2006 Ford Fusion Preview

First of all, the quality of materials and interior fit and finish is superb. Those who would rather buy domestic in order to

The quality of materials and interior fit and finish of the Fusion is superb. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

bolster the economy but aren't necessarily willing to put up with shoddy workmanship compared to top-tier Japanese rivals can rest assured, they won't be making concessions if they choose to buy the Fusion.

Rather than just apply soft touch materials to the top of the dash, and other areas where the hands and arms will most likely end up touching, Ford goes a step further by making sure pretty well all surfaces deliver an upscale tactile sensation, even those out of immediate reach.

To come to this conclusion I took my time poking, prodding, tapping and touching surfaces to get an overall feel for the car, and came away extremely impressed at what Ford accomplished. It's as good as the Mazda6, one of the best in the midsize segment, as good as the Camry or Accord, and better than most other midsize contenders.

What it has over most of its rivals, mind you, is a distinctly European feel in design and interior layout. Controls and switchgear are intuitively positioned, well within

There is a distinctly European feel to the Fusion's interior design and layout. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

reach of even smallish drivers, with large knobs and buttons for climate control, audio system and other ancillary feature actuation.

The dash and center stack configuration is simple, yet clean and elegant. There's no clutter, and surface treatments, such as satin-finished accents or the optional piano black lacquer, dress it up nicely.

And rather than just offer the same interior in different shades of black, brown or gray, Ford has taken a cue from Audi and given its Fusion cabin themes.