Ford faces big test with new Fusion, Consumer Reports says
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The 2013 Fusion looks "fabulous" and "is fun to drive," David Champion of Consumer Reports said, based on his spin in a pre-production version of the car. |
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Editor's note: The Dodge Durango is a crossover. An earlier version of this story gave the wrong description.
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (Bloomberg) -- Ford Motor Co., after two years of consumer complaints about its touch-screen dashboard controls, faces a big test with its remodeled Fusion midsize sedan, Consumer Reports magazine's auto-test chief said.
Technology glitches have lowered Ford's quality scores.
The automaker's namesake brand fell to 27th in J.D. Power & Associates' new-car quality survey in June from fifth two years ago.
The company's Lincoln luxury brand remained below average, ranking 18th.
CEO Alan Mulally has made technology a key part of his turnaround plan at Ford.
Fuel-efficient, turbocharged engines and features such as voice-activated phones have attracted younger customers and pushed up prices.
"Ford was going absolutely gangbusters. They had the most reliable family sedan, bar none," said David Champion, who runs Consumer Reports auto testing.
Complaints about the MyFord Touch screen and small-car transmissions have continued to hurt its reputation.
"Word of mouth is still really important in the marketplace," he said. The 2013 Fusion looks "fabulous" and "is fun to drive," Champion said, based on his spin in a pre-production version of the car.
Ford in March sent a software upgrade to 377,000 customers with the MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch dashboard controls.
While the upgrade included faster touch responses, simpler graphics, enhanced voice recognition and improved phone controls, it didn't arrive in time to improve this year's scores in the J.D. Power & Associates new-car survey.
"Yes, they've done some upgrades to it," Champion said. "But it is still a pain in the neck even when it's supposed to be working properly. It's still slow. It's still difficult to use."
Dodge Dart
Chrysler Group has introduced strong new models, including its Grand Cherokee SUV, Dodge Durango crossover and Chrysler 300 sedan, Champion said.
While the new Dart compact car is also impressive, he said, it competes in a crowded segment against the likes of the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and Ford Focus.
"It's going to be tough in that marketplace," he said. "The car is good and it's fun to dive. I think it should do really well. The ride, the handling, the steering -- all work really well. The interior still has some issues of cheapness to it."
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