.
Kleber Silva also didn’t forget to link the full-LED headlamps with the light bar, giving the Mondeo and Fusion replacement models a modern signature upfront. The light-bar theme continues at the rear, which appears to feature a conventional trunk lid instead of an Evos-inspired liftback rear door.
Not as lively as the Evos, this guy is expected with two electric powertrains in Europe and the UK. These are the 2.5-liter Duratec-based hybrid and plug-in hybrid options we know from the Kuga, aka Escape in the United States. These factories were the only viable way for the Ford Motor Company to sell unnamed models on the Old Continent as Euro 7 emission standards were imminent.
The US market where Fusion customers are now flocking to Honda and Toyota can be treated to the Bronco Sport’s 2.0-liter EcoBoost, a turbo four-cylinder with 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet (373 Nm) on tap. The electrification option should get a continuously variable transmission while the ICE-only EcoBoost can work with the eight-speed tranny.
Originally expected to return to the United States as a rival car to the Subaru Outback, the next-generation Fusion will have a hard time getting back the customers that Ford has lost by discontinuing the old Fusion at the end of the 2020 model year. Looking at the bigger picture, those customers won’t be returning too soon. because they might be happy with their new Accord and Camry now.
2024 Ford Fusion Design
When compared to Ford’s other small-to-midsize cars, the Fusion stands out for its durability. The corporation has an unusually bad track record with smaller vehicles.
Even if a compact Ford didn’t suffer a well-publicized breakdown (such as the PowerShift transmission that sent so many Focuses and Fiestas to the scrapyard), the company’s smaller vehicles appear to reach the “this car isn’t worth the cost of repair” point and vanish from the road at a young age.
Long after the Focuses that sat alongside it on dealer lots vanished, the discontinued Ford Fusion remains a regular sight. In other words, Ford’s prior work continues to promote itself just by being on the road.
The Fusion is Ford’s only non-full-size sedan that still has a following. Granted, it doesn’t have the same fervent (if a little snooty and quickly irritated) following as the Mustang, but the Fusion still gets appreciative nods from folks who say, “That was a good car.”
2024 Ford Fusion Performance
It’s difficult to believe that, before to the 2008 recession, GM practically made gas-guzzling a matter of pride with its short-lived Hummer brand. Because of the rising cost of fuel in subsequent decades, the auto industry’s grousing about higher efficiency rules hasn’t been as popular with buyers as it once was.
While worrying about gas mileage is still considered as a sign of personal weakness in some circles, it cannot be denied that more individuals than ever before are concerned about fuel economy.
Few people, however, want to spend their commuting hours in a punishing “econo-box.” This is why crossovers have devoured SUV market share. The time has come to bring back the Ford Fusion PHEV.
Ford’s best example of producing automobiles that are both efficient and enjoyable to drive was the Fusion Energi. This distinguishes it among Ford’s less-than-massive vehicles.
Despite Ford’s constant stream of press releases promoting “sustainability,” their efforts to actually build efficient automobiles have been unimpressive and insulting. Aside from mechanical issues, Ford’s little cars are uncomfortably dull to drive.
They inserted the word “appliance” into the term “appliance car.” Ford demonstrated with the Fusion Energi that it can produce fuel-efficient vehicles that consumers like driving. Ford needs to pick up where it left off.
The Fusion Energi Reborn
The Fusion Energi was one of the better plug-in hybrid vehicles available at the time. It is without a doubt one of Ford’s best midsize cars, hybrid or not. In the years since its demise, the Fusion has proven to be as tough as the battle-worn Tauruses that still sail the roads today.
In many ways, the Fusion Energi was ahead of its time. It was squarely in the awkward zone between sporty and reasonable that has become so popular with EVs. Ford had the ideal car for a booming market, but production was halted before it could completely prosper. The moment has never been greater to reintroduce the Fusion Energi.
2024 Ford Fusion Interior
The interior design is very different from what we see in Ford products today. The prototype features a large screen that spans the entire width of the dashboard, which is similar to what Mercedes did with the new MBUX Hyperscreen display.
As of now, it looks like the Ford Fusion/Mondeo Activ will launch as a 2024 model in North America, Europe, and China, but we’ll be keeping an eye on this new model every step of the way and reporting back as we have more.
Ford Fusion SE: Do Something Different?
Back in the summer of 2019, Ford Authority reported that while the Ford Fusion as we know it will be discontinued, it and the Mondeo – its European sibling – will return as globally available crossovers.
Testing the next-generation Fusion prototype with the body parts put together, albeit with a very wagon-like shape. And then, just last month, a prototype of the next-generation Ford Fusion Active or Mondeo Active leaked online.
The prototype Ford Fusion Active / Mondeo Active. However, that may not happen at all, as we have learned by now. The Ford Authority has reason to believe that the vehicle that leaked and was subsequently spied on testing in metro Detroit was not the Fusion Active, but a vehicle destined specifically for South America.
We speculate that the 2024 Ford Fusion SE will likely be present in planning a fastback-like vehicle for the South American market built on the B2-E platform. Currently, B-segment vehicles such as the Ford Fiesta and Ka use the B2 platform, while the “E” likely stands for “evolution” as a modified version of the architecture. For those wondering, “E” doesn’t mean “Electricity.”
However, with the recent announcement that Ford will stop production in Brazil completely, the future of the project is currently unclear. If this model is successfully produced, it will mark a new entry into the white space in South America for Ford, placing above the Ka as another passenger vehicle option for buyers in the region.
The bit-by-bit original prototype we saw in 2019 was a wagon-like crossover, which is expected to be the next generation of Fusion. In comparison, the new prototype has more of a slanted rear fastback hatch, which is quite different from the traditional wagon shape we’d expect for the Fusion/Mondeo.
Additionally, the “swirly” camo featured on the car in the new spy photos was never used on a North American prototype – only on international market prototypes developed in China and South America. So, chances are we’re not seeing the next Fusion, but rather something completely different.
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The presence of the Ford Mondeo that will replace the Fusion in the United States
a midsize family car named after the Latin word for world, the Mondeo entered Ford’s lineup in 1993 to much critical acclaim. Last redesigned from the ground up in 2014, the family car will launch in March when the assembly site in Valencia, Spain will end production of the Mondeo.
What will his successor be called? That’s up for debate, but Blue Oval has received the rights to the Mondeo Evos trademark from the European Union Intellectual Property Office. Otherwise called Fusion Active in North America, the next-generation model is currently undergoing hot weather testing in the southernmost part of Europe in preparation for launch.
Disguised like there’s no tomorrow, the pre-production mule features a shark-fin antenna, pop-out door handles, a conventional trunk lid instead of the Evos liftback design for the Chinese market, and nearly the same front-end styling as the Evos for the Middle Kingdom. Door-mounted side mirrors give it a low-key look, while the sloping roofline creates the impression of a coupe rather than a sedan.
Wrapped in summer tires wrapped around double-spoke alloy wheels with a black finish, this Mondeo successor model is equipped with tiny brake rotors that feel lost in the wheelbarrow. That may indicate a relatively small motor, and FWD is given based on the overall proportions of the car.
Whether it’s the outgoing CD4 platform or the C2 vehicle architecture of the Maverick unibody pickup truck, Ford will be launching an all-wheel drive as an optional extra. The same can be said about the 2.5-liter Duratec hybrid and the PHEV engine from Kuga, which entered production at the Valencia complex.
Speaking of electrification, Blue Oval intends to fully use electricity by 2030 in the Old Continent. In the first instance, Ford promised that every single passenger vehicle in its European lineup would be plug-in hybrid or electric by mid-2026 unless another chip shortage undermined these plans.
2024 Ford Fusion Active
Ford engineers have been spotted with a prototype for a mid-size hatchback that can be driven high.
It’s a soft-roader type, designed to challenge high-riding wagons like the previous Subaru Outback and Buick Regal TourX, though the Ford roof is more curved than you’ll find on those alternatives.
Is a great idea of how it will look thanks to the China market launch of the Ford Evos during Auto Shanghai. The worldwide version looks slightly taller than the Evos, and the front overhang is also longer.
Although not yet certain, the soft-roader car is expected to be a direct replacement for the Ford Fusion sedan. As a result, the Mustang is now the only vehicle that is not an SUV/crossover, pickup truck, or van in Ford’s North American lineup.
In other markets, the new crossover will replace the Mondeo—the Fusion badge sold outside North America.
There were also rumors Ford was planning to keep the Fusion name for this new soft-roader, or a variation thereof, so don’t be surprised if the vehicle ends up being labeled something like the Fusion Active. The designation Active is what Ford uses for the soft-roader cars it sells overseas, such as the Fiesta Active and Focus Active.
For the previous test mule, engineers used a stretched body borrowed from a Focus Wagon sold overseas to cover the foundation. The Fundamentals are considered an updated version of Ford’s CD4 platform for midsize cars, the current version that supports Fusion. This means there is potential for both front and all-wheel drive, as well as a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
The alternative is a stretched version of the compact C2 platform that debuted a few years ago on the Focus sold overseas. This may explain why engineers used the stretched Focus Wagon body for the test mule instead of the larger Fusion-based Mondeo Wagon body also sold overseas.
There are no interior shots, but there are rumors that a large screen that covers the width of the dashboard could be offered in some markets, including in the United States. Such a design feature in the Chinese market Evos.
We also don’t know what’s going on in the powertrain department, but it’s likely offering turbocharged 4 and 6-cylinder engines. As noted above, plug-in hybrids are also possible.
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2024 Ford Fusion Release Date
Officially there is no official information from Ford regarding the release schedule. But as long as Ford doesn’t run into supply chain issues over the next few months and years, it’s not unreasonable to think that the Ford Fusion Active and Ford Fusion Active Hybrid will be available by the end of 2023.
2024 Ford Fusion Price
Pricing for the 2024 Ford Fusion is also not officially out yet, judging by the fact that power should come from Ford’s 2.0-liter inline-four turbocharged engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission; plug-in-hybrid variants are inevitable. Prices should range from about $31,000 to $41,000.
Verdict
Overall, we believe the 2024 Ford Fusion is an impressive mid-size sedan that offers a variety of new features, a sleek redesign and a wide range of engine options. Given that the Fusion is coming at a competitive price and such a close release date, it’s definitely worth considering for anyone in the market for a new car.
