The best way to grab the public’s attention is by pricing a car aggressively and by offering it with a slew of standard features and smart options. To that end, Ford Fusion buyers get to choose between three trim levels, starting with the S with a four-cylinder engine, and moving up to the SE and SEL which come with either the four-cylinder or a V6.

As for pricing, Ford has done quite a job of it with the Fusion. The base entry-level 2006 Ford Fusion S model goes for an MSRP of $17,995, including a $650 destination charge. That’s slightly less than base trim competitors such as the Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry or Honda Accord, and it gets you a five-speed manual transmission, four-wheel-disc brakes behind 16-inch wheels, an AM/FM stereo with a single CD/MP3 player and four speakers (though there’s no easily accessible auxiliary jack for iPod connectivity), power door locks, power windows with driver’s door one-touch down function, and remote keyless entry. Also standard are rear 60/40 fold-down seats, air-conditioning, and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel. Available options on the 2006 Ford Fusion S model include a five-speed automatic transmission, a Safety and Security package (with seat-mounted side airbags, first- and second-row side curtain airbags and an anti-theft perimeter alarm), and four-wheel antilock brakes. At press time, option pricing was not available.

Fusion SE models add the availability of 16-inch aluminum wheels; a six-speaker, six-CD/MP3 stereo or an Audiophile, eight-speaker six-CD/MP3 stereo; leather seating surfaces; and a power moonroof. For buyers who want more power but don’t wish to upgrade to the top-trim SEL, the Fusion SE is offered with a 3.0-liter V6 engine hooked to a six-speed automatic transmission. Traction control is also available on V6 versions of the Fusion SE. Pricing for the SE V6 model starts at an MSRP of $21,275. Though pricing was not announced for the four-cylinder Fusion SE, expect an MSRP between the base $17,995 and the four-cylinder SEL, which is priced at $20,500.

Those opting for the top-of-the-line Fusion SEL get standard features that include fog lamps, 17-inch aluminum wheels, automatic temperature control, a six-disc CD changer/MP3 stereo with six speakers, wood or piano black interior trim, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and climate controls. Equipped with the optional five-speed automatic transmission, a Fusion SEL with a four-cylinder engine will carry an MSRP of under $20,500. Options for the SEL include the V6 engine, heated leather seats, and a Premium package that includes heated outside mirrors with puddle lamps, an automatic-dimming rear view mirror, a compass, and automatic headlamps.

Expect a hybrid version of the Ford Fusion to debut for 2008, but in the meantime your choices are limited four-banger and V6 models that produce less horsepower than many competitors, though the inclusion of Ford’s smooth six-speed automatic transmission with the V6 should even-steven things on the road.