For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Ford Fusion are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Jaguar XE doesn't offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Fusion and the XE have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available rear parking sensors.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Fusion the rating of “Top Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 157 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XE has not been tested, yet.

There are over 18 times as many Ford dealers as there are Jaguar dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Fusion's warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it's being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Fusion's reliability 30 points higher than the XE.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Fusion first among midsize cars in their 2019 Initial Quality Study. The XE isn't in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2019 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Jaguar vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 40 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jaguar is ranked 31st, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2019 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Jaguar vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 16th in reliability. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jaguar is ranked 25th.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Fusion Titanium 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the XE 25t 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Fusion uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended on Fusion Titanium for maximum performance). The XE requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Fusion FWD's standard fuel tank has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the XE Diesel's standard fuel tank (16.5 vs. 14.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Fusion AWD's standard fuel tank has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the XE 25t/35t/S' standard fuel tank (18 vs. 16.6 gallons).

The Fusion has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it's removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The XE doesn't offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Fusion higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Jaguar XE (1 to 7). This means the Fusion produces up to 47 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XE every 15,000 miles.

The Fusion stops shorter than the XE:

The front grille of the Fusion uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The XE doesn't offer active grille shutters.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Fusion a Mid-size car, while the XE is rated a Compact.

The Fusion has 11.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XE (102.8 vs. 91).

The Fusion has 2.2 inches more front headroom, 2.8 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 3.3 inches more rear legroom and 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the XE.

The Fusion has a much larger trunk than the XE (16 vs. 14.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Fusion easier. The Fusion's trunk lift-over height is 24.4 inches, while the XE's liftover is 25.5 inches.

The Fusion's standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The XE Base doesn't offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

The Fusion has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The XE has no towing capacity.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don't have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Fusion SE/SEL/Titanium's exterior PIN entry system. The XE doesn't offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its InControl can't unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn't have cell phone reception or the driver can't contact the service.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don't have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Fusion SE/SEL/Titanium's exterior PIN entry system. The XE doesn't offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its InControl can't unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn't have cell phone reception or the driver can't contact the service.

The Fusion has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and fuel theft. The XE doesn't offer a locking fuel door.

Consumer Reports rated the Fusion's headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the XE's headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

To shield the driver and front passenger's vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Fusion has standard extendable sun visors. The XE doesn't offer extendable visors.

The Fusion (except S) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The XE doesn't offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Insurance will cost less for the Fusion owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Fusion will cost $1790 less than the XE over a five-year period.

The Fusion will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Fusion will retain 39.28% to 42.37% of its original price after five years, while the XE only retains 31.71% to 35.6%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Fusion will be $13947 to $26709 less than for the Jaguar XE.

The Ford Fusion outsold the Jaguar XE by almost 37 to one during 2018.