Difference Between Honda Accord and Ford Fusion

Honda Accord vs. Ford Fusion

It is a given fact that Ford Motors is synonymous with the word ‘musclecar’. It is considered the quintessential American brand of automobile, and many car companies have patterned their models after the Ford. Big, brash and loud, and most, if not all, vehicles that Ford manufacture, are known gas guzzlers. However, things have changed in the automotive world, with the entry of fuel efficient, and practical Japanese cars, into the US. One particular Japanese car company, which has made a mark on foreign soil, is Honda Motors.

Honda’s flagship brand is the well renowned Accord, which has earned accolades for its practicality, build quality and reliability. The brand has been holding fast, on the top rung of the hotly contested mid-sized sedan market, wherein the target consumers are urban professionals and small families. Ford has failed to grab hold of the limelight in this department, up until the arrival of the new Fusion, which is what the company calls an import fighter. With that said, we take a look at how the entry level trims of these two cars fare against each other, starting with the title holder, the Honda Accord.

The base model, the Accord LX, has a 2.4L inline-4, which produces 177 horsepower at 6,500rpm, delivered by a 5-speed manual transmission gearbox. The thrifty engine has a fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon for city and highway driving combined. The suggested retail price for this model is $21,765.

The Fusion, on the other hand, starts out cheap, at just $19,620, which shows that Ford is staying true to their import fighter tagline. This car is equipped with a standard 2.5-liter inline-4 engine, that achieves 175 hp at a 6000 rpm redline. That power is delivered to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive, although a 6-speed automatic gearbox is an available option. Ford claims that the Fusion can even achieve the same fuel efficiency ratio as that of the Accord, which is 25 miles per gallon.

The standard safety feature being offered for both cars, is 4-wheel ABS on ventilated disc brakes, lots of airbags and other crash-safety requirements. They differ in terms of curb weight, with the Accord LX weighing in at a slightly trimmer 3230 lbs., supported by 16-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 215/60 All-Season tires.

The Fusion weighs in slightly heavier at 3285lbs. for the manual gearbox model, and 3342lbs. for the automatic shifter. This weight is carried by 205/60V spec tires, on 16-inch alloy rims.

One must remember though, that all these numbers are for the entry-level models only, for both car manufacturers. Things get a bit more upscale, more competitive and pricier as you go up the different trim levels. The Accord offers three different trim levels, namely, the base LX, the upgraded EX, and the top of the line EX-L, which offers premium features, such as leather upholstery and an optional navigation system.

The Fusion is offered in four trim levels, namely, the S, SE, Sport and SEL. Although relatively new to the mid-size sedan segment, the Fusion has earned praises for utilizing high-quality materials in its spacious cabin. Despite being deemed undersized for its category, its roomy interior proves that midsize sedans need not be as conventionally large, like the Accord, in order to accommodate families’ needs. For these facts, together with its low pricing scheme, the Ford Fusion will surely win consumers’ hearts.

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