2007 Ford Fusion

[wondering1]

Grandparents replaced the '93 Dodge Intrepid (had controversial gen3 seatbelts)! Woo hoo!

Now I need to learn more about the 2007 Ford Fusion. I am strongly considering buying a 2nd Britax Regent like we use in the Camry.

Center LATCH is allowed.

48 lbs limit with LATCH (lower and top anchors)
60–80 lbs top tether limit

Note: 60 for shell-type CR, 80 for harness/vest

Child is 43 lbs and just turned 6 years old.

p.s. I'm really confused by the ratings at informedforlife.org on the safety of the 2007 Ford Fusion. There are two models: one older than 2/07 and one newer than 1/07. The grandparents vehicle is older than 01/07 according to the date on the drivers door sticker.

Anyway on the website it says:

2007 Ford Fusion 4-DR .post-1/07 PASS. CAR w/SAB w/oESC Best 6% for 2003-2009 64 = 20.9 + 11.9 + 3.1 + 27.8 3499
2007 Ford Fusion 4-DR. pre 2/07 PASS. CAR w/SAB w/oESC Medium Risk 80 = 30.7 + 18.8 + 3.1 + 27.8 3499

The pre 2/07 model gets an overall score of 80 but is listed as "medium risk"

The post 1/07 model gets an overall score of 64 but also "best 6% for 2003-2009" vehicles...

Here's links to the IIHS for the older 2007 Fusion:
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=631

Here's a link to the IIHS for the newer 2007 Fusion:
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=756

 

[southpawboston]

right. with IFL, the lower the number, the better the "score".

 

[SafeDad]

The newer Fusion also received better side impact ratings from the IIHS. If you want that extra margin of crash protection, go with then newer version. If not, the older version is reasonably safe, too.

 

[wondering1]

Thanks for clearing up my 2007 Ford Fusion con-FUSION!

This will be my first experience with LATCH, ever!

What reasons should I consider the Britax Frontier over the Britax Regent for their car? I'm imagining placing the seat in the center back but my son would really like the ability to fold down the seatback, not when the car is in motion, and use the center fold-down cup holders.

We are on the 2nd from the top slots in the Regent wiht plenty of room to grow. Using the 50 percentile growth pattern, he may *fit* in the Regent until 10-11 years of age.

I can imagine that even better boosters will be available when we switch to a booster, so that is not a draw for me with the Frontier.

We do travel about once a year and need a "easy to carry-on" HBB booster for that trip.