Well, for example, a 2020 Fusion in most trims, had a 1.5 or 2.0 turbocharged 4. while a 2023 Explorer in most trims, has a 2.3 turbocharged 4. Yes, the Explorer has a larger displacement engine, producing more power, and sucking more gas, but it is the same form factor, hence same part count. Being a newer design, the Explorer has a 10 speed transmission vs the Fusion’s 6 speed. I learned a trick about those high gear count transmissions at the Aisin booth at the show several years ago. While a 6 speed will have 6 clutches and gear sets, a 9 or 10 speed will have gear sets to give high and low range, for the other gears, so a 10 speed can have high and low range gear sets, with 5 gear sets, for a total 7 vs 6 for the older trans, so, again, not much difference.
Going down the line, a Fusion SE and the Explorer XLT have just about the same features.
Edmunds gives 5 year total cost to own of the two, using an AWD Fusion SE to cancel out the AWD on the Explorer, because, somehow, the industry has convinced people they “need” AWD to drive on paved, suburban, streets.
Fusion: $46,262
Explorer: $61,078
Of course, what it actually cost Ford to build each is a deep, dark, secret, because Ford wants to propagate the narrative that they can’t make any money on passenger cars, rather than, potentially, gouging the daylights out of people on SUVs, while being forced to accept a thinner margin on a passenger car. (of course, now, Farley is admitting they can’t get the margin they want on midsize SUVs either, anymore, so he wants to abandon that market too)
Steve