Read Joe Lorio's comments on driving the 2008 Ford Fusion SEL Sport.
The four-cylinder, stick-shift versions of the mainstream family sedans are underappreciated. The Fusion, like the Honda Accord and the Nissan Altima, works well in this configuration. The engine is adequately powerful and the shifter is pleasant, but short gearing makes for a lot of revs on the highway and drags down fuel economy. (I saw an indicated 25 mpg over the weekend, in a mix of driving that was about 75-percent highway.)
That said, I didn't find much sport in the Fusion Sport. The disconnected, one-finger steering was particularly disappointing. Sure, the big wheels are cool, and some people might like the red seat inserts, but other than that the Fusion seemed short on Sport.