Ford's Outback-Esque Fusion Active Wagon Spotted with Production Body

KGP PhotographyCar and Driver

These spy shots purport to show the upcoming Ford Fusion Active lifted wagon.It will be a competitor to the Subaru Outback and will serve as Ford’s mid-size SUV.We expect to see the Fusion Active debut either late this year or early in 2023.

Ford’s long-rumored Subaru Outback competitor might be getting closer to reality. This new model is slated to bring back the Fusion name previously applied to Ford’s now-dead mid-size sedan offering. But it will be applied to a completely different vehicle: instead of a sedan, it appears the Fusion Active will be a lifted station wagon that could replace the Edge as Ford’s mid-size crossover offering.

While previous spy shots of this model were of a test mule incorporating body panels from various models, these new photos appear to show the Fusion Active’s real shape. Like the latest Outback, which is basically a mid-size SUV in terms of dimensions, it’s quite tall and toes the line between lifted wagon and crossover. But the Fusion Active’s proportions still look wagon-esque to our eye, if only just.

KGP PhotographyCar and Driver

Expect the Fusion Active to come standard with all-wheel drive and incorporate black plastic body cladding, a formula popularized by the Outback. We think a hybrid powertrain will be standard, like it is in the Maverick small pickup, and Ford may offer a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four or one of its many EcoBoost V-6 engines as an option.

The Fusion Active’s styling is likely to be similar to the global-market Mondeo and Evos models, which incorporate a modern-looking new face with thin headlights flanking an interestingly textured grille. The interior may also take components from these models, such as the large screen setup that stretches across nearly the entire dashboard of the Evos.

KGP PhotographyCar and Driver

We think the Fusion Active will arrive in time for the 2023 model year, which means it could debut later this year or early next year. It’s likely to carry a starting price of around $35,000, which would be in line with mid-level versions of the Outback.

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