The Focus is Ford's most popular car worldwide
Is it all that its cracked up to be?
The Focus is a relatively new car name only being around since the late 90's, compared to many other popular small cars out there like the Corolla and Civic, which have been around since the 70's. Despite this, the Focus is apparently ( since 2012) the best selling "car nameplate" in the world. It is Ford's second smallest car in North America, but it is in no way small. The Focus used to be a very simple car for everyday driving, but through the generations it has grown in size and has many new features. It is receiving a face lift for 2015 so I will show pictures of both the pre and post face lift.
Take a look:
Different Styles:
The Focus was offered in a number of different styles in previous generations around the world. Now the Focus is considered a global model and the same styles are sold in every country (except for a special wagon model in the UK and New Zealand). So, the styles that are being sold are a 4 door sedan and a 5 door hatchback. All North American Focus's have a 2.0L 4 cylinder engine. However the sporty ST trim has a high-output, turbo "EcoBoost" tuned version and is usually just available as the hatchback, but starting in 2015 that may change. There is also an all-electric version to compete against the Nissan Leaf. Available transmissions before 2013 were either a 5 speed manual, 6 speed auto, dual clutch 6 speed auto, and a 6 speed manual for the ST trim. Now all auto transmissions are the 6 speed dual clutch.
Here are what the hatchback versions look like before and after face lift:
Styling and Comfort Impressions:
Im going to say, I think I like the look of the preface lift Focus better. Sometimes when a Car company makes all their cars look similar it looks good, but for some reason I don't like their Fusion-looking front on the Focus. It works on the Fiesta, but for me, not on the Focus. It makes it look too large. I can, of course see why many people will much rather like the new look as it does look more aggressive and powerful. The outside, no matter if its before or after the face lift, has distinctive styling that sets it apart from other cars in the segment. The Focus is a rather large compact car and the new face lift makes it seem even larger. The windows are somewhat small and high up. There is also a number of different wheel designs and sizes from 15 inch to 18 inch. The Focus are somewhat low to the ground and are actually shorter (height-wise) than the smaller Fiesta. The hatchback seems to have a bit higher roof-line in the back. The cars look smart in any trim and absolutely cool in the ST trim, take a look:
Now for the inside, the design may not be for everyone, it looks smart but it could be better. There are no real changes on the inside before and after the exterior face lift. I have not driven the ST or the Electric versions so I will mostly be talking about the regular sedan and hatchbacks. Another reason I will only be talking about the regular Focus is because the ST and Electric version are either not "economy" cars or "budget" cars. Besides the very basic base trim level, the front dash to me, looks way too crowded and busy. There are just too many buttons and they are arranged in a way that makes them harder to read, locate and use quickly.
Take a look:
This is maybe the only time when I would recommend upgrading to the large touch screen media system as it may actually be simpler to use than all those buttons. The Focus of course has Ford's "Sync" system combined with what it calleds "My Ford". The system allows almost all media and air controls to be controlled by your voice. I did not get a chance to use the new system, but from what I have read and heard from others, the system sometimes doesn't work the best. The system also has a feature called "MyKey" which allows you to set and lock certain settings both for the media and driving dynamics of the car when other people are using it, like teenage children learning to drive. It also comes in a number of different colours inside and out. A cool one is a white a black interior.
So that is the dash system, how comfortable is it? Well, I was a little disappointed with the overall comfort and fit of the Focus, especially compared to the smaller Fiesta. The Focus might be significantly larger on the outside, but It sure doesn't feel that way on the inside. While the Fiesta is shorter, it has a higher roof-line, providing much better head room. The Focus is lower but longer, unfortunately this doesn't equal better overall room, let alone better legroom. In one that I drove, it had the optional sunroof package, which meant that I only had enough headroom if I lowered the chair all the way down. I prefer a more upright driving position. The Focus also has pretty high windows and front dash, so when you are forced that far down you don't have very good visibility at all, in any direction. At least the steering wheel had enough different positions to work with the situation. Now, don't get me wrong, the seats are very comfortable, but because I had to have my chair low and pushed back pretty far this also meant that I did not fit in the backseat behind myself well either. While the hatchback has a higher roof line in the rear, there still wasn't significant headroom, and especially not in the sedan. This is quite disappointing for a car of this overall size.
Take a look at the back:
While it did seem wide enough for 2 average size adults and one child to sit comfortably, 3 adults would be tight. The visibility out the back window is good and bad. The good are the small windows in the rear corners aiding blind spot visibility. The bad, the windows are still quite high and the rear window is somewhat blocked by large head rests. Visibility is slightly better in the sedan out the back as the window starts higher up, while in the hatchback it is more of an oval shape that starts lower down. Finally for the trunk. It is quite large. Clearly all that extra size wasn't for extra legroom, but for more trunk space. It isn't the largest in the class but its a good shape and size. In both the hatchback and sedan the seat backs fold flat as the rear seat bottoms fold up and the pass through in the sedan is large and square-ish. In the upper trim levels a sub-woofer may take up a bit of the space on one side.
Driving Impressions:
The Focus impressed me with how it handled and drove. Like I've said, this isn't that small of a car. Yet it only has a 2.0L engine. The engine is very quiet once started up. It is quiet and smooth around town, even under acceleration it doesn't make much more noise than a low growl. The automatic is quite peppy and shifts through gears quickly and smoothly. This car would actually be quite fun around town if it didn't feel so large and heavy. The normal Focus does not have sport tuned suspension so it does roll a bit in corners. Combine that with the slightly more confined feeling due to the small windows and this car really does feel huge. That extra size I guess also means more room for sound insulation because it is also very quiet both in the city and the highway, almost no road or wind noise. However, that is with the more normal sized 15 and 16 inch wheels. The 17 and 18 inch ones might make a bit of noise. The engine is quiet and smooth again on the highway and only makes a bit of a fuss when trying to pass, but you still have plenty of power. The sound system is quite impressive and I can only assume is even better with the optional sub-woofer. The ride is comfy and not too soft. I have read and been told that the ST version is very fun to drive but also a bit on the rough side. Visibility while driving is ok out the front and the front sides but the back row's windows are noticeably higher and the high trunk or somewhat small back window on the trunk means that straight back visibility isn't the best. The turning radius is acceptable but, other cars in the class can turn sharper.
Overall:
Once again, Ford is surprising me with very nicely put together cars. Now, the only two I have driven from them recently are their "global" models, the Fiesta and the Focus, so I cant really make judgement on their other new cars. The Focus is a nice small-ish car with great looks on the outside, but a somewhat busy and confusing interior. It is a bit disappointing that even though it is a good bit larger than the Fiesta, it doesn't feel it inside. It has a nice performance and has a trim level that should fit everyone. The fact that it comes in either a sedan or hatchback version mean that it will satisfy many different people and their needs. This car would work as someone's only car, or possibly a family's second car. If I had a choice though I would still pick the Fiesta over the Focus for its smaller dimensions but better interior space.
Facts/ Figures:
Price ( for low-mid trim level): $22,000+
FWD
Max HP: 160
Max Torque lb/ft: 146
MPG (approx*): 25 city, 36 highway
Cargo room (approx*): 13 (24/45) CuFt
Length: 178'' (172")
Width: 72'' (72")
Tank Size (gal): 12.4
Miles on one tank (using combined MPG figures): 372
Average used price with 60,000KM or less: $12,000+
* when I say "approx" I usually am using the numbers given by the actual manufacturer or Consumer Reports, minus 1 to be a bit more realistic.
No pictures featured are my own, they have been taken from Google images and their rightful owners should get any credit for them.Links:
Ford Canada
Enjoy!
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J.K.
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