Schomp Honda

Safety

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the CR-Z deploy with different levels of force or don't deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The CR-Z's side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Fusion's side airbags don't have smart features and will always deploy full force.

 

The CR-Z has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Fusion doesn't offer a whiplash protection system.

 

The Honda CR-Z has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous. The Fusion doesn't offer Daytime Running Lights.

 

Compared to metal, the CR-Z's plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Ford Fusion has a metal gas tank.

 

Both the CR-Z and the Fusion have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.

 

Reliability

 

The engine in the CR-Z has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the Fusion have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

 

J.D. Power and Associates' surveys of the owners of three-year-old cars provide the long-term dependability statistics that show that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 7th in reliability, above the industry average. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 8th.

 

Engine

 

For more instantaneous acceleration and better engine flexibility in any gear, the CR-Z's engine produces its peak torque at lower RPM's than the Fusion:

	Torque
CR-Z 1.5 SOHC 4 cyl. hybrid	1000 RPM
Fusion 2.5 DOHC 4 cyl.	4500 RPM
Fusion Hybrid 2.5 DOHC 4 cyl. hybrid	4500 RPM
Fusion SE/SEL 3.0 DOHC V6	4300 RPM
Fusion Sport 3.5 DOHC V6	4500 RPM

 

Transmission

 

A standard 'hill holder' feature keeps the Honda CR-Z from rolling backwards on a steep slope. The Fusion doesn't offer a hill holder feature.

 

Brakes and Stopping

 

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don't press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The CR-Z has a standard brake assist system to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The Fusion doesn't offer a brake assist feature.

 

The CR-Z stops much shorter than the Fusion:

	CR-Z	Fusion
60 to 0 MPH	122 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

 

Tires and Wheels

 

The CR-Z's standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Fusion S' standard 60 series tires.

 

Suspension and Handling

 

The CR-Z EX handles at .85 G's, while the Fusion Hybrid pulls only .80 G's of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

 

For better maneuverability, the CR-Z's turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the Fusion's (35.4 feet vs. 37.5 feet).

 

Chassis

 

The Honda CR-Z may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 1100 pounds less than the Ford Fusion.

 

The CR-Z is 2 feet, 6 inches shorter than the Fusion, making the CR-Z easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

 

Ergonomics

 

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CR-Z has a standard rear wiper. The Fusion doesn't offer a rear wiper.

 

The CR-Z has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The automatic headlight on/off feature is not available on the Fusion S.

 

The CR-Z's standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Fusion S/SE doesn't offer automatic air conditioning.

* [1]  Based on 2011 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.