Focus | On the road

Ford Focus

By Bill McCarthy

IT’S fair to say that the Focus, launched back in 1998, has been a game changer in the industry. It’s only just over 20 years, but it seems so much longer, such has been its impact on the car market.

Inevitably, the latest version is the best yet, with smart styling, improved interior and ever more efficient engines.

These include powerful and fuel-efficient EcoBoost petrol and EcoBlue diesel units, some of which embrace the latest mild hybrid technology.

This model was powered by Ford’s highly-efficient EcoBoost three cylinder engine. Not huge, Ford says it is so compact it could fit the overhead compartment on an aeroplane. But it packs plenty of power and can hit 60mph in a shade over nine seconds, and, aided by the mild hybrid technology, delivers extra horsepower together with good economy and low emissions.

Official figures suggest around 52mpg, but the onboard computer suggested something nearer 44.

The turbocharged one litre engine is assisted by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which features a small lithium-ion battery pack and a belt-driven integrated starter-generator, which adds an extra 20Nm of torque and helps mitigate turbo lag.

The electric motor is fitted alongside an energy recovery system on the brakes which can then be redeployed to assist the petrol engine or provide assistance to electrical systems.

It is a striking looking car with this ST-Line version giving you the sporty look, but without the performance of the firecracker ST. It has sharp angles and curves, slim headlamps, wide grille and sloping silhouette, rear privacy glass, smart projector headlights and fog lamps with cornering lights.

The powered door mirrors also feature smart puddle lights. It also has its own unique ST-Line badging on door plates together with red stitching to complement the dark finish.

It feels well engineered with a combination of sturdy and soft touch finish trim.

The interior is without doubt, the best yet, particularly with this range topper. And with a price tag of around £27k, it needs to be.

The interior is dominated by the central eight inch touchscreen, which controls major functions like navigation, infotainment through a high quality sound system and smartphone connectivity.

In addition, a central 12-inch digital instrument cluster provides all the driver information needed.

This model has just about all the bells and whistles including rain sensing wipers and auto headlights, parking sensors and rain sensing wipers.

On the road, the engine has plenty of pace and delivers that throaty rasp so familiar these days with three cylinder engines.

But it’s the handling, the feature that made it stand out when launched, that is still peerless.

The ride is as impressive as ever with the independent rear suspension system featuring continuously controlled damping, which e monitors suspension, body, steering and braking inputs, and adjusts for the smoothest ride. In fact it handles brilliantly.

Boot space is good and not having a dog didn’t try this, but Ford says it can accommodate a large dog crate without needing to fold the rear seats. Fold the rear seats and a huge stowage area comes into play.

The boot is easy to access, using a simple kicking motion under the rear bumper to open the hands-free tailgate.

Folding the rear seats is also simplified – they now drop simply by pulling a switch in the boot space. Safety kit is comprehensive with full set of airbags and includes, stability control, cruise control, pre-collision assist with brake and pedestrian/cyclist alert.

A game changer it was, and it remains one of the best in the segment.

FAST FACTS

Ford Focus ST-Line X Edition 1.0T Ecoboost Hybrid

Price: £27,160

Mechanical: 155ps, 998cc, three cylinder diesel engine driving front wheels via six-speed gearbox

Max speed: 131mph

0-62mph: 9.2 seconds

Combined mpg: 52.3

Insurance group: 17

CO2 emissions: 122g/km

Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles

Ford Focus

By Bill McCarthy

The Ford Focus first burst onto the scene back in the late 90s and raising the bar for family hatchbacks, but now they have substantially raised their game with this latest version, a fine looking car, very much on the lines of the smaller Fiesta and miles away from the more rounded original

It has a sleeker, more sculpted profile, with new headlight clusters, smaller grille with the familiar blue oval and stylish alloy wheels. It features a hi-tech three cylinder, one litre turbo charged engine. Not huge, but packs plenty of power, 125PS, to be precise, meaning it can hit 60mph in a healthy 10 seconds, plenty quick enough for most people. It also delivers good economy and low emissions.

The interior is without doubt, the best yet, particularly with this range topper. And with a price tag of around £23k, it needs to be. Even the entry level Focus will cost more than £18k and you don’t even get alloy wheels for that price. But it still has a decent range of kit.

This model has an almost executive feel, dominated by the central eight inch touchscreen, whch is highly intuitive and controls major functions like navigation, infotainment through a high quality sound system and smartphone connectivity via SYNC 3 . Voice control also allows hands free activation. Unlike some, it is a piece of cake to navigate your way around the system

Seats are comfortable and fully supportive, while soft touch plastic finish is in abundance and neat chrome/silver touches are plentiful.

The Titanium X has just about all the bells and whistles including rain sensing wipers and auto headlights, electric windows and door mirrors, parking sensors and rain sensing wipers.

Safety kit includes lane departure alert, full range of airbags, stability control and cruise control.

On the road, the Ecoboost engine has plenty of urge and enough in reserve for comfortable overtaking on the motorway, while delivering that throaty rasp so familiar these days with three cylinder engines.

It is also features the industry’s first cylinder deactivation system for a three-cylinder engine, which can automatically stop one of the engine’s cylinders when full capacity is not needed.

Official figures suggest around 47mpg, but the onboard computer suggested something nearer 38mpg, which is still pretty good with emissions of 111g/km.

As a hatchback, it is naturally flexible and practical and this model is slightly longer than its predecessor, allowing class-leading knee clearance for rear seat passengers, and six centimetres more shoulder room in the rear.

Boot space is good and not having a a dog didn’t try this, but Ford says it can accommodate a large dog crate without needing to fold the rear seats. Fold the rear seats and a huge stowage area comes into play.

Other options available at a cost on this model included: speed sign recognition; lane-centring, which keeps the vehicle centred in its lane; blind spot information system with cross traffic alert; rear wide-view camera and wrong way alert.