The Ford Fusion is Motor Trend magazine's car of the year

[Raza]

MT's COTY award is probably the most recognized award out there. Why do you guys think it's such a farce? Because it goes to new or significantly improved models only? Yes, they've had some questionable picks over the years, but the Fusion is a great choice.

They did give it to the Camry one year.  But I do think they also gave it to the Evo VIII (that may have been Automobile).

[Submariner]

While I'm no lover of the Fusion, it's a damn fine car for what it's worth. 

[93JC]

They did give it to the Camry one year.

2007

Questionable picks they've had include: Vega in '71, Citroen SM in '72, Monza in '75, Aspen & Volare in '76, Citation in '80 and Renault Alliance in '83.

[TBR]

In a relative sense there are a number of cars more deserving IMO; Camaro, 370, Genesis Coupe, and Legacy being the short list IMO.

Ah but you missed the significant clause. The Fusion is more significant than all those cars, other than perhaps the Genesis Coupe and the Legacy.

I am also not convinced that the Fusion isn't a better car than the Legacy.

[TBR]

BlowCougs is right!  Pounds of Carbon Dioxide are only important to those who breathe air, so who gives a fuck?  Right?

Yet again proving that you don't know what you are talking about. CO2 is not a pollutant in the traditional sense. Inhaling it doesn't bring any adverse consequences. It is a green house gas, though I am not yet convinced that human green house gas contributions are significant enough to actually do anything.

[Raza]

Legacy?  What makes it demonstrably better than the Fusion?

[SVT666]

In a relative sense there are a number of cars more deserving IMO; Camaro, 370, Genesis Coupe, and Legacy being the short list IMO.

You really don't know shit do you?  Camaro isn't even better then the Mustang it was designed to challenge, the 370 is a low volume sports car, the Genesis Coupe only has price going for it when compared to it's rivals, and the Legacy was beaten by the Fusion to win this award.

[Eye of the Tiger]

You really don't know shit do you?  Camaro isn't even better then the Mustang it was designed to challenge is awesome, the 370 is a low volume sports car, the Genesis Coupe only has price going for it when compared to it's rivals is awesome, and the Legacy was beaten by the Fusion to win this award.

thar

[565]

What is your basis for saying the Accord is better than the Fusion? The badge? Just asking as the one person on here who as almost certainly driven both seems pretty confident that the Ford is the better car.

I hate to come to GoCougs defense or anything, but he does have a point.  Of the big 3 mags, I don't recall any of them ranking the new Fusion above the Accord.

Accord vs 6 vs Fusion.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/09q2/2010_ford_fusion_vs._mazda_6_honda_accord-comparison_tests

Fusion comes last.

Also for all this talk about the Fusion winning COTY from Motor Trend.  Lets not forget Motor Trend's own opinion on the Accord vs Fusion debate.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0907_ford_fusion_honda_accord_comparison/results.html

Accord 1st, Fusion 2nd.  Though it was a narrow victory, but a victory nonetheless.

[565]

You really don't know shit do you?  Camaro isn't even better then the Mustang it was designed to challenge, the 370 is a low volume sports car, the Genesis Coupe only has price going for it when compared to it's rivals, and the Legacy was beaten by the Fusion to win this award.

Probably the 370 wasn't going to win it because just last year the Nissan GT-R won.  I don't recall the same manufacturer winning back to back since they consolidated the import car of the year and car of the year awards in 2003.

Honestly I think MT tries to rotate the manufacturers for the COTY awards, it's just too convenient otherwise.

2003 (Nissan)
2004 (Toyota)
2005 (Chrysler)
2006 (Honda)
2007 (Toyota)
2008 (GM)
2009 (Nissan)

Out of the japanese big 3 and the domestic big 3, only Ford has completely failed to win any COTY awards since the 2003 consolidation, until now.

[Madman]

Here's a copy of what I wrote in the Go Ford thread.  It perfectly sums up my opinion of MT and their CoY award:



A fussy and overstyled facelift of a five year old design (based on the even older Mazda 6) is MT's "Car of the Year"?  Really?  WTF?  Remind me never to take anything Motor Trend says seriously ever again!

Oh, wait a minute, I forgot I already don't take anything Motor Trend says seriously.  I guess Ford's advertising dollars speak louder than the product itself?   


And where the hell is the Volvo XC60 on that list?  A groundbreaking new vehicle boasting revolutionary safety technology doesn't even make the list of candidates?  And Volkswagen's lazy and shameful rehash of a Chrysler minivan does?  YOU'VE GOT TO BE FU#&ING KIDDING ME??????!!!!!!!!!

Burn in hell, Motor Trend.  BURN IN HELL!!!!!!!


Madman of the People

[the Teuton]

The XC60 was on the SUV of the year list...

[GoCougs]

You really don't know shit do you?  Camaro isn't even better then the Mustang it was designed to challenge, the 370 is a low volume sports car, the Genesis Coupe only has price going for it when compared to it's rivals, and the Legacy was beaten by the Fusion to win this award.

The Camaro is the better seller, the better performer, and has garnered more praise and press than the Mustang, plus the Mustang is a six-year-old car.

The GTR won last year with minuscule sales volume; far less than that of the 370Z.

Other value-oriented cars have won in the past (Civic in 2006).

The Legacy is actually an all-new design, with standard AWD, CVT or 6sp M/T and performance model (GT).

Additionally, I regret to inform you that I must place you on my ignore list because your Ford- and Mustang-apologist attacks have simply become too much. That post wasn't even to you, didn't address you and didn't even concern you.

[ifcar]

The Camaro is the better seller, the better performer, and has garnered more praise and press than the Mustang, plus the Mustang is a six-year-old car.

The GTR won last year with minuscule sales volume; far less than that of the 370Z.

Other value-oriented cars have won in the past (Civic in 2006).

The Legacy is actually an all-new design, with standard AWD, CVT or 6sp M/T and performance model (GT).

Additionally, I regret to inform you that I must place you on my ignore list because your Ford- and Mustang-apologist attacks have simply become too much. That post wasn't even to you, didn't address you and didn't even concern you.

Who cares whether it's entirely new or just updated? You can have a terrible all-new car or a great one that's been around for a while.

[Madman]

The XC60 was on the SUV of the year list...

Then it's just another reason to hate Motor Trend.  There is no good reason to separate SUVs from cars when everyone knows these SUVs will be used as cars.  Unless you count soliciting more bribes err, I mean "advertising revenue" from manufacturers as a good reason?

So, a minivan qualifies as a "car" but a car-based "soft-roader" doesn't?  WTF?


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[CJ]

The Mustang happens to be a fantastic car.  I've driven an '05 GT and absolutely LOVED it.  I've also driven a new Camaro and absolutely hated it.  Everything about that car was wrong.  Everything.

[2o6]

Then it's just another reason to hate Motor Trend.  There is no good reason to separate SUVs from cars when everyone knows these SUVs will be used as cars.  Unless you count soliciting more bribes err, I mean "advertising revenue" from manufacturers as a good reason?

So, a minivan qualifies as a "car" but a car-based "soft-roader" doesn't?  WTF?


Cheers,
Madman of the People

So, an Escalade and a Yaris should go head to head?

[GoCougs]

Who cares whether it's entirely new or just updated? You can have a terrible all-new car or a great one that's been around for a while.

Yes, I agree, I'm just digging on M/T's ridiculous "requirement" for making it into the test field.

My point was if they were honest with the test, and had no such requirement, the same car would likely win multiple years in a row; a la C/D's Ten Best lists. But what fun would that be?

[Madman]

So, an Escalade and a Yaris should go head to head?

If they are both used as cars (and they are), then yes.

Cheers,
Madman of the People

[SVT_Power]

Maybe the accord is better than the fusion, but calling the fusion a second tier vehicle? LOL.

[Tave]

I think it won the award in the context of Ford's relative success in the recession and the fact that it is at least competent with respect to its class. It's an important car for Ford, and an important model in the industry this year.

The Camaro would have been a decent choice too. I hope its sales stay strong into the comming years.

[SVT666]

Additionally, I regret to inform you that I must place you on my ignore list because your Ford- and Mustang-apologist attacks have simply become too much. That post wasn't even to you, didn't address you and didn't even concern you.

  Good one.

Your Ford hatred is beyond anything I've seen on these boards outside of Wimmer's hatred of Lexus.  You take the cake my friend.

[GoCougs]

WOW/LOL at Madman - now there's some passion.

The Fusion's not a terrible car it's just not a winner amongst this year's test group, artificially restricted as it may be.

[MrH]

I think we are all forgetting what COTY really is.  It's the most influential product, isn't it?

Ford putting out a mainstream, mid size sedan, the bread and butter of the market, that actually competes is huge news.

[ifcar]

Yes, I agree, I'm just digging on M/T's ridiculous "requirement" for making it into the test field.

My point was if they were honest with the test, and had no such requirement, the same car would likely win multiple years in a row; a la C/D's Ten Best lists. But what fun would that be?

The C/D award is only based on what cars they like. The Motor Trend (and other COTYs) factors in what impact a new product will have on the market, which would make it hard for something that's already around to win anyway.

Besides, if they did it like C/D, it would be last year's winner plus this year's new cars -- and I don't think the GT-R was going to win 2010.

[565]

The C/D award is only based on what cars they like. The Motor Trend (and other COTYs) factors in what impact a new product will have on the market, which would make it hard for something that's already around to win anyway.

Besides, if they did it like C/D, it would be last year's winner plus this year's new cars -- and I don't think the GT-R was going to win 2010.

The GT-R was priced too high for the 2009 C&D 10 best 71 grand cutoff.

[ifcar]

The GT-R was priced too high for the 2009 C&D 10 best 71 grand cutoff.

I didn't say it wasn't; I was saying why it wouldn't have won Motor Trend 2010 COTY even if MT did follow the C/D example of including last year's winner in the competition.

[Vinsanity]

Probably the 370 wasn't going to win it because just last year the Nissan GT-R won.  I don't recall the same manufacturer winning back to back since they consolidated the import car of the year and car of the year awards in 2003.

Honestly I think MT tries to rotate the manufacturers for the COTY awards, it's just too convenient otherwise.

2003 (Nissan)
2004 (Toyota)
2005 (Chrysler)
2006 (Honda)
2007 (Toyota)
2008 (GM)
2009 (Nissan)

Out of the japanese big 3 and the domestic big 3, only Ford has completely failed to win any COTY awards since the 2003 consolidation, until now.

Inrteresting observation. Ford had a strong contender with the 2005 Mustang, but also had some stiff competition with the 300C. IMO, Ford had an even better chance with the 2006 Fusion; I never saw the wedgy Civic to be that big of a deal.

[Nethead]

Motor Trend has no qualms about revealing why they picked the Fusion over the other twenty-odd contenders:

http://www.motortrend.com/av/features/112_0911_2010_car_of_the_year_winner/index.html

'Can't see any area for disagreement or argument.

[omicron]

Motor Trend has no qualms about revealing why they picked the Fusion over the other twenty-odd contenders:

http://www.motortrend.com/av/features/112_0911_2010_car_of_the_year_winner/index.html

'Can't see any area for disagreement or argument.

Angus, Angus, Angus - this James May attempt is just not working for you. And what's this Two Thousand Ten nonsense? How very un-Australian!