When Richard Parry-Jones (former Ford Engineering boss responsible for transforming Ford’s dynamics) passed away, the motoring world mourned. He managed 30,000 engineers around the world and for Ford he delivered many projects as Chief Technical Officer. So good were the transformations he helped make on not only the Focus but the Ka, Fiesta and Puma, he made rivals sit up, pay attention and made them up their game. Richard Parry-Jones focused his attention on improving the whole driver experience when he was given the task of taking the outgoing Escort and helping Ford launch the all new Focus.
Special mention : Lots more fun to drive than a 1.0 engine should be. The standard exhaust sounds better than German rivals with 300 BHP engines. Frugal and spacious. Great exterior design.
Needs work : Interior could do with a brush up.
| 125 PS | Petrol / Manual |
| 0-100 km/h in 10 seconds | Road Tax €190 |
Price: €21,177 ST Line Edition with options €28,209 | Boot space 375 / 1354 litres |
Now that the game has been raised multiple times, the latest Ford Focus has a tough job on its hands, it has all the key family car requirements: it’s comfortable, spacious and well equipped, it’s been named the best driver’s car in its class but just how does it stack up against the competition? Some of the cars it’s up against include the Opel Astra (all new one on the way) Volkswagen’s Golf, Kia’s Ceed, Skoda Octavia, SEAT Leon and the list goes on. And yet the Focus has cultivated a reputation for being better to drive than all of those, can this latest version do the same?
You can either go for a 1 litre 125 PS petrol or 1.5 litre 120 PS diesel. If you’re doing enough miles to warrant a diesel, the 1.5 litre engine will be more than capable of handling hundreds of thousands of motorway miles. The pick of the bunch is the 125 PS 1 litre petrol engine called the 125 ecoboost has a smooth power delivery through the rev range and it’s also extremely economical returning only 108 grams per kilometre of co2. The petrol versions are in general the smart moves to make because they feature cylinder deactivation technology which closes down a cylinder when you’re cruising which helps save fuel.
The petrol engines are smooth and quiet, only producing a background thrum under hard acceleration. The 1.5 litre diesel does feel a little grumbly at idle but then so do most of its rivals. In terms of refinement in the cabin there is some noise coming from the door mirrors when you pick up a bit of pace but overall it’s very well suppressed in the Ford Focus. It is indeed, much like the Puma crossover and recently electrified Fiesta. The more powerful versions of Ford’s 1.0-litre turbo EcoBoost engines now have a zap of 48-volt starter-generator to smooth over any turbo lag and let the engine sleep for longer when sitting idle in congested traffic. The EcoBoost Hybrid engine uses a variation of the existing 1.0-litre engine but swaps that unit’s alternator for a belt-driven integrated starter/generator, which recovers energy when braking and coasting to charge the 48V lithium ion battery.
No matter which Focus you go for you get a slick shifting six-speed manual gearbox as standard, across most of the range you can spec an eight-speed automatic. The suspension your Focus comes with depends on which engine and trim you choose. The ST line versions are slightly firmer while some engines feature a more complex suspension arrangement but fundamentally the Focus is a great handling car no matter which version you buy.
It sits between the subtleties of the Volkswagen Golf and the sometimes lumpy Skoda Octavia. You can upgrade to adaptive dampers but honestly the standard car is so good there’s no need to. Remember this is one area where the Focus traditionally excels and there is no change with the new version, it is one of the very best cars in its class to drive. It handles sweetly and goes from corner to corner with almost ballerina-like finesse. If you’re a keen driver you will love the beautifully weighted steering which just adds to the joy. Get in the driver’s seat of the Ford Focus and you notice just how comfortable it is. You get adjustable lumbar support and height adjustment as standard and if you go for the comfort seats, you get 18 way adjustments including an extendable thigh support which is great if you’re tall. The steering wheel adjusts for reach and rake which means you can easily get a comfortable driving position .
When it comes to all-round visibility it’s pretty good, apart from the back where visibility is slightly compromised but that is to be expected in its class. You get front and rear parking sensors as standard or you can add them if you haven’t optioned the ST line and above. If parking is an issue for you, you can get a reversing camera too. Build quality in previous generations of the Ford Focus was a little bit hit and miss while this new model does improve things it’s still not class leading. Starting with the good bits there’s some soft touch materials and if you go for Zetech and above you get a leather-bound steering wheel and if you’ve gone for the manual also a leather manual gear knob.
When it comes to infotainment the entry level model comes with a 4.2” screen which comes with DAB radio, bluetooth and two usb ports. Step up to Zetec or ST line models and above and you’ll get a 6.5” touchscreen which gets you Apple Carplay and Android auto with smartphone mirroring. It’s pretty spacious in the front of a Ford Focus, it’s definitely on a par with a Skoda Octavia. There’s also plenty of places for your odds and ends.
There’s some storage spaces around the front cabin which are actually quite deep, you can fit a few snacks in and you’ve also got a useful tray, two cup holders but the door bin is a little on the small side and it’s not very stable to hold a water bottle. The glove box is a decent size and there’s a space for your mobile phone.
The rear bench used to be a downside for the Focus but now it is just as cavernous as a Skoda Octavia, certainly for legroom and headroom which is only slightly less in the Focus. It all feels pretty spacious unless you’re sitting in the middle seat, because the seat is raised, long journeys would be slightly uncomfortable. Overall though the Focus scores well in the back and is very spacious if you have a weekend of diy or extreme gardening to do. You’ll be pleased to know the boot is just as big as the Volkswagen Golf. There is a small load lip to contend with but the square design means it’s easy to fit a large pram or several suitcases in.
The Focus is keenly priced, especially the punchy but frugal one litre ecoboost 125 petrol engine. When it comes to safety equipment every model comes with automatic emergency braking and lane keep assist and if you’d like to add adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition you can do so at a reasonable price.
Thanks to Richard Parry-Jones work, the Ford Focus remains one of the best drivers cars in its class. It’s practical, some of the interior could be brushed up but if you’re looking for an economical family car that’s still a bit of fun on B roads, it should definitely be on your shortlist.