Just as with the interior, the 2006 Ford Fusion’s exterior styling speaks the import language – but does so with an American accent. Case in point: The taillights look importesqe and the low-to high wedge-shaped styling could be inspired from by any number of import sedans.

That’s a good thing, because Ford would love to bonk Toyota and Honda over the head a few times with the stick they’ve been schooled with for the past ten years. Design-wise, the Fusion is a curious thing, and perhaps reveals Ford’s internal angst over sedan-building.: On one hand, they would love to build the sedan they think will wow American buyers with its uniquely bold American qualities – especially when it comes to design. The practical side sees year after year of success from comparatively bland Toyota and Honda, and knows that the Great American Sedan has already been built, many times, on a reputation of quality and dependability.

Ouch. There goes that stick again. The result of such conflict, perhaps, is the Fusion, with its bold front and import-esqe rear. Inspired by the 2001 Ford 427 concept car, the Fusion sports a bold and attractive three-bar grille that is going to become the face of Ford in coming years, and adds strangely-angled trapezoidal headlights on either side. Front to rear, the sedan gets boring pretty quickly, culminating with a high and short rear decklid with just enough style to matter. Part form and function, the high decklid and compact suspension setup enable the Fusion to offer a spacious trunk with flat cargo space and a low liftover height.