Help me Decide which vehicle to get...

[AfroNinja376]

It really depends whether you want a new car or a used car. I saw a 2006 Mazda 3 for $4,000 one day. A 2006 Fusion will probably run around $7,000 at the least. A 2010 Mazda 3 will be about $14,000 at the least, and the Fusion will be about $15,500 at the least. Now, performancewise, the Fusion has much more power under the hood. You decide.

[Dub D]

Originally Posted by Trevor92

You may already know this, but Dynamic/Electronic Stability Control and Traction control are standard on the Fusion. Your quote might have just been regarding the 3-Touring vs. 3-Sport.

FYI, I also think you previously mentioned the handling of both cars but wasn't sure if you test drove the Fusion S or SE and compared it to the Mazda 3, but if you previously considered and test drove the S and are now comparing the SE, it's worth noting the SE should handle a little better. The S uses P205/60R16 tires and the SE/SEL use 225/50R17 tires. The 3-Touring uses a P205/55R16 wheel for comparison. The contact patch--the surface area of tire that contacts the road--is smaller in the S resulting in less rolling resistance and slightly better mpg. The trade off comes in braking and handling performance because there literally is less rubber on the road to stop and steer. The S also uses the Goodyear fuel saving Assurance radial which has a different rubber compound than the Michelin MVX-4 on the SE and SEL. The S also uses an aluminum alloy wheel which is lighter than the steel wheel/wheel cover on the SE. It might not make a difference, especially if it all just comes down to the final price, but it seems worth mentioning considering the features you were deciding on and the Fusion you might have tested.

Good post. It will be between a Mazda 3 Touring vs a Ford Fusion SE. I will be test driving both of them again most likely over the weekend again just to make sure.