The 2013 Ford Fusion represents perhaps the greatest technological and styling leap between one model year and the next at the Blue Oval since the introduction of the original Taurus in 1986. Back then the Taurus was Ford's affordable mid-size entry, a role that the sedan has now ceded to the Fusion, and both cars can be seen as making distinct breaks with their respective eras in order to open new chapters for the automaker.
What is it, exactly, that makes the 2013 Ford Fusion so revolutionary? For starters, it's the acknowledgement from Ford that it can build a family car that looks like a million bucks - inside and out - without having to raise the price tag past what most people are willing to pay. More importantly, however, it's the investment in under-hood and chassis technologies, along with next-generation driver interfaces, that further set the Fusion apart from rivals that have gone in the opposite direction by offering a blander experience that aims to satisfy the widest number of customers without offending anyone's delicate sensibilities.
A critical part of pushing forward in any segment is the taking of risks, and in reaching to provide a better mid-size sedan with 2013 Ford Fusion there have been some missteps made along the way. The Fusion isn't perfect, but an excellent car with a few flaws is almost always preferable to a middle-of-the-road option that doesn't stir one's soul one way or the other.
