Ford Focus 2015 review

Those on a tight budget need not apply. Ford has dropped the entry Ambiente model meaning the new range now starts at $23,390, or about $3000 more than a base Mazda3 or Hyundai i30.

The new Focus adds improved interior styling and driving aids to its substantial on-road talents but the pricing means it won't be unseating the reigning heavyweights of the small car class. And Ford needs the Focus to be a star — sales are down more than 50 per cent to date this year and it is being outsold five to one by the newer Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla.

CarsGuide has long praised the Focus for its ride and handling and this version improves on that experience with stiffer suspension and sharper steering. Those bits we didn't like — the cluttered infotainment switchgear dominating the centre stack — have been replaced by an eight-inch touchscreen and the cabin look is more consistent. Carry-over bugbears such as the lack of legroom and ventilation for back-seat passengers and the large turning circle aren't as easily fixed.

The Trend is the entree to the Focus range and starts at $23,390 for the five-door hatch with a six-speed manual transmission. The six-speed auto is priced to please at just $1000 more but all paint colours other than white are considered "prestige" hues and attract a $450 whack.

The money buys a car that is externally unchanged beyond the front-end tweaks needed to incorporate Ford's signature trapezoidal grille and some more subtle work on the tailgate.

Trainspotters may note that all models now have active grille shutters that close to improve aerodynamics and/or cut the time needed for the engine to reach optimal temperatures.

The interior now uses an eight-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation and the Sync2 infotainment software with much more intuitive voice recognition software. The reversing camera is supplemented by rear parking sensors and there's cruise control to help avoid inadvertent contributions to the government's coffers.

The Trend rolls on 16-inch alloys and there's a full-size steel spare in the boot, though the larger-rimmed Sport and Titanium models make do with a space-saver.

A Sports hatch manual starts at $26,490 and adds a firmer suspension tune with 17-inch alloys, folding side mirrors, side skirts and a rear spoiler, dual-zone aircon, push-button start, auto headlamps and wipers and digital audio.

Active safety is the preserve of the top-spec Titanium model at $32,690 in auto-only guise. That price rise brings a step up in driver aids with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic parking, an improved autonomous emergency braking system that now operates at speeds up to 50km/h (it was 30km/h). More mundane additions run to 18-inch alloy wheels, front parking sensors and sports seats with leather highlights.

Dynamics have never been a problem for the Focus

Two sedans will be sold in Trend and Titanium specification and the auto-only duo are the same price as their hatch siblings.

Driving

Dynamics have never been a problem for the Focus, with the small car more than capable of mixing runabout duties with a quick trip down a back road. This model has improved that agility, though with a corresponding small dip in comfort.

Powering over some serious road undulations proves the latest Focus is now a well-planted vehicle. Traffic-pace obstacles, be they road joins or potholes, now have slightly more impact in the cabin. It's a trade-off I'd happily make — and isn't as evident in the Sport as it is in the lower-profiled Titanium.

The steering has likewise been revised to be more responsive just off centre, making it quicker to turn in once the wheel has been tugged, but then more progressive to load up as the wheel is turned. The light weight will appeal to city dwellers (the 11.0m turning circle not as much) without sacrificing feedback on more curvaceous tarmac.

The 1.5-litre engine is a rorty, willing accomplice in either case. Maximum torque lobs at just 1600rpm and sixth gear has been calibrated to be at just that point when pulling 100km/h.

Build quality on the Thai-made cars was reasonable rather than exceptional, with the dash speaker on one car sitting proud of its surrounds and the chrome trim line at the top of the doors failing to align front-to-back on another example.

The driving position is about spot on and Ford says extra insulation has deadened external sound. Even so, there is a bit of tyre noise from the Trend and Titanium at speeds over 80km/h.