Ford Fusion (2002 - 2012) 1.4 Zetec 5d (Climate) Owner Review

I was after a second car purely for the commute. Mainky shirt journeys so didnt eant to be saddled with an old diesel with all the expensive DPF and DMF woes. However, at 6'5" with a 54" chest the standard Ford Fester is a touch cramped for me. The Fusion is - just - doable. Utterly reliable, cheap to service and repair, mid forties mpg for the 1.4 petrol, bigger and better proportioned boot than a Fester, decent sized cabin, lots of cubby holes, including a hidden one in the base of the passenger seat. It does seem rather bereft of style and excitement, but that's somewhat missing the point. If you want/need a small car bit don't want anything quite as small as the typical Fiesta class vehicle, then it to ticks the boxes. Unlike the Modus/Note it's not making any pretence of style, or pretending to be a cheeky lifestyle accoutrement - its a simple, tough, reliable, cheap, vehicle, that is actually quite attractive for its honest and unpretentious character. Sadly, Ford missed a trick. Price wise they were nearly as expensive as a Focus when new, and the lifestyle advertising was aimed at a market that wasn't interested. If they'd priced it realistically and called it the Fiesta Estate or Fiesta Plus it would have flown off the shelves. As it is most were snapped up by canny buyers of more mature years, meaning well cared for, low mileage examples are everywhere, making them an excellent choice for those wanting smallish and practical on a budget - a similarly priced ten year old Jazz or Modus of the same price will likely be a leggy snotter. A hidden gem of a practical, robust, capable, value bargain.