North Georgia Ford Compares 2017 Ford Fusion VS 2017 Toyota Avalon Near Chatsworth, GA

The rear seatbelts optional on the Fusion inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The Avalon doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

The Fusion offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Avalon doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Fusion (except S)’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Avalon doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Fusion and the Avalon have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Fusion is safer than the Toyota Avalon:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Fusion is safer than the Toyota Avalon:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Ford Fusion has a better fatality history. The Fusion was involved in fatal accidents at a rate 5% lower per vehicle registered than the Avalon, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

There are over 3 times as many Ford dealers as there are Toyota dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Fusion’s warranty.

The Fusion’s optional 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. produces 27 lbs.-ft. more torque (275 vs. 248) than the Avalon’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The Fusion Sport’s standard 2.7 turbo V6 produces 57 more horsepower (325 vs. 268) and 102 lbs.-ft. more torque (350 vs. 248) than the Avalon’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Fusion Sport 2.7 turbo V6 is faster than the Toyota Avalon:

On the EPA test cycle the Fusion FWD 1.5 turbo 4 cyl. gets better fuel mileage than the Avalon (23 city/34 hwy vs. 21 city/30 hwy).

The Fusion has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Avalon doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Fusion stops much shorter than the Avalon:

For better traction, the Fusion SE’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Avalon (235/50R17 vs. 225/45R18).

The Fusion’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Avalon Touring/Limited’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Fusion offers optional 19-inch wheels. The Avalon’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Fusion has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Avalon’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Fusion offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Avalon’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Fusion’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Avalon doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Fusion’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the Avalon (112.2 inches vs. 111 inches).

The Fusion Sport AWD handles at .89 G’s, while the Avalon XLE pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Fusion Titanium executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Avalon Limited (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Fusion’s turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the Avalon’s (37.5 feet vs. 40 feet).

The Fusion is 3.5 inches shorter than the Avalon, making the Fusion easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Fusion uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Avalon doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Fusion Platinum uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Avalon doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Fusion has .7 inches more front headroom and 2.2 inches more front legroom than the Avalon.

The Fusion’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Avalon doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

If the windows are left down on the Fusion the driver can raise them all using the keyless remote; on a hot day the driver can lower the windows. The driver of the Avalon can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Fusion SE/Titanium/Sport/Platinum’s exterior keypad. The Avalon doesn’t offer an exterior keypad entry system.

The Fusion’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Avalon XLE/Touring’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

On extremely cold winter days, the Fusion’s optional (except S) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Avalon doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Fusion (except S) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Avalon doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Fusion (except S)’s optional Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Avalon doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Fusion is less expensive to operate than the Avalon because it costs $180 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Fusion than the Avalon, including $164 less for a water pump, $284 less for a starter, $230 less for fuel injection, $165 less for a fuel pump, $410 less for front struts and $1241 less for a timing belt/chain.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Fusion will be $6341 to $7272 less than for the Toyota Avalon.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Ford Fusion and the Toyota Avalon, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Fusion Hybrid was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” in 2010. The Avalon has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

Motor Trend selected the Fusion as their 2010 Car of the Year. The Avalon has never been chosen.

The Fusion Hybrid was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2010. The Avalon has never been an “All Star.”

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Fusion Hybrid as the 2010 North American Car of the Year. The Avalon has never been chosen.

The Ford Fusion outsold the Toyota Avalon by over five to one during the 2016 model year.