With sedan sales plummeting and SUV purchases skyrocketing, Ford looks to synthesize those two vehicle segments by slapping its popular Fusion nameplate on an all-new crossover-like. Ford Cancels Focus Crossover For U.S. Consumers After Trump's Trade War Tariffs This is the first of potentially many vehicles that will be cut from the American market due to president's tariffs, warns industry expert.

2022 Ford Fusion seeing the reality in the automotive industry lately with slumping sedan sales and soaring SUV purchases, Ford is trying to unite the two-vehicle segments by slapping the popular Fusion signboard over the same station wagon as the crossover.

Although there aren’t many details about the upcoming Ford models, it’s expected to target the Subaru Outback and the Buick Regal TourX. That means Fusion Active must have all the wheel drive, plastic cladding, and ride height increased.

There are also rumors that hybrid powertrain and plug-in-hybrid will be offered. We won’t have the full picture until Ford decides to spill the beans, but this is what we know so far about 2021 Fusion Active.

As the Ford Fusion sedan nears its end, the company is expected to replace a recognizable signboard by lifting the station wagon.

Although we expect it to be called Fusion Active, we will not know until Ford releases more details besides the report and spy on the photos we have seen until now.

2022 Ford Fusion Active News

The most obvious part that has no place in the middle segment for the 2020 model is the 6F automatic transmission, which was developed jointly with General Motors in the early 2000s for vehicles with front-wheel drive and all. In the United States, sedans also do not sell.

So what does the new 2022 Ford Fusion Active bring, something that can solve this problem? As you can say in the photo gallery, this mule chassis with Michigan manufacturer’s plate is hiding as the Ford Focus Turnier 2019.

That station wagon in Germany, because the latest Focus is not available in the United States because Ford now has more confidence in crossovers.

We have heard many times that Fusion production will cease to operate in 2021, it will only be replaced for the 2022 model by a rival Long Subaru Outback.

This person here could be our first view of an all-roader that Ford has not confirmed or rejected to this day, and the overall length of the prototype seems to be confirmation that the rumor is valid.

The wheelbase is certainly not a four-door sedan in the middle segment, but a station sedan.

Active Engineering is not a big ride for Ford, because the company has long offered a conventional wheelbarrow variant from the European Fusion clone, Mondeo.

Read next: 2022 Ford Explorer: The Latest Update Rendering Concept and Release Date

With that model as a base, think of Active as the Subaru long roof version of the brand’s medium-sized sedan with all-wheel drive, slightly raised suspension, and a name that says, “I’m outdoors.”

Don’t call that a station wagon, okay? That’s why Active will most likely be wrapped with thick lower body cladding to handle traces to Costco.

Fender flares, emergency glass, and strange-looking bodywork on the back also cannot be ignored, and as such, Ford will likely work as a cheaper alternative to the always-popular Outback.

It’s hard to guess what type of engine options will be offered, especially if the 1.5-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder engine will be available as a standard engine like the Escape compact crossover.

A four-cylinder factory like the 2.0-liter EcoBoost sounds more like it, equipped with an intelligent all-wheel drive and eight-speed tranny to bring the points home.

Considering that Fiesta and Rising Focus are called Active in Europe, the all-new Fusion can be marketed as Active Fusion as well.

What strikes the mind, however, is that Ford calls Fiesta Active and Active Focus “crossovers” in almost every part of marketing nonsense.

The success of the Subaru Outback proves that there is a market in the US for vehicles such as Fusion Active. But building followers like a sect like Outback is another matter.

If the buyer isn’t sure enough to think of Active as a crossover but a station wagon on a cross-trainer, they might avoid it like week-old sushi.

Power must come from a turbocharged Ford 2.0-liter inline-four mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission; a plug-in-hybrid variant is inevitable. Prices should range from around $ 30,000 to $ 40,000.

You can decide for yourself when the active showroom hit is likely late next year.

2022 Ford Fusion Interior

In the interior design, passenger room and Fusion Active cargo volume are a total mystery.

We hope this style reflects Ford’s newer products such as the all-electric Mustang Mach-E crossover and the medium-sized SUV Explorer.

These models suggest fully digital measuring clusters, vertically oriented central screens, and versatile cubby interior storage.

We also hope Fusion Active provides comfortable rear seats and ample cargo space to compete with the Outback and Regal TourX.

The latest version of Ford Sync infotainment systems must be included with the upcoming Fusion Active. We expect the touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to be standard or optional.

Likewise, the built-in navigation and Wi-Fi hotspot will likely be in the list of choices. Ford usually offers an improved audio system too.

2022 Ford Fusion Exterior

Can we inform the exterior of the Ford engineers who have used a body borrowed from Focus Wagon sold abroad to cover the basics?

The basics are considered the latest version of Ford’s CD4 platform for medium-sized cars which is debuting at Fusion today.

This means there is potential for front-wheel drive and all, as well as a hybrid powertrain plug-in.

An alternative could be a broader version of the compact C2 platform that debuted last year on the latest Focus.

This might explain why the engineers used the Focus Wagon body that was stretched for the test mule instead of the larger Mondeo Wagon.

Mondeo is a name used by Fusion today outside North America. Since we’re only at the donkey test stage, it could be six months or more until the prototype arrives.

This means that any disclosure is likely not to occur until 2021, which points to soft-roaders who arrive as models of 2022.

2022 Ford Fusion Engine

Without an official breakdown of engine and transmission options that will be available in Fusion Active, we can only speculate about the possibility.

Ford Focus Crossover

One thing we can almost guarantee is that all-wheel drive will be offered. There are also rumors that Ford will offer hybrid powertrain and plug-in-hybrid on the train.

Read next: 2022 Ford Excursion: Everything We Know So Far

Both electrical settings can be the same or similar to those that support compact Escape Crossovers. That means a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that is paired with two electric motors.

Fusion Active can also inherit a 2.0-hp 250-liter turbocharged gas-powered 2.0-liter four-cylinder four-cylinder and eight-speed automatic transmission.

We will not know anything about the performance of the cart or how to drive until we get behind the wheel.

2022 Ford Fusion MPG

Because we don’t have information about which powertrains will be available on Fusion Active, we don’t need to report on the fuel economy ranking.

We will update this section after the EPA estimate is released, and we will finally test the numbers on our real-world highway routes.

2022 Ford Fusion Price and Release Date

We can only guess prices starting from Fusion Active. It makes sense if the price is almost the same as the Outback and Regal TourX, which currently starts around $ 28,000 and $ 30,000, respectively.

And on the other hand, we are looking at information related to this matter, it could also be that the Ford Fusion Active 2022 will be priced at $ 30,000 to $ 40,000 and the plan will arrive around next year.

Even though we don’t know what trim level will fill the lineup, we think it will align with other Ford models.

While the Fusion sedan will soon die in the US, it is expected to continue to be sold elsewhere. An updated style version is expected to be launched overseas in 2020.

Stay tuned for updates that we will update on this website as development continues.

Which is better: a good family estate car with normal car manners and space in length; or a crossover SUV with high driving position, oodles of headroom and at least a fighting chance of off-road progress?

It seems to be a perpetual debate among car enthusiasts, car owners and vehicle manufacturers. Moving from one to the other, as we often do, it’s easy to see the charms of both.

Some carmakers have clearly been having this conversation with themselves. Why not, they think, make a family estate car that looks a bit off-roady, but isn’t a giant blob that no-one can see past? We’ve been out in the wilds of the Peak District to try out one of the newest: the Ford Focus Active.

What’s Active about it?

In this context “Active” means “higher-riding, plus cladding”, although there’s an obvious double-meaning here. It’s a “lifestyle” car, for people who are active.

Ford has a whole range of these Active cars, with the dinky Ka+ Active starting it off and Fiesta Active in the middle. They’re essentially crossover-type vehicles without being the full-on SUV body. That means you get a vehicle that’s almost entirely car-like, but with a little extra ground clearance.

There’s also a terrain control dial that manages the traction and stability control so you can make progress on mildly terrible surfaces without needing a four-wheel drive system. Add in the ruggedized looks and you’ve got a car that’s a gun safe and a light bar away from starring in a zombie movie.

Any other differences from the regular Focus?

No.

All of the effort here is on making the Focus Active look tougher, along with that mild lift – it’s about an inch at the front and an inch-point-three at the back – to give it some ground clearance. That, the terrain control dial, and a few “Active” badges dotted about ultimately make up the sum total of the physical changes.

The kit mix in the Active, particularly our Active X estate here, is unique but to spec a regular Focus to the same level is only a few options boxes away. You do have the choice of a couple of unique body colors though. Otherwise everything you see and touch is the same from Focus to Focus.

Does the lift affect the drive?

Yes, but there’s slightly more positives than negatives here.

Ford has long tried to keep the Focus at the head of the pack when it comes to handling and driving fun. The first Focus was the first car in the class to have independent rear suspension, with its “control blade” system, and while not every other manufacturer has followed suit yet (some even switching between generations and indeed models), it’s a feature Ford continues to stick to.

Lifting a car isn’t exactly conducive to handling, but the Focus Active doesn’t really seem to suffer. Particularly in the estate form, it’s still a great deal of fun to chuck about (apologize to the labradors later).

You won’t get the sensation of the Active teetering over one tire as the weight transfers ponderously over and beyond it. There is a sense of slightly looser body control, but no more so that in another manufacturer’s ordinary hatchback. The Focus’s typically agile steering is unchanged, and that certainly helps the Active feel nimble too.

The benefits to ride comfort are far more noticeable. We’ve always been in two minds about the ride quality in smaller Fords (more so the sporty ones), but the Active has no such concerns. There are smoother-riding cars in the Focus’s C-segment, however the Active is pretty hard to fault. That extra bit of travel and the slightly larger tires makes a world of difference – and the estate seems especially good in this regard.

Ultimately that all rather makes the Active the better car than the regular Focus. Unless you’re habitually driving at 10/10ths – or on a track – chances are you won’t notice the slight handling compromise.

As for off-road… well, the Active is, despite appearances, not a proper off-roader. There is no four-wheel drive system, nor will there be – the Active is not intended to get any further away from a paved road than a festival car parking field. That said, the surface control dial makes a pretty good fist of keeping the car going over the green stuff, and that extra inch will preserve vital areas from stray rocks.

Our test car here used the 148hp, two-liter diesel, paired to a new eight-speed auto. Having tried some other combinations too, this certainly seems to be the sweet spot of the range. Although occasionally hunting around for a ratio near 50mph, the auto is the best of its type we’ve seen from Ford yet.

How about the cabin?

There is almost nothing to distinguish the Focus Active’s cabin from the regular Focus model. That’s equal parts positive and negative; there’s no sensation that you’re in anything but a Focus, but we wouldn’t mind some internal mirroring of the ruggedized exterior.

Aside from the drive mode dial, you’d need a particularly keen eye to spot that there’s some Active-specific trim pieces around the cabin. There’s a few pale blue highlights – seat branding, gear lever gaiter stitching and binnacle needles – but otherwise it’s “just” a Focus.

The Active’s trim levels are worth a note though. Ford has based the Active’s two grades, Active and Active X, on the ST-Line and even priced them the same, but there’s a few extra pieces of kit just to demarcate the cars.

That includes standard cruise control and speed limiter, keyless start, privacy glass and navigation via an eight-inch touchscreen. Active X adds keyless entry, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, upgraded 18-inch wheels and a panoramic roof. It’s actually the only car in the Focus range with the panoramic roof as standard. We’ve also got the optional LED headlights, wireless phone charging pad and colour head-up display.

In terms of general feel, it’s typically Ford. It’s not the most beautiful or plush environment, but everything falls pretty easily to hand and reasonably well put together.

Who’s an “Active” buyer?

There’s some quite unashamed “lifestyle” advertising going on with the Focus, and that rather reveals the target buyer. If you like long hikes in the country, or mountain biking, or camping, or dogs the Focus Active is for you. In fact we reckon you won’t be able to find a bike trail car park without one of these in it by the end of the year.

But there is some wider appeal too. Essentially the Active is a no-more expensive, slightly comfier family car – particularly in estate form – and it makes a pretty good fit for family life. Despite the popularity of crossovers, a lot of buyers are still turned off by their excessive road presence, and the Focus Active looks set to snap up that market.

Any alternatives?

Well, it’s not exactly a unique idea. One look at Volkswagen confirms that, with the Golf Alltrack, SEAT Leon X-Perience, and Skoda Octavia Scout all fighting for the same bit of slightly muddy National Trust car park space. All offer four-wheel drive too, which helps push even the base prices up to what a fully loaded Focus Active will cost you.

That aside you’re pretty much looking for small crossover SUVs, and you’d be nothing if not spoiled for choice. However the point of the Active is that you don’t have to have a crossover, so chances are it’s simply going to rival other C-segment hatchbacks and estates.

What’s the conclusion?

As we mentioned above, it’s not really a novel move to jack a hatchback (or estate) up a bit and slap some black plastic cladding on it. It’s a look a lot of pretend off-roaders use, largely because it’s borrowed from real ones.

But the Focus Active isn’t pretending to be an off-roader, and Ford is pretty open that it doesn’t have four-wheel drive and won’t. That’s not the point of it – it’s supposed to be a family car that you can take to your favorite woodland camping or hiking spot without getting nervous about rocks puncturing the sump or rain trapping you in a slippery car park.

Stripped of the “lifestyle” pretensions, the Active is actually a nicer-riding version of the Focus, and it does seem to carry the look pretty well. Add in the fact it’s no more costly than the mid-range model it’s based on and it’s little wonder that Ford reckons the Active will make up the largest single proportion of Focus estates it’ll sell.

Verdict

Performance

Not stellar performance figures, but solid in the real world. Plenty of torque for overtakes though.

Ride & Handling

The extra ride height doesn’t significantly harm the handling, but gives a much-needed boost to ride quality.

Space & Comfort

If you can’t fit all you need into a Focus Estate, you’re not trying hard enough. However, others in the class do offer more.

Equipment

Solid standard specification, and a decent range of extras won’t leave you short of vital kit.

Value

Even though the options on our car bump the price up a bit, there’s still a lot of car, and toys, for your money.

Quick Facts

Engine
2.0-liter diesel

Power
148hp (150PS, 110kW), 273lbft (370Nm)

Ford Focus Crossover

Weight
3,437lb (1,559kg)

Layout
Front-engine, front-wheel drive

Ford Focus Crossover Active 2019

0-60mph
9.3 seconds

Ford Focus 2017 Reviews

Top Speed
127mph (205km/h)

Price As Tested
£33,700

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