The Ford Fusion was announced as the Best Family Car for 2015 by the team of expert motoring journalists from the Independent Media’s Motoring supplement at an awards banquet held in Johannesburg last night.
At the end of each year, the Motoring staff select the ‘Best of the Best’ in a variety of categories. This year the selection included more than 70 all-new or upgraded vehicles that were launched in South Africa – with three Fords shortlisted as finalists for 2015.
The sophisticated Fusion earned the ‘Best Family Car’ award against several highly regarded competitors. The judging panel, which comprises some of South Africa’s most experienced and respected motoring journalists, commented: “The spacious, well-equipped and attractively styled sedan offers an alternative choice in a segment dominated by German models, and beats them all in the features-for-money stakes.”
As Ford’s range-topping passenger car, the Fusion sets new benchmarks in its class, offering unrivalled space, comfort and luxury. This is complemented by an exceptional range of trend-setting features, including Adaptive Cruise Control, Active Park Assist, Lane-Keep Assist and SYNC®2.
- Fusion wins Best Family Car category in Independent Media’s Motoring annual ‘Best of the Best’ awards
- Ford Tourneo Connect shortlisted in Family Car segment
- All-new Ford Everest a finalist in Adventure Vehicles segment
It is powered by the latest generation 1.5 and 2.0 EcoBoost engines, as well as the 2.0 Duratorq TDCi diesel unit – all of which deliver remarkable performance allied to impressively low fuel consumption and emissions.
The practical and innovative Ford Tourneo Connect was nominated along with the Fusion sedan in the Family Car category, and was praised for is spaciousness and “loads of family and cargo-schlepping practicality”.
Fresh from its recent launch, the Ford Everest was a welcome finalist in the Adventure Vehicle category. It received plaudits for its “tough body-on-frame design”, “meaty 3.2 turbodiesel engine and a generous ride height (which) make this a hardcore offroader”. The testing panel also appreciated its “soft-side”, including its roomy seven-seat configuration and advanced safety features.
“The Independent Media award for the Fusion signifies the significant strides Ford has made over the past year, launching an unprecedented 10 new products to make it our busiest year ever,” says Tracey Delate, General Marketing Manager, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa.
“We now have our most extensive and competitive model range in Ford’s history. This is reflected in the numerous awards we’ve received and in our record sales volumes over the last 12 months, during what has been a heavily constrained and declining industry.”