2016 Ford Fusion

2016 Ford Fusion Overview

Is the 2016 Ford Fusion a Good Used Car?

The 2016 Ford Fusion is a good used midsize car, but it struggles to keep pace with better competitors. The Fusion has lively handling, a handsome interior, and strong available engines – just stay away from the base motor. Few competitors rival the Ford in these areas. However, the Fusion’s infotainment system and dashboard controls are exceptionally frustrating to use. Moreover, while its safety and reliability scores are good, most other cars in the class score higher. There’s a lot to like about the Fusion, but look around before you buy.

Why You Can Trust Us

Our used car rankings and reviews are based on our analysis of professional automotive reviews, as well as data like crash test scores, reliability ratings, and ownership expenses. We researched 34 Ford Fusion reviews to help you decide if it’s the right used car for you.

The U.S. News Best Cars team has been ranking cars, trucks, and SUVs since 2007, and our staff has a combined 75 years of automotive industry experience. To ensure our impartiality, our staff never takes expensive gifts or trips from car companies, and an outside team handles the advertising on our site.

How Much Is the 2016 Ford Fusion?

According to more than 4,300 listings on our site, a used 2016 Ford Fusion can cost from $12,600 to $20,000. The average list price is just under $16,000. Your pricing will vary depending on the car’s condition, mileage, location, and features.

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How Much Does the 2016 Ford Fusion Cost to Own?

The costs associated with owning a car are important to factor into your buying decision. Five-year costs for gas, insurance, maintenance, and repairs are about $21,540 for the 2016 Fusion. That’s a typical amount for a midsize car. Rivals like the Nissan Altima and Chevrolet Malibu have similar five-year costs.

Is It Better to Buy a Used or New Fusion?

A new 2018 Ford Fusion will cost you about $6,200 more than the average price of a used 2016 Fusion. The only major differences between these models are the 2018’s reshuffling of some trims and the availability of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. For most shoppers, these minor changes are not worth the significant price increase.

Read about the new Ford Fusion »

If you’re looking for a new car at roughly the price point of a 2016 Fusion, you have a few options. However, you’ll have to step down a class size to a compact car. The high-ranking 2018 Kia Soul has a roomy cabin for a small car and starts are roughly the same price as an average 2016 Fusion. It just doesn’t have the performance chops of the Fusion. The 2018 Mazda3 is a little more expensive (starting at $18,095), but with a high-end interior and racy driving dynamics, it’s a good alternative to the Fusion.

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How Reliable Is the 2016 Ford Fusion?

The 2016 Fusion has a reliability rating of three out of five from J.D. Power. That’s an average score for the industry, but most 2016 midsize cars earn higher marks.

Read more about Fusion reliability »

2016 Ford Fusion Recalls

As of this writing, the 2016 Fusion has four safety recalls. One deals with the steering wheel, which can detach, and one with seat belts that can fail to restrain passengers. There’s also a recall for an improperly welded driver’s seat and another for a fuel-tank crack that can leak.

See more information on Ford Fusion safety recalls »

Which Model Year of the Ford Fusion Is Best?

The 2016 model is part of a Fusion generation that launched for 2013. The 2013 model is best avoided, but the 2014 and 2015 models score well and include the 1.4-liter EcoBoost engine. They’ll also probably cost less than the 2016 Fusion. The 2017 model received an improved infotainment system (SYNC 3), but the average list price is about $1,900 more than the 2016's. The 2015 Fusion will prove the best choice for many shoppers.

Compare the 2014, 2015, and 2016 Fusion »

Which Used Ford Fusion Model Is Right for Me?

The 2016 Ford Fusion comes in three trims: S, SE, and Titanium. (The 2016 Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid and 2016 Ford Fusion Hybrid are reviewed separately.) The Ford Fusion S base model includes Ford's SYNC system with voice commands and Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity. The Ford Fusion SE trim doesn’t add much besides satellite radio, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and LED taillights. However, the SE is the lowest trim level available with a voice-activated navigation system, rear parking sensors, dual-zone automatic climate control, and SYNC with MyFord Touch and an 8-inch touch screen. The Ford Fusion Titanium trim includes a 12-speaker premium Sony stereo, dual-zone automatic climate control, and heated front sport seats with leather trim.

See 2016 Ford Fusion trims and specs »

What Does Ford's Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Cover?

Ford offers a certified pre-owned program for vehicles six years old or less and with fewer than 80,000 miles. Eligibility is determined by the vehicle’s initial sale date. For its certified pre-owned vehicles, Ford extends the original new-car powertrain warranty to seven years from the original sale date or 100,000 miles. These vehicles also get a one-year/12,000-mile limited warranty after the original three-year/36,000-mile new-car warranty expires. Each Ford CPO vehicle must pass a 172-point inspection. Additional benefits like vehicle history reports, towing, and roadside assistance may be available, so read the Ford warranty page carefully.

Ford does not have one of the better CPO programs among affordable carmakers. Chevy, GMC, Honda, Kia, and Mazda all have better programs.

See the best CPO programs »

Read more about the Ford certified pre-owned program »

How Safe Is the Fusion?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2016 Ford Fusion the highest rating of Good in four out of five crash tests. It received the second-highest rating of Acceptable in the IIHS' small overlap front evaluation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Fusion five out of five stars for overall safety. The Fusion received four stars in the NHTSA’s side and rollover crash tests. While those are fairly good safety scores, many cars in this class do better.

The 2016 Fusion comes with a rearview camera. Also standard is the Ford MyKey system, which allows owners to set vehicle speed and audio volume limits – a helpful feature for parents monitoring their teen’s driving habits. Several other driver assistance features are available, including adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, park assist, lane keep assist, inflatable rear seat belts, and forward collision alert.

See Fusion safety scores »

2016 Ford Fusion Versus the Competition

Which Is Better: 2016 Ford Fusion or 2016 Mazda6?

The 2016 Mazda6 is one of the star performers in the class and clearly the better choice. Its athletic handling and sharp steering make it one of the most exciting cars in the class to drive. It’s powered by a four-cylinder engine that delivers speedy city and highway acceleration, as well as better fuel economy estimate’s than the Fusion’s base engine. Inside, the cabin has excellent build quality, premium materials, and user-friendly infotainment system controls.

Which Is Better: 2016 Ford Fusion or 2016 Hyundai Sonata?

The 2016 Hyundai Sonata has one of the most upscale, quiet cabins in the class, featuring high-quality materials and a straightforward infotainment system. Additionally, the Sonata’s front seats are roomier than the Fusion’s. As for fuel economy, the Sonata’s base and available turbocharged engines both earn better estimates than the Fusion’s base engine. The Fusion comes out on top for performance, so picking between these two depends on your priorities.

Compare the Fusion, Mazda6, and Sonata »

2016 Fusion Performance

How Does the 2016 Ford Fusion Drive?

For a midsize car, the Fusion has surprisingly agile handling, composed cornering, and accurate steering. Its brakes are strong as well. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available in higher trims.

The 2016 Ford Fusion has a 175-horsepower four-cylinder engine that feels sluggish from a stop and on the highway. A 181-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder is available and delivers more-satisfying power. There’s also a turbocharged, 241-horsepower EcoBoost four-cylinder that provides enthusiastic acceleration and markedly more punch. A smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission is standard in all models.

Does the 2016 Ford Fusion Get Good Gas Mileage?

The base front-wheel-drive 2016 Fusion earns an EPA-estimated 22 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, which are on the low end for the segment. It gets the same fuel economy estimates with the available 241-horsepower, turbocharged engine, while the available 181-horsepower turbo increases fuel estimates to 24 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

For better fuel economy estimates, check out the 2016 Ford Fusion Hybrid and 2016 Ford Fusion Energi, which are reviewed separately.

Read more about Fusion performance »

2016 Fusion Interior

How Many People Does the 2016 Fusion Seat?

The Ford Fusion seats five on cloth seats. Some models come with genuine leather, heated front seats, and natural grain black ash wood trim. While luxurious interiors are common in the class, few match the Fusion’ elegance and rich materials. Up front, the seats are comfortable and supportive. The same can’t be said of the cramped back seats, which have limited head- and legroom compared to those of rivals.

How Many Car Seats Fit in the 2016 Ford Fusion?

Complete sets of LATCH child-seat connectors are located on the rear outboard seats, and the middle seat has an upper tether anchor. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Fusion’s LATCH system a Marginal rating – the second-lowest – for its ease of use.

2016 Ford Fusion Features

The 2016 Fusion comes standard with a four-speaker stereo, a rearview camera, voice-controlled SYNC with Bluetooth, a USB port, and Ford’s MyKey, which allows owners to set vehicle speed and audio volume limits for other drivers of the car. Available features include dual-zone automatic climate control, a sunroof, a navigation system, push-button start, a proximity key, remote start, a 12-speaker Sony audio system, HD Radio, satellite radio, the MyFord Touch infotainment system with an 8-inch LCD touch screen, and two USB ports.

The Fusion’s tiny and poorly organized dashboard controls make it difficult to adjust center stack settings. The available MyFord Touch infotainment system offers some useful features, like voice commands, but the screen’s small icons and slow response make it difficult to use.

See 2016 Ford Fusion specs »

Read more about Fusion interior »

2016 Ford Fusion Dimensions

Ford Fusion Cargo Space

The 2016 Ford Fusion has a 16-cubic-foot trunk, which is a little above average for a midsize sedan. The trunk is deep, so it’s fairly easy to load bulky items.

2016 Fusion Length and Weight

The 2016 Fusion measures almost 16 feet in length. Its curb weight ranges from 3,431 to 3,681 pounds, depending on the engine and drivetrain.

Where Was the 2016 Ford Fusion Built?

Ford manufactured the 2016 Fusion in Mexico and Michigan.