The 2018 Ford Fusion remains a popular choice in the mid-size sedan market, known for its stylish design and comfortable ride. But when it comes to safety, how does the 2018 Fusion hold up? As car repair experts at cardiagnosticnearme.com, we’ve delved into the official crash test ratings to provide you with a detailed and insightful analysis of the 2018 Ford Fusion’s safety performance. This comprehensive review, based on rigorous testing, will help you understand the vehicle’s strengths and weaknesses in protecting occupants during various types of collisions.
In-Depth Look at Crash Test Performance
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has conducted a series of crash tests on the 2018 Ford Fusion to evaluate its safety. These tests simulate different real-world accident scenarios, providing a clear picture of how well the vehicle protects its occupants. Let’s break down the results from each test category:
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side
The small overlap front crash test is one of the most challenging evaluations, simulating a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts another vehicle or a narrow object like a tree or pole.
Action shot from the 2018 Ford Fusion driver-side small overlap front crash test, demonstrating vehicle structure and airbag deployment.
In the driver-side small overlap test, the 2018 Ford Fusion achieved a “Good” rating, the highest possible. This indicates excellent protection for the driver in this severe type of frontal crash. Key factors contributing to this rating include the vehicle’s structural integrity and effective airbag deployment. The safety cage of the Fusion held up well, maintaining crucial survival space for the driver.
Looking at the detailed measurements, the intrusion into the lower occupant compartment was minimal, with a maximum of 4 cm at the lower hinge pillar. Critically, intrusion at the footrest, toepan, and brake pedal areas were also very low, ranging from just 1 to 2 cm. This limited intrusion reduces the risk of lower leg and foot injuries.
The driver injury measures further reinforce the “Good” rating. All injury measures for the head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot were rated as “Good,” signifying a low risk of significant injuries in these areas. The dummy kinematics, which assesses how the test dummy moves during the crash and interacts with safety features, were also rated “Good,” indicating effective restraint systems. The frontal and side curtain airbags worked in concert to protect the driver’s head, preventing contact with hard structures or external objects.
Post-crash dummy position in the 2018 Ford Fusion driver-side small overlap test, showing excellent maintenance of driver survival space.
Airbag deployment effectiveness in the 2018 Ford Fusion driver-side small overlap test, highlighting head protection.
Minimal footwell intrusion in the 2018 Ford Fusion driver-side small overlap test, indicating low risk of leg and foot injuries.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side
The passenger-side small overlap test mirrors the driver-side test but evaluates protection for the front passenger. Like the driver-side, the 2018 Ford Fusion also earned a “Good” rating in the passenger-side small overlap test.
Action shot from the 2018 Ford Fusion passenger-side small overlap front crash test, assessing occupant protection.
Similar to the driver-side performance, the structure and safety cage of the 2018 Ford Fusion demonstrated “Good” integrity, maintaining passenger survival space effectively. Intrusion measurements were slightly higher on the passenger side compared to the driver side, with a maximum of 9 cm at the lower hinge pillar. However, all intrusion levels remained within acceptable limits, contributing to the “Good” structural rating.
Passenger injury measures were also rated “Good” across all body regions (head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot). The passenger restraints and dummy kinematics performed effectively, earning a “Good” rating and indicating proper functioning of the safety systems to protect the passenger. The coordinated action of frontal and side curtain airbags again played a crucial role in head protection.
Dummy position after the 2018 Ford Fusion passenger-side small overlap crash test, demonstrating well-maintained passenger survival space.
Frontal and side airbag effectiveness in the 2018 Ford Fusion passenger-side small overlap test, ensuring passenger head safety.
Passenger space maintenance in the 2018 Ford Fusion passenger-side small overlap test, showing low injury risk.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Test
In the moderate overlap front crash test, a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts a barrier. The 2018 Ford Fusion again received a “Good” overall rating in this test.
The structure and safety cage were rated “Good,” signifying robust construction to withstand moderate frontal impacts. Driver injury measures were also all rated “Good” for head/neck, chest, and legs/feet (both left and right). This consistent “Good” performance across all measured areas indicates comprehensive frontal crash protection in a moderate overlap scenario. The driver restraints and dummy kinematics were also rated “Good”, confirming the effectiveness of the seatbelts and airbags in a moderate frontal impact.
Side Impact Crash Test: Original Test
Side impact crashes are particularly dangerous due to the relatively less structural protection compared to frontal impacts. The 2018 Ford Fusion achieved a “Good” overall rating in the side impact test.
While the overall rating is “Good,” the structure and safety cage received an “Acceptable” rating, which is a step below “Good.” However, driver injury measures for head/neck, torso, and pelvis/leg were all rated “Good.” Similarly, rear passenger injury measures for head/neck, torso, and pelvis/leg also earned “Good” ratings. Both driver and rear passenger head protection were rated “Good,” indicating effective side airbag and side curtain airbag performance.
This “Good” rating in side impact, despite an “Acceptable” structure rating, suggests that while there might be some structural deformation, the safety systems effectively mitigate injury risk to occupants.
Roof Strength Test
Roof strength is crucial in rollover accidents. The 2018 Ford Fusion earned a “Good” rating in the roof strength test. With a strength-to-weight ratio of 5.14, the roof of the Fusion can withstand over five times its own weight, providing significant protection in a rollover scenario.
Head Restraints & Seats
Whiplash is a common injury in rear-end collisions. The 2018 Ford Fusion’s head restraints and seats were evaluated for their ability to protect against whiplash in rear impacts and received a “Good” overall dynamic rating and seat/head restraint geometry rating. This indicates that the design of the seats and head restraints effectively supports the neck and reduces the risk of whiplash injuries.
Headlights
Headlight performance is a critical aspect of nighttime driving safety. The IIHS evaluates headlights for visibility and glare. The 2018 Ford Fusion has three different headlight variations, and unfortunately, all of them received a “Poor” overall rating.
The LED projector headlights available on higher trims (Platinum, Titanium, V6 Sport with Driver Assist package, and similar Hybrid trims) and LED projector headlights on Titanium, V6 Sport, and SE/Hybrid SE with Luxury packages, both rated “Poor.” The halogen projector headlights on lower trims (S, SE, Hybrid S, Hybrid SE) also received a “Poor” rating.
The main issues were inadequate visibility on curves and straightaways with both low beams and high beams, and in some cases, excessive glare from the low beams. This “Poor” headlight rating is an area where the 2018 Ford Fusion could be significantly improved.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Front crash prevention systems can significantly reduce or prevent frontal collisions. The 2018 Ford Fusion, when equipped with the optional “Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection” and “Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go” package, earned a “Superior” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention.
In IIHS tests at 12 mph and 25 mph, the 2018 Ford Fusion avoided collisions entirely, demonstrating the effectiveness of its optional front crash prevention system. The system also meets the requirements for forward collision warning, further enhancing safety.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchors (LATCH) make it easier to install child safety seats correctly. The 2018 Ford Fusion received a “Marginal” rating for its LATCH system.
While the Fusion has LATCH hardware in multiple rear seating positions, the lower anchors were noted to be too deep in the seat and difficult to maneuver around, making installation somewhat challenging. This “Marginal” rating suggests that while LATCH is available, it may not be the most user-friendly system compared to vehicles with “Good” or “Acceptable” LATCH ratings.
2018 Ford Fusion Safety: Overall Assessment
The 2018 Ford Fusion demonstrates strong safety performance in most crash test categories, achieving “Good” ratings in small overlap front (driver and passenger side), moderate overlap front, side impact, roof strength, and head restraints & seats. The optional front crash prevention system is “Superior.” However, the “Poor” headlight rating and “Marginal” LATCH rating are areas of concern.
Strengths:
- Excellent frontal crash protection: “Good” ratings in both small overlap and moderate overlap front tests.
- Good side impact and rollover protection: “Good” ratings in side impact and roof strength tests.
- Effective whiplash protection: “Good” rating for head restraints & seats.
- Superior front crash prevention (optional system): Avoided collisions in tests.
Weaknesses:
- Poor headlight performance: All headlight variations rated “Poor.”
- Marginal child seat anchor (LATCH) ease of use: LATCH system rated “Marginal.”
Conclusion:
The 2018 Ford Fusion is a safe vehicle overall, particularly excelling in crash protection. Its “Good” ratings in most IIHS crash tests provide reassurance for occupant safety. However, potential buyers should be aware of the “Poor” headlight rating, which could compromise nighttime visibility, and the “Marginal” LATCH system, which might make child seat installation more challenging. If safety is a top priority, opting for models equipped with the optional front crash prevention system is highly recommended. As always, we encourage you to consider these safety ratings alongside other factors when making your car buying decision. For more detailed car safety analyses and repair insights, visit cardiagnosticnearme.com.
