Ford Focus review (2008-2011)

What – Ford Focus
Where – Nice, France
Price – TBC
Available – January 2008
Key rivals – Vauxhall Astra, Renault Megane, VW Golf, Peugeot 308

Summary

Facelifted Focus aims to cash in on the success of the Mondeo and take the fight to its rivals  

Likes: superb chassis, updated styling looks good, improved cabin, green diesel enginesDislikes: fussy interior design, quality feel not up with rivals, ubiquity

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First impressions

One in 20 new cars sold in the UK is a Ford Focus. But with its 10th anniversary due next year Ford decided it's time for a facelift. But where to start? There's little wrong with the car as it stands. So you might expect changes to be minimal. A new bumper here, a tweaked options package there and you're done, right? Er, no. Think instead sheet metal changes to every panel except the roof, a brand new face and a completely refreshed model line up. And that's not all, Ford also launching a brand new dual-clutch automated gearbox and an eco model with tax-busting 114g/km CO2.

Buoyed by the success of the new Mondeo, 2007 has been a real success story and for the first time in well over a decade Ford Europe will end the year in the black. And that money is being ploughed back into the model range, the Focus reskin meaning it now wears Ford's signature 'kinetic design' look, introduced with the Mondeo. The kinetic look has been sympathetically applied to the Focus too. Cleaner flanks, a '3-D' bonnet, new bootlid, Mondeo-style double grille and swooping lights all combine to tidy up the looks with real success. Practical features abound too, such as a new 'Easyfuel' capless fuel flap, which also prevents mis-fuelling.

Performance

Ford has left the engine range more or less unchanged, which means petrols of 1.4 to 2.0 litres (the 2.5 ST will follow shortly) and diesels of 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 litres in five power levels. We drove the range topping 143bhp 2.0 Duratec petrol and 134bhp 2.0 TDCI Duratorq diesel. Currrently 65% of Focus sales are petrol models, the most popular being the 114bhp 1.6 Duratec. Both 2.0-litre cars are decent performers too, the diesel's extra torque and standard fit six-speed gearbox (five-speed on the petrol) making it demonstrably quicker. The new dual clutch Powershift gearbox (a rival to the VW group's DSG unit) will be launched on this car initially too, furthering its appeal.

Ride and handling

The first generation Focus set new standards in the class for ride and handling, thanks to the trick Control Blade multi-link rear suspension. Smooth riding and fun to drive, the Focus proved that mass market cars needn't be soulless and boring. With a wheelbase 25mm longer and 40mm wider, the current generation Focus developed this further, maintaining its class leading ride comfort and handling. Which didn't leave the chassis engineers much to do, come facelift time. So think detail - and we mean detail - tweaks rather than wholesale changes. On the twisty French roads of the test route the new Focus was as inspiring as ever - sharp, nimble, engaging and comfortable with it. Top marks.

Interior

If there was one area of the current Focus that really needed updating it was the interior. No surprises to hear this is where you'll really feel the difference in the new car then. The range has been simplified from 107 variants to 82, comprising Studio, Style (the current best seller), Zetec and Titanium. Ghia has been dropped, the Titanium range expanding to encompass a more contemporary package of luxury features. Throughout the range there are new dials, smoother grain surfaces, more soft-touch plastics and a general sprucing up to bring the Focus in line with the more spangly Mondeo, C-Max and S-Max.

Has it worked? Yes and no. Some of the details still seem a bit budget - the obvious moulding seam on the vent surrounds and silver painted plastic panel between the dials looking a bit cheap. The plethora of textures and materials lacks the consistency seen in VWs too and fit and finish is also a little wanting in comparison. Functionally there are fewer complaints though, the driving position good and the seats comfortable and supportive. Equipment levels are up too, with the option of a Mondeo-style Power button for keyless starting and a choice of two nav systems - a DVD unit with a 7-inch screen and a cheaper CD/SD card design with a 5-inch screen.

Economy and safety

Want to stick two fingers up to Ken Livingstone and his congestion charge? Well, assuming the new CO2-based charge regime is approved the Focus is the car for you, with all the 1.6 TDCi models slipping under the 120g/km threshold for free entry to the zone. All new Focuses also get lower-viscosity transmission oil, to the benefit of both shift quality and fuel economy. And if you really want to go green the new ECOnetic version of the 1.6 TDCi uses an enhanced aero package and other mods to offer 65.6mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 of just 114g/km.

The 2.0-litre TDCi as tested manages an official fuel consumption figure of 51.3mpg and CO2 of 144g/km - reasonable figures considering the sprightly performance. The 2.0-litre Duratec petrol we also drove manages 39.8mpg and 169g/km which compares favourably with similarly equipped cars from rivals like Renualt and Vauxhall. Safety is also improved, with ESP now standard across the range, together with automatic hazard lights that flash under emergency braking, and the option of a tyre deflation warning system. This backs up the existing five-star Euro NCAP score for occupant protection and four stars for children.

The MSN Cars verdict: 5/5

Ford knew it had the fundamentals right with the Focus and it wisely has played to its strengths with this spruce up. The cleaner, more contemporary look works well and now puts the Focus at the centre of what Ford describes as its kinetic design family. And with the clean 1.6 diesels and new high-tech Powershift gearbox, plus updated interior features, there is a Focus to suit all tastes and little reason to doubt it will continue its dominance of the C-segment market. Inspiring to drive, safe, good looking and eco friendly too, the Focus proves that mass market cars needn't be boring. And for that alone it deserves continued success.

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Ratings out of five: Ford Focus 2008

Performance****
Ride & handling*****
Interior***
Safety*****
Price****
Practicality****
Fuel economy****
MSN Cars verdict*****

Need to know

Petrol engines1.4, 1.6, 1.6 VVT, 1.8, 2.0
Diesel engines1.6 (89 and 99bhp), 1.8, 2.0 (109 and 134bhp)
Power (bhp)79-143
Torque (lb/ft)124-320
0-62 (secs)14.1-9.2sec
Top speed (mph)102-128
Combined mpg35.3-65.6
CO2/tax189-114