Ford Fusion stood between the Taurus and the Focus gap, and it was based on the same platform as the Mazda 6 and Lincoln Zephyr.
The 2006 Fusion was a significant departure from the regular Ford sedans. It not only looked different, but it was built to compete against sporty sedans such as Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, or Hyundai Sonata.

From the front, the Fusion featured Ford’s new design language with three slats on the grille. Its squared, and swept-back over the hood headlights were different than any other Ford sedan on the U.S. market. Its sporty profile with a raked windshield and sloped rear window showed a different perspective about the American carmaker. In the rear, Ford installed triangular taillights, similar to those installed on the European Mondeo or on the four-door Focus.

Even if it shared the same platform as the Mazda 6, it sported a longer wheelbase to offer more interior room, especially for those in the back. Its front bucket-seats were wide but just slightly bolstered and didn’t show any tendencies to hold their occupants in place during hard cornering. Its dashboard resembled the European Mondeo, which was not imported or produced for the U.S. market. Inside the instrument cluster, the carmaker installed large dials for the speedometer and tachometer and smaller gauges for the fuel level and temperature gauges. The designers encircled all of them with silver rims to create an upmarket image.

The Fusion featured two engine choices. While the base version was powered by a 2.3-liter shared with Mazda, the full options received a 3.0-liter V-6. Both of them were paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission.