Ford Fusion vs. Honda Accord

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Over the past four decades, the Honda Accord (along with the Toyota Camry) has come to practically define the midsize sedan segment, with more than 700,000 Accords sold in America from 2014 to 2015 alone.

Introduced just 10 years ago, the Ford Fusion is a relative newcomer, though Ford has been making midsize sedans for approximately as long as ?sedans? have existed.

Accessible pricing and standard features are hallmarks of the segment, which these days is populated almost exclusively by front-wheel-drive, four-cylinder cars tuned for fuel economy and easy commuting.

The Honda Accord tied the Camry, Chevrolet Malibu, and Hyundai Sonata for No. 1 in our midsize car rankings and was a finalist for our Best Midsize Car for Families award. The Fusion ranked 10th, though the Fusion Hybrid won our Best Car for the Money award.

Which should you buy? We?ll walk you through the characteristics of each and help make your decision.


Pricing - Winner: Ford Fusion
The least expensive version of either car is the base Honda Accord with the manual transmission, which goes for $22,205 ? $545 less than the cheapest Fusion. The most expensive version of either car is also an Accord ? the Touring version with a 278-horsepower V6. It costs $34,680, which is $1,400 more than the top-of-the-line Fusion, which uses a turbocharger and intercooler to wring 231 horsepower out of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder.

That base Accord, however, comes with a rearview camera, an 8-inch dashboard display, Bluetooth, and dual-zone climate control. To get all that in the Fusion, you have to jump to the SE package ($23,800), though the SE trim also includes satellite radio and a 10-way power-adjustable driver?s seat. To get a seat like that in the Accord, you?ll need to spend at least $24,300 to get the Sport trim.

Both vehicles offer driver-assist functions. The Fusion offers a package with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and lane keep assist for $1,200. Honda has a similar package, but it costs $1,800.

Although these vehicles are very similarly priced, the Fusion offers a little bit more at the $25,000 mark and earns a slight edge in pricing.


Safety - Winner: Honda Accord
The Honda Accord received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, receiving five-star scores in rollover and side crash tests, and four stars in frontal crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named it a Top Safety Pick, giving it a rating of Good across the board.

The Fusion also earned a five-star rating from NHTSA but had just four stars in rollover and side crash tests. IIHS gave it good marks in four of five categories, but ranked it as merely Acceptable in the small overlap front test. The Fusion?s safety scores are below average.

The Fusion does, however, offer a system called MyKey, which is standard and allows the owner to set speed and audio limits for anyone driving the car. Honda makes its crash-avoidance package (Honda Sensing) available in all trims.


Seat Comfort and Interior Refinement - Winner: Honda Accord
Roominess, build quality, and convenient controls give the Accord an edge over the Fusion. The Accord was restyled for 2016, and with that redesign came a more upscale and sophisticated cabin. Front seats are firm and supportive, and rear legroom is ample. Visibility in all directions is another selling point in a segment that is often plagued by rear visibility issues.

Previous iterations of the Accord had started to annoy critics with cheap-feeling interior materials. Most agreed the 2016 model resolved those issues with a cabin full of soft-touch materials that feel like they're from a pricier car.

The Fusion also offers an upscale feel with a sleek modern design, but rear visibility is a problem. The Fusion can seat four adults comfortably, with more than enough space for three children in the rear.


Interior Technology - Winner: Tie
Helping offset the Fusion?s rear visibility issues is the standard backup camera, and available heated and cooled front seats are a welcome touch. But some reviewers say there is a big difference between a Fusion with the MyTouch infotainment system and a Fusion with the standard interface. There are simply too many buttons on the standard interface; the buttons are too small and the whole thing just too cumbersome overall.

Reviewers lodged the opposite complaint with the Accord. Some said the touch-sensitive buttons on the infotainment screen are more difficult to use than the physical controls on the standard head unit, though others liked the iPad-like swiping and pinching functionality. Most agreed that the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto systems were easy to use, however.

If you?d just as soon have some basic knobs like in the old days, the Honda is a better fit. The Fusion may appeal more to buyers who put their infotainment systems to good use.


Cargo Space - Winner: Ford Fusion
The Ford Fusion has 16 cubic feet of cargo space, which is slightly above average for the class and slightly more than the Accord?s 15.8 cubic feet. Reviewers also like the depth and shape of the Fusion?s trunk, which make it suitable for storing large items. The Accord's trunk narrows between the wheelhouses, making it less useful than you'd expect, given the Accord's size.

Both vehicles have a number of small storage spaces in the cabin, and both allow the rear seats to fold forward to accommodate lengthy cargo. But while the Fusion?s cargo area is only slightly larger than the Accord?s, it is considerably more useful, giving it the advantage here.


Fuel Efficiency - Winner: Honda Accord
The most fuel-efficient Accord configuration gets a combined 31 miles per gallon, which is two miles per gallon better than the most efficient Fusion. And it does this while making 10 more horsepower and weighing 300 fewer pounds.

If you want more than 200 horsepower, fuel economy for both drops a little, but the Accord still wins with a 278-horsepower V6 that gets 34 mpg on the highway, as compared to the Fusion?s 231-horsepower four-cylinder that gets 33.

Test drivers found the Fusion's four-cylinder to be a little on the thirsty side for an engine that small, while most agreed that the Accord offers good fuel economy across the board.


Performance - Winner: Honda Accord
You can get an Accord with almost 50 more horsepower than the most-powerful Fusion, so there isn?t much of a contest when it comes to raw strength. Car & Driver clocked that version of the Accord at 5.6 seconds from 0 to 60.

But there?s more to performance than driving fast in a straight line, and test drivers said the Fusion is fun to drive, even with the sluggish, out-of-date base engine. Good grip and low body roll make it surprisingly fun around corners. That characteristic is not often associated with the Accord, and the 2016 version is no exception. Test drivers say it is reserved on the road, though an available manual transmission livens things up.

Though the Fusion is a better-handling car, the Accord?s extra power, superior base engine, and the availability of a manual transmission make it a better choice for buyers looking to liven up their commute.


The Winner Is: - Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is more powerful, slightly more fuel efficient, more comfortable, and more reliable than the Ford Fusion. The Fusion can beat the Accord on price alone, and for that reason, it may be a good option for leases. If driving dynamics are important to you, the Fusion offers good handling and can be had with just enough horsepower to make things interesting. However, for the average midsize sedan customer, the Honda Accord is the clear choice.
 


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