2008 Ford Fusion for Sale in Atlanta, GA

You won't be confusing the Fusion for any of those aforementioned rivals. Only the Accord can touch the Fusion on progressive styling. The Camry and Malibu go far more conservative, and as a result, you could lose them in a crowded parking lot. Meanwhile, the upright headlights, angular three-box design, and stout rear end convey the Fusion's sporty nature.

The cabin is not as exciting, but it matches the exterior in terms of sharp, angular design language. The center stack of controls is very straightforward and all the functions are easy to locate and use.

Standard features include a four-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, air conditioning, power door locks, remote keyless entry, and power windows.

The Fusion's look can be enhanced with the newly available Sport Appearance Package. It provides a rear spoiler, fog lamps, a smoked-out grille, and 18-inch aluminum wheels. Inside, the Sport Appearance Package adds leather seating surfaces with red inserts and red stitching.

The base engine is a 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine, making 160 horsepower and 156 pound-feet of torque. If that’s just not enough, Ford also offers a 3.0-liter V6, putting out 221 horsepower and 205 pound-feet of torque.

The 4-cylinder engine routes power to the front wheels through either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. The V6 comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission, and can be had with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (AWD).

The 4-cylinder provides adequate acceleration and the manual transmission pays fuel economy dividends, but the V6 makes more robust acceleration, and the added capability of all-wheel drive will provide peace of mind in winter driving.

Despite being called the Sport “Appearance” Package, it actually adds some performance substance, in the form of a stiffer suspension. No added power, but no worries, as the Fusion has refined handling that even errs on sporty at times.

The Fusion provides 15.8 cubic feet of trunk space, which is better than the Honda Accord and equal to that of the Toyota Camry. The Malibu is a hair more spacious, at 15.1 cubic feet. The trunk space can be accessed via a helpful 60/40 split-fold rear seat.

The Fusion provides a decent amount of backseat legroom, and the angular design of the car allows for a straight enough roof to maintain solid rear headroom. Adults can sit here comfortably for a couple of hours.

Standard features on the Fusion include a four-speaker stereo with AM/FM/CD player, as well as an auxiliary audio jack. The SE trim adds a 6-disc CD player and steering wheel audio controls.

Buyers can select the “Moon and Tune” package, which adds a moonroof and an upgraded Audiophile stereo with 6-disc CD changer and eight speakers.

The Fusion is also optional with Ford’s SYNC communications system which provides hands-free connectivity with your smartphone. This allows for hands-free calling, as well as the ability to stream your music from your phone.

For 2008, the Fusion adds previously optional safety features such as an ABS system and a tire pressure monitoring system as standard equipment. This joins the full array of front- and side-impact airbags that come standard on the Fusion.

Traction control is an option on the Fusion, though models equipped with all-wheel drive include this feature as standard equipment. The Fusion is also available with rear parking sensors.

The most efficient version of the Fusion is the 4-cylinder with the manual, returning 20 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, 23 combined. The 4-cylinder with the automatic transmission returns 20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, 23 combined.

If you are considering the V6, the more efficient version is with AWD, returning 18 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, 21 mpg combined. With AWD, that drops to 17 mpg city, That’s not great fuel economy, but it is the tradeoff for V6 power and AWD.

Base MSRP for the 2008 Ford Fusion is $18,135. The SEL trim starts at $20,150. A V6 Fusion SE starts at $23,660, while the SEL V6 with AWD starts at $24,750. These prices actually undercut the 2008 Honda Accord, making the Fusion a solid value.