They're excellent cars for the money. They're fun to drive (far more fun than other midsize sedans), get better gas mileage, are more reliable, look better, and are cheaper to buy.
In terms of reliability, the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan tied for first place, beating out the Subaru Legacy and Honda Accord, which placed second and third, making them the most reliable cars sold in North America. This happened three years in a row (the Toyota Camry was somewhere in the middle, as the V-6 models apparently have had severe engine issues). It looks like that will continue too, as the new 2010 Fusion just beat the Volkswagen Golf and Toyota Prius (second and third), as well as many other contestants, to take Motor Trend's 60th annual Car of the Year Award, the oldest and most prestigious car of the year award out there, with Motor Trend saying that the Fusion Hybrid's interior, materials, and build quality "blow the Prius out of the water."
In gas mileage, the Ford is a little better, averaging around 1-2 miles per gallon better than other midsize sedans, but this is thanks to the smaller engines. The Fusion Hybrid is the most economical midsize sedan in North America. If you live in a city with around 35 mile per hour speed limits, it gets even better, as the Fusion Hybrid can run up to 45 miles per hour in electric mode, unlike the Prius and Insight, which can only manage 25-30 miles per hour on electric mode. If you keep the speed under 40 miles per hour at all times and take it easy, the Fusion can average 80-90 miles per gallon running on electric power.
This is the one place where the Ford falls short: the engines aren't as powerful as competitors engines. They've still got decent power, but are around 30-50 horsepower less than other midsize sedans.
I hope this has answered your question. If you have any more, please feel free to ask.
