By Frank S. Washington

DETROIT – Ford has done really well with the redesigned Fusion since it was introduced last year. Much of its success goes to the pragmatic and very functional way the midsize sedan operates.
The company has assiduously improved every aspect of its products over the years. Take the seats in the Fusion. They were horizontally ribbed and they had plenty of back and lower lumbar support. Seat backs were tall, headrests were functional and the bladders, at least in the front seat, sort of caressed the occupant.
The back seats were not bad either. They had the structure and substance of a much more expensive car. There was plenty of head and hip room for two people. In other words, though the Fusion is billed as a five passenger sedan, like most mid-size sedans it can carry four people comfortably.
Ford was a pioneer in getting rid of buttons on the center control panel. The Fusion had two: one for volume control on the audio system and the other naturally, for channel selection. All the other controls could be found on the touch pad which doubled as the template for the center control area.
That was about the only place to quibble with this car. Yes, the leather wasn’t exactly leather but it was soft to the touch. However, the surface material on the control touch template seemed inexpensive. It didn’t look cheap but it was really bland; some sort of texture might have improved the look and the feel.
There was a 10-way power driver’s seat and a two-way power front passenger seat. Both were heated. Satellite radio, a single disc CD player and two USB jacks were part of the audio system. It was equipped with the Ford MyTouch and Sync systems, a rear-view camera, reverse sensing sensors and a navigation system.
Ford has gotten a lot of grief with its MyTouch Sync system. But the company keeps introducing new and easier to use versions of the system that it hopes will lessen or rid it completely of complaints.
Still, the 2013 Ford Fusion was an attractive and very functional car. The trunk was cavernous; it was 16 cubic feet. The Fusion looked good and sported the new face of Ford, a six point-grille that is making its way through the product line.
The test car was powered by a direct injected 1.6-liter four cylinder EcoBoost engine. EcoBoost is Ford-speak for turbocharged. The engine was mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Ford’s EcoBoost engines conserve fuel and generate the same power as much larger powerplants.
The 1.6-liter made 178 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. It had stop start technology. Come to a full stop and the engine shut off not to restart until brake pedal pressure was released. That undoubtedly aided an EPA rating of 24 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway and 28 mpg combined.
Ride and handling were pretty good as well. Equipped with an independent MacPherson strut suspension in the front and an independent multilink suspension in the rear, the Fusion’s ride was surprisingly solid. It took bumps and depressions in the road with the air of a much bigger car, no shakes, no rattles and no ruckus.
The front-wheel-drive sedan cornered well, acceleration was adequate and the sight lines made it easy to see all round. The test vehicle was the mid-range SE trim line. The base price was $23,720. Add on $4,740 worth of options that included dual zone climate controls as well as shipping and the total was $29,255. That’s not bad for a top-flight, well equipped midsize sedan.

Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com.

by Cheryl Eldridge and wire reports

The Toyota Camry is definitely a brand in my family. My husband owns a Toyota Tundra and my aunt owns a Toyota Camry, which are all a bit older models; so when I got the chance to test drive the 2013 it was a pleasure.         Toyota has been known to be dependable, loyal and some people’s first car. Most Toyota Camrys are driven by educators, college students or the more frugal crowd pleasers. Well, I’m frugal, so one thing that I did like was, it’s definitely great on gas!

For 2013, the Toyota Camry receives rear cross-traffic alert functionality as part of the optional blind spot monitoring system which I loved. Great looking out engineers. Inside, all Camry models have the 6-inch central display screen as standard and slightly upgraded door panel trim.

The 2013 Toyota Camry is offered in L, LE, SE and XLE trim levels. The L features 16-inch steel wheels, air-conditioning, power windows and mirrors, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, split-folding rear seats, a trip computer, Bluetooth, a 6-inch display and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, HD radio, satellite radio, an auxiliary input and a USB/iPod interface.

The Camry LE adds automatic headlamps, power door locks with remote keyless entry, audio controls on the steering wheel and an outside temperature display.

The SE includes a sport-tuned suspension, 17-inch alloy wheels, foglamps, heated exterior mirrors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, sport seats and unique interior and exterior styling treatments. SE V6 models get 18-inch wheels, keyless ignition/entry, a navigation system, voice recognition and the Entune smartphone and Web integration system.

The luxurious XLE reverts to the LE’s softer suspension settings and adds heated exterior mirrors, foglamps, a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver seat and the Entune system. XLE V6 models add a rearview camera, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, leather upholstery, a power front passenger seat and heated front seats. Some of the extra features found on the higher trims can be added as options to the lower trim levels, though availability can vary depending on which region of the country you live in. A premium 10-speaker JBL audio system is optional for the SE and XLE. On the XLE V6, Toyota also offers a hard-drive-based navigation system with a larger central display.

Powertrains and Performance for every 2013 Toyota Camry features front-wheel drive, a six-speed automatic transmission and two engine choices. Base Camrys are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 178 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. In Edmunds performance testing, a Camry LE with this engine accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds, about average for a four-cylinder midsize sedan. With EPA-estimated fuel economy of 25 mpg city/35 highway and 28 combined, the four-cylinder Camry is among the class leaders.

Optional is a 3.5-liter V6 that generates 268 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque, which helps the Camry V6 reach 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, average for upgrade engines in this class. Fuel economy is an impressive 21/31/25.

On the safety side, the 2013 Toyota Camry comes with a battery of standard safety features, including antilock brakes, stability control, front- and rear-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and knee airbags for both driver and passenger. A blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert is also available.

In Edmunds braking tests, a Camry LE stopped from 60 mph in 129 feet, a bit longer than average for the segment. An SE V6, with stickier tires, performed the same test in 119 feet, which is better than average. In government crash testing, the Camry received a top five-star score for overall crash protection, with four stars for overall frontal protection and five stars for overall side protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Camry the best possible rating of “Good” in the frontal-offset, side and roof strength tests. It scored a “Poor” (the worst rating) in that agency’s new, “small overlap” frontal impact crash test, but only a handful of cars have been subjected to it, and most have earned a similar score.

The interior of the 2013 Camry feels roomy and its thin front pillars provide good outward visibility. What the cabin design lacks in cohesiveness, it makes up for with generally good materials quality, especially the handsome stitching on the dash and door panels of upper trims. The spacious rear seat is complemented by a nicely reclined seatback angle that helps the Camry match the Honda Accord for the most comfortable backseat in the class.

The Camry’s upgraded audio system also includes Entune, a suite of smartphone-connected services that includes features like the Bing search engine, Pandora streaming radio, real-time traffic, sports and stock information, and the ability to reserve movie tickets or a table at a restaurant on the go. The touchscreen interface and accompanying steering wheel controls are usually pretty easy to use, but sometimes the virtual buttons’ unwillingness to respond is frustrating.

At 15.4 cubic feet, the Camry’s trunk capacity is about average, although the 60/40-split rear seat folds down to yield more cargo space when necessary.

My tester’s price was $29,780.

Until next week, drive safe, no texting and driving and buckle up, it’s the law.