Bigger, smarter, and safer, the new German Ford Focus close the gap with a small car
benchmark, the Volkswagen Golf.
The challenge is convincing Aussie buyers this is the real deal.
First impression, well it’s off to a very good start.
The new Focus has a mature, sophisticated feel about the way it sits on the road.
It’s refined and it’s quiet and it feels more like a luxury car than a bulk standard
small car.
Okay, so Focus is more expensive now but the extra coin buys you a more efficient new engine
hooked up to a smooth 8-speed automatic gear box.
The new 1.5-litre turbo petrol three-cylinder engine is torquey and characterful.
I wouldn’t go as far to say it’s an exceptional engine but it comes really close.
I’m really impressed with its breadth of capability.
At low revs it’s tractable and quiet but feels muscular at high revs when the turbo
kicks in, which is good for overtaking slower traffic on the highway.
And it won’t suck down too much juice either.
Based on an all new platform, the car has good ride comfort and is a great daily driver.
That’s impressive given this ST-Line wagon has a lower sportier suspension than other
model grades.
But what exactly does ST-Line mean?
Well, you get hot hatch looks without the high price.
Or the scorching performance.
But I’ve got to say, I’m really impressed with the way the Focus drives.
It can be fun and engaging yet it’s never a chore to operate, even in traffic.
And although it’s chockfull of tech, you don’t feel overwhelmed by it.
This model is optioned with the driver assist package which automatically brakes and accelerates
the car and keeps it in the corners, as you can see here.
And it’s one of the best systems I’ve used.
I mean look at this.
It’s driving around corners for me.
Autonomous emergency breaking is standard, as is lane keep assist.
Parking sensors and a reversing camera are always useful.
And the new Focus has a maximum possible 5-star NCAP safety rating.
I really like the interior design.
It’s tasteful but without being too tacky.
Every model comes with this lovely 8-inch touch screen system and it comes with voice
control and all the usual smartphone mirroring systems like Apple Car Play and Android Auto.
Ford has also ditched the traditional gear stick and have replaced it with this little
dial here and it looks kind of elegant and also opens up a bit more space here.
The seats are supportive and the instrument panel is easy to read.
Climate controls are intuitive and little touches like automatic headlights, rain-sensing
wipers and self-dimming rear-view mirror on all models is very tidy.
There’s plenty of storage solutions, cup holders, door pockets but the only quibble
I have with the interior are the steering wheel buttons.
There’s just so many of them.
It requires a diet of premium petrol and only has a space-saver spare tyre but the ST-Line
Wagon also adds red stitching, a flat-bottom steering wheel and alloy pedals.
On the outside it looks athletic with a sporty looking body kit, this one has optional 18-inch
alloy wheels.
Chuck in keyless entry and engine start, plus wireless phone charging, and there’s not
a lot you can want for here.
The boot is actually more practical than some SUVs.
You’ve got these two fold-out shopping bag hooks, there are four cargo tie-down hooks,
a hidden floor, the cargo blind and easy folding rear seats that more than double the cargo
space.
Criticisms are few and far between.
Yes, it’s more expensive than rivals such as the Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Golf
and it only uses premium fuel.
But if first impressions are anything to go by, the new Ford Focus deserves to do better
than its predecessor and I reckon it’ll find a lot more buyers.