In Europe, the Mondeo is Ford’s flagship sedan so it is also offered in a luxury trim level called the Vignale. This is because in Europe there is no Lincoln, so Ford had to offer a luxury edition of the car in order to compete with the likes of the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4. However, in the US, for those looking at a more luxurious Ford car, there is always the Lincoln brand. But what if you don’t want to buy a Lincoln? Well, Ford has that covered as well now because only a few months ago they released the all new 2017 Ford Fusion Platinum which is not really a Vignale by any means but it is their best equipped Fusion and even though most features available on it can be had as extras on the Titanium, Ford also added a few unique features to the mix which make from the $37,500 Fusion a really interesting car.
While the price may be quite a bit higher than that of a base model, the Platinum is actually a really good trim level at a really good price, especially considering that it is similarly equipped to a higher end BMW 3 Series which costs a lot more than it.
INTERIOR OF 2017 FORD FUSION PLATINUM
Like we said, the car is not really a Vignale but its interior is definitely worthy of the title of one of the best in its class. Over the regular Titanium, the 2017 Ford Fusion Platinum adds a leather-covered interior in which even the dashboard is wrapped in leather.
Also, the steering wheel offers a thicker padding which makes it feel like a more premium car and the seats offer more options for adjusting which should make the Platinum a much nicer car to drive on longer journeys. Standard features for this new model include Ford’s latest Sync 3 infotainment system with a large touchscreen as standard, a 12 speaker Sony-branded audio system with a dedicated sub-woofer, noise insulating glass in the windshield and front side windows, much better materials throughout the cabin as well as ventilated and heated front seats as standard.
EXTERIOR OF 2017 FORD FUSION PLATINUM
The car’s design has not been left untouched and even though the changes are not that large in comparison with the cabin, the Platinum is definitely different from the Titanium.
It now comes as standard with 19-inch aluminum wheels with a chrome finish, a new mesh grille design with chrome surroundings, LED headlights and tail lights as well as a subtle spoiler at the back. Unlike with the regular car, the Platinum also comes with a lot more color options which make it look outstanding and it might make some people wonder if the Lincoln MKZ is really worth the extra price over it.
2017 FORD FUSION PLATINUM ENGINE AND GEARBOX
Probably one of the biggest letdowns for the 2017 Ford Fusion Platinum is the engine of choice which is the same 2 liters turbocharged inline 4 petrol unit that can be found on pretty much all the others. This still makes a rather healthy 240 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque but it really makes us wonder why the 2.7 liter Eco Boost from the Sport model hasn’t been used here as well. This would give its buyers not only more power but also a smoother powertrain which would have been able to make the Platinum a lot more desirable. The gearbox is also the same 6 speed automatic as the base model and that shows especially when driven hard. It is not the smoothest on the market and not the fastest either and its limitations are clear in many scenarios. In the future, the Platinum is expected to receive a new gearbox and very likely a new engine as well, most likely a 2.3-liter Eco-Boost unit.
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