When selecting a car I was not so concerned about the look as I was about the price I would pay for the car and the price I would pay at the pump. I also wanted a car that was comfortable for this 250 lb, 6’ 3” man. What a surprise that I found what I was looking for in the 2006 Ford Fusion. It is well equipped for around $19,000 and has just about the right mixture of room, fuel economy / power, and style.

I worked for a rental car company for 3 years and in that time I drove many cars (I drove a different car home everyday for about 2 of those 3 years). What I liked during this time was I could try cars out to see what I liked. A car that fits right makes driving not just a chore, but a joy. Being that I am a larger fellow, I was surprised when I got into the Mazda 6 based Fusion. I HAD LEG ROOM. Not only did I have legroom but my friend got into the seat behind me and she had room also! No more cramped legs for me! Then my brother and I went for a ride. We are the same when it comes to size and we were very comfortable sitting next to each other in the front seats. I am currently a china, crystal, flatware, cutlery, and cookware sales man and I can fit ALL MY SAMPLES in the car with plenty of room to put a passenger or two. I would say it is about a two-body trunk. Room for my stuff and me makes a huge difference!

I must admit that I am a general American male in his 20’s that likes to be thrown back in my seat every once and a while. The Fusion offers a four-cylinder engine that is not like the fours of the past. It’s 2.3L four offers 160 horses and 156 foot-pounds of torque. What does that mean to us the consumer? It means you can not only get a great MPG top end over 30 and still enjoy a quick get up on the line every once and a while. It is not as great as the 6 cylinder but the six only offers about 60 more HP. Not a whole lot more if you are searching to scorch the street. Basically, if you are trying to escape the +$3.00 a gal prices, this might be a great option for ya!

Style is a matter of opinion. But I like the way this Fusion looks. It has a nice wide stance (107 inch wheel base) and also sits slightly higher in the back to help the air drag and just looks nice! The grill sits wide and low with lots of chrome. With more squared off edges and the smaller headlights give is a European look and a mean one at that. Ford did some thinking when it came to the over style of the Fusion.

I know that economy is not necessarily the American way but in a time when SUVs are slowly dying off because gas prices are going up, don’t you think the Fusion is worth a second look? Its price, room, power/fuel economy, and style would say yes!