Ford Fusion

One of the best-looking choices in a category not then known for distinctive styling, the 2013-20 Fusion offered sporty handling to match its aggressive appearance. The cost of that, however, was reduced visibility and rear headroom compared to the previous generation. Other changes in this generation included an available turbocharged four-cylinder engine in place of the old optional V-6, offering similar performance with improved gas mileage. The hybrid version was joined by a new plug-in hybrid, and some optional safety features were added, including rear cross-traffic alert and lane departure warning with lane departure mitigation. For 2017, the Sport trim got a twin-turbo V-6 and other performance tweaks, and the Fusion received minor styling updates for 2019.

Sharing a platform with the Mazda6 — but with a boxier, more upright look — the first-generation Fusion was roomy, quiet, comfortable and had a large trunk. The base engine was a 160-horsepower, 2.3-liter four-cylinder, while a smooth 3.0-liter V-6 was optional. An all-wheel-drive option arrived for 2007, along with standard side curtain airbags. Ford Sync voice recognition made its debut in 2008, and an optional electronic stability system arrived in 2009. A 2010 update included styling tweaks, an available blind spot warning system and a new Sport model. That year also marked the launch of the Fusion Hybrid.