The Auto Writer

I was on the phone with a client when the award was announced, so I missed the drama surrounding the announcement that the Ford Fusion had been named Motor Trend (M/T) magazine’s 2010 Car of the Year winner. That’s very good news for Ford which fielded three serious candidates (the Taurus and Mustang being the other models) this year, in a crowded category with 23 nameplates originally considered.

Top Honors

Early on, I had the Ford Taurus and Chevrolet Camaro battling out for top honors, thinking that an American model would win this year, given that Nissan won last year. But, M/T doesn’t switch its award between foreign and domestic models, choosing to go with what they consider to be the best new car out there.

By choosing the Ford Fusion, M/T judges have confirmed what everyone else seems to be seeing in this sedan: it is stylish, well made, fuel efficient and affordable. But, by also including a hybrid model in the mix, Ford certainly has helped the Fusion’s cause and given new car shoppers a highly efficient one at that: the Fusion Hybrid has an 8 mpg edge on the Toyota Camry Hybrid, something that has caught everyone’s attention.

To win the award, the Ford Fusion had to outperform other new models in six new categories: design achievement, engineering excellence, intended function, efficiency, safety and value.

Mercury Milan

Despite a tough economy, consumers are flocking to the Fusion too. Already, more Fusions have been sold in 2009 than any year previously, which bodes well for the automaker. Though it wasn’t named as one of the candidates, the nearly identical Mercury Milan offers the same benefits of the Fusion, but in a slightly different package.

Either way, customers can find a car that gets 23 mpg city/34 mpg highway or 41 mpg city/36 mpg highway with the Ford Fusion Hybrid or Mercury Milan Hybrid.

Up Next?

Don’t expect this to be the last significant award for the Ford Fusion or its Mercury stablemate this year. The Mercury Milan Hybrid is a finalist for the 2010 Green Car of the Year award, with that announcement scheduled for December 3rd at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

In January, just before the start of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), the North American Car of the Year award will be announced and, you guessed it, the Fusion is one of the finalists for that award too.