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New Models
DRIVEN: Ford Dials In The Focus
More-interesting styling and an upgraded interior make the third-gen compact a crowd pleaser, though performance could be better.
Styling for the Ford Focus was greatly improved for the 2012 model year. (Photo: Ford)
Drive down the street in the new 2012 Ford Focus and you will be surprising by the number of heads turning to catch a glimpse of the redesigned hatchback.
Since its introduction as a European-style compact in 1998, the Focus has always been a bright spot in Ford’s production line, offering an inexpensive car that offered good gas mileage, lots of space and a fun style.
Trading in the yawn-inducing styling of the Focus’ second-generation body style, the latest model offers a modern, aggressive look that should help Ford fight off competition from Chevrolet Cruze, Honda Civic and Volkswagen Jetta.
Plus, the base model begins at $16,270, the same price as the 2010 model. My tester was the fully-stocked Titanium model, with a price that starts at $22,995. While that price tag seems a little steep, you are getting a lot for the money.
With a low, stocky profile, sharply curving lines and an aggressive stance, the new Focus does away with the tall, skinny look of the older incarnations. The sedan version sits at 4 inches wider and 3.5 inches longer than the 2010 model, while the hatchback is stretched 3.1 inches longer. All this growing means that the interior space is more generous, making the Focus a viable opinion for the kid-encumbered or the very tall.
The only trouble with more space is that it adds more weight, and the new Focus has gained 300 pounds in its overhaul. Fortunately, they’ve added more power to make up for it, without hurting those all-important mpg numbers.
The Focus comes with a new 2-liter four-cylinder engine, which puts out 160 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, while offering an estimated 27 city and 37 hwy mpg.
But cranking out a mere 20 horsepower more than the old model, the car isn’t nearly as zippy as it looks. In fact, it’s more sluggish than you’d expect, without much flare in the performance. Ford’s new six-speed automatic "Powershift" transmission, basically a dual-clutch automated manual, is a nice touch that offers dynamic shifting and a more interesting driving experience.
If you crave more performance, there is a hot Focus ST arriving later this year that packs a 252-horsepower turbocharged four hooked up with a six-speed manual. Ford is now taking orders, with pricing starting at $24,495.
Ford's EPAS electric power steering is very nice on the road, but the car suffers from a surprisingly wide turning radius, making parking spaces and narrow turns way too much work for such a small car.
With form-hugging seats and a chunky four-spoke, telescopic steering wheel, the interior of the Focus has been vastly improved. The Titanium’s handsome insides continue the aggressive, angular look of the body, making the car feel slick and sporty. The easy-to-read gauges are nestled alongside a color information screen, and the push button start was a satisfying way to bring the car to life.
Far less satisfying was the MyFordTouch system, a touchscreen control that is needlessly complex and busy, making dealings with the audio and navigation systems into chronically difficult affairs. While the voice commands work well once you have them mastered, the whole thing is just more trouble than its worth.
The Titanium model justified its price tag with a number of very nice features, including rear parking sensors, a six-way power driver seat, leather upholstery, sport-tuned suspension and 18-inch wheels. Not exactly a bargain, but still a good car for the money.
With more polish and panache than anything its former models could muster, the new Focus seems perfectly poised to offer drivers what they want: efficiency and size, with enough style to get some attention.
Details
Vehicle type: Five-passenger, four-door hatchback, front-wheel drive.
Engine: 2-liter inline-4, 160 horsepower at 6,500 rpm, 146 pound-feet of torque at 4,450 rpm.
Transmission: Powershift 6-speed automated manual.
Wheelbase: 104.3 inches
Overall length: 57.7 inches.
Curb weight: 2,935 pounds.
EPA mileage rating: 27 city, 37 highway.
Since its introduction as a European-style compact in 1998, the Focus has always been a bright spot in Ford’s production line, offering an inexpensive car that offered good gas mileage, lots of space and a fun style.
Trading in the yawn-inducing styling of the Focus’ second-generation body style, the latest model offers a modern, aggressive look that should help Ford fight off competition from Chevrolet Cruze, Honda Civic and Volkswagen Jetta.
Plus, the base model begins at $16,270, the same price as the 2010 model. My tester was the fully-stocked Titanium model, with a price that starts at $22,995. While that price tag seems a little steep, you are getting a lot for the money.
With a low, stocky profile, sharply curving lines and an aggressive stance, the new Focus does away with the tall, skinny look of the older incarnations. The sedan version sits at 4 inches wider and 3.5 inches longer than the 2010 model, while the hatchback is stretched 3.1 inches longer. All this growing means that the interior space is more generous, making the Focus a viable opinion for the kid-encumbered or the very tall.
The only trouble with more space is that it adds more weight, and the new Focus has gained 300 pounds in its overhaul. Fortunately, they’ve added more power to make up for it, without hurting those all-important mpg numbers.
The Focus comes with a new 2-liter four-cylinder engine, which puts out 160 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, while offering an estimated 27 city and 37 hwy mpg.
But cranking out a mere 20 horsepower more than the old model, the car isn’t nearly as zippy as it looks. In fact, it’s more sluggish than you’d expect, without much flare in the performance. Ford’s new six-speed automatic "Powershift" transmission, basically a dual-clutch automated manual, is a nice touch that offers dynamic shifting and a more interesting driving experience.
If you crave more performance, there is a hot Focus ST arriving later this year that packs a 252-horsepower turbocharged four hooked up with a six-speed manual. Ford is now taking orders, with pricing starting at $24,495.
Ford's EPAS electric power steering is very nice on the road, but the car suffers from a surprisingly wide turning radius, making parking spaces and narrow turns way too much work for such a small car.
With form-hugging seats and a chunky four-spoke, telescopic steering wheel, the interior of the Focus has been vastly improved. The Titanium’s handsome insides continue the aggressive, angular look of the body, making the car feel slick and sporty. The easy-to-read gauges are nestled alongside a color information screen, and the push button start was a satisfying way to bring the car to life.
Far less satisfying was the MyFordTouch system, a touchscreen control that is needlessly complex and busy, making dealings with the audio and navigation systems into chronically difficult affairs. While the voice commands work well once you have them mastered, the whole thing is just more trouble than its worth.
The Titanium model justified its price tag with a number of very nice features, including rear parking sensors, a six-way power driver seat, leather upholstery, sport-tuned suspension and 18-inch wheels. Not exactly a bargain, but still a good car for the money.
With more polish and panache than anything its former models could muster, the new Focus seems perfectly poised to offer drivers what they want: efficiency and size, with enough style to get some attention.
Details
Vehicle type: Five-passenger, four-door hatchback, front-wheel drive.
Engine: 2-liter inline-4, 160 horsepower at 6,500 rpm, 146 pound-feet of torque at 4,450 rpm.
Transmission: Powershift 6-speed automated manual.
Wheelbase: 104.3 inches
Overall length: 57.7 inches.
Curb weight: 2,935 pounds.
EPA mileage rating: 27 city, 37 highway.
The Lyonheart K
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