Ford

Chevy was abysmal in the cars-for-fatasses department, but maybe the other American car company (Chrysler hardly counts any more) will do better.


Focus
Arguably one of the best looking cars on my list, the Focus is too sporty for its own good.  The low roofline, low seat and small cabin make it tough to get into and out of.  Once inside, I definitely felt cramped from pretty much every angle.  Unlike some of the other cars tested, I could drive the Focus if I had to, but I certainly wouldn't be comfortable.  Bummer.


Fusion
Now we're talking!  While technically in the same mid-size class as the Cruze, the Fusion feels about 20% bigger on the inside and is 100% easier to get into and out of.  The seats are wide and acceptably comfortable, though not spectacular.  On a purely do-I-fit basis, the Fusion is a win.

Even though I promised myself I wouldn't take such things into consideration, I do have a minor gripe:  The Fusion is dull.  The interior is so generic that it practically screams "rental car".  The exterior is just as bad, with only the comically large faux-chrome grille to distract you from the ass-aching plainness of the thing.

Luckily, it has another problem that gives me a legitimate excuse to keep looking - the price.  Technically, the base model is under $20k (by about $150).  However, finding a bone-stock base model for sale anywhere is pretty much impossible.  The cheapest Fusion at the local dealership was a hair under $23k, and the salesman said that's pretty standard.  I might be able to talk him down into my price range, but that's a battle for another day (if ever).  At least I know that - if it comes down to it - there is at least one car that meets all my important criteria.


Fiesta
The dealership didn't have any 2011 Fiestas left, and the 2012s hadn't arrived yet (a common theme).  Luckily, I have a friend who owns a 2011 Fiesta, and she was kind enough to let me try it on.  It pretty much mirrored my experience with the Focus, being just a bit too tight for comfort in every direction.  My knees were so close to the steering wheel that my hands would have hit them during hard turning.  Getting in and out was much more difficult than with its sub-compact competitors (Yaris, Fit, etc).  My friend is very small, and she absolutely loves her Fiesta.  Alas, as large as I am, it is a love I cannot share.