Minor update? They introduced three new powertrains (2.5L four, 3.5L six, hybrid). The new interior, according to what I've read, is a dramatic step up in quality, not just a rearrangement-for-the-sake-of-rearrangement like you often see in a facelift. This update isn't minor. It's about as dramatic as you can get without having a whole new generation of car.
And how exactly is a new 175 horsepower four-cylinder with highly-competitive fuel economy ratings "mediocre"?
When the Civic won, I remember Motor Trend relying in part upon its broad appeal. It offered something for those who wanted sportiness (the Si), an eco-car (Civic Hybrid), and good basic transportation (lower trim level Civics). The same is true here. The low-end Fusions are really good practical family sedans at a good price. The Fusion Sport (with 263 horsepower and AWD to compliment the Fusion's excellent-for-the-segment handling) isn't a "sport sedan" like the 335i is a sport sedan, but I think you're going to be hard-pressed to find a better mass-market midsize family sedan with sporting pretensions out there. And the Fusion Hybrid has outperformed the Camry Hybrid on the fuel economy front.
If they wanted to give COTY to the Fusion Hybrid or the Fusion Sport, fine. But the entire line? No way. Those two models, while perhaps worthy of note with such an award, make up a tiny minority of Fusion sales. The vast majority are totally unimpressive. I just shopped these cars. They are in no way anything special. The interior is barely competitive -- not as good as the Malibu or the Altima or the Accord. The 4-banger powertrain is decidedly mediocre -- I don't care what the shills at MT might say, it is not in any way notable. And of course, the vast majority of V-6 models sold are equipped with the underwhelming 3.0 engine, not the 3.5 that is only available in the Sport for big bucks. They grafted a new nose and tail on it, which is a definite improvement over the previous version and fixed the ugly taillights it used to have. But it still retains the same unattractive and cheap-looking black-painted-windowframe greenhouse, and Ford still can't trim out a car properly.
Perhaps since the COTY requires something "all-new" or close to it, this award is more symptomatic of the state of the industry this past year and the lack of new product introductions.
Woow, that's a lot of angry in your heart...
The 4c is no biggy, just as the 4c in the Accord, Camry or Altima. The 3.0 V6 can't be seriously called underwhelmed, it has a better hp per litre ratio than the V6 in the Accord, Camry, Altima and even better than Ford's 3.5L V6. Allied with the AWD system is certainly a winner.
