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Ford Focus Sport 2011 review

... the new Focus feels like a strong, cohesive package that will do well once supply frees up.
EXPERT RATING
8

The Blue Oval has taken a battering locally as Falcon sales falter, but it's not all doom and gloom for Ford. The new Focus small-car range is set to turn the segment on its ear - packed with technology and displaying impeccable road manners, the Focus will find favour with as many Australian buyers as restricted supply can allow - those who crave a small car that's not just an A-to-B shopping trolley at least. In fact, some models within the line-up are likely to encourage owners to take the back roads home.

The Sport model range within the new line-up has been expanded to include hatch and sedan with a number of drivetrain variables - the turbodiesel option is an auto-only proposition, albeit the Powershift twin-clutch set-up.

Value

The $33,190 Sport Hatch turbodiesel is a $3500 impost above the petrol-powered auto Sport, which can also be had with a five-speed manual for $27,390. The Sport is not short on gear and features - 17in alloy wheels, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, automatic headlights, dual-zone climate control, a Sony nine-speaker sound system, sports front seats, front fog lights, rear parking sensors, wheel-mounted cruise control and voice-control for the Bluetooth phone and audio link.

There's also clear and bright LED interior lighting, power-adjustable rearvision mirrors, remote central locking, split-fold rear seats, power windows, reach and rake adjustable steering, LED interior lighting, a trip computer, manual front seat adjustment and a leather-wrapped steering wheel that also has audio, cruise and trip computer controls.

Technology

The two-litre direct-injection turbodiesel four-cylinder is a smooth and quiet as it produces 120kW at 3750rpm, with 340Nm making its presence felt from 2000 through to 3250rpm. The new Focus' powerplant gets the job done with higher-pressure within the common-rail fuel injection system and a smaller, faster-responding variable-geometry turbocharger.

The twin-clutch six-speed auto uses two dry clutches to run each gearbox, which can be left to its own devices or slipped into Sport - there are manual change buttons on the side of the gear selector but they are poorly positioned (why not just use the gear selector?) and largely redundant, as the gearbox's programming is pretty good.

The Focus has a new electric power steering, which would normally suggest dead feel for the driver - Ford says the new system is mounted on the steering rack and offers precise steering with feel. The new Focus also features an advanced Torque Vectoring Control system as standard equipment, which brakes the back wheel appropriate to the cornering direction to help the car turn in with more purpose.

Design

Earlier incarnations of the Focus have not always been head-turners but the new hatch follows the company's "kinetic" design direction - strong, sharp lines with aggressive lighting packages are more aerodynamic as well as being anything but bland.

The theme carries over to the interior - the steering wheel, dashboard and instrument cluster are both busy - the centre-stack takes a little getting used to but much of the functionality is "set and forget."

The cabin is comfortably snug, with the thick C-Pillar and funky window shapes detracting from the driver's vision. The chrome surrounds of the interior vents can also catch the driver's eye unnecessarily, as they reflect in the nearby window - right in the line of vision for the driver.

Safety

The body structure of the new Focus is 15 per cent stiffer than the outgoing model and has a five star ANCAP crash safety rating - there are seatbelt reminders, front seatbelt pretensioners and load-limiters, dual front, side and full-length curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes with brakeforce distribution and emergency assist, rear parking sensors and traction and stability control.

The latter incorporates a corner braking control function as well as the torque vectoring control.

Driving

The Focus has always - even in its base guise - a decent little machine, not just for negotiating car parks and metropolitan duties, but it was never afraid of zipping through a series of bends at pace either. The new car builds on that solid foundation with an on-road package that is a well-balanced, stable and comfortable compromise. It's on the firm side as you'd expect from a Sport hatch, but that doesn't mean it's uncomfortable and press-ahead motoring is also achieved with aplomb, with a chassis composure that belies the pricetag.

It's a willing little car, helped by a twin-clutch auto that has plenty of smarts and a clever sports mode - the manual-change button on the side of the shifter is a little awkward and largely redundant given the clever.

The driver is well informed by the centre display, which is small but informative and clear. The only complaint would be that it needs a speed readout as well as range to empty, as the former will be more of a concern than the latter, as it is swift and quiet.

The six-speed twin-clutch auto is well-matched to the diesel and it only sometimes suffers from a little indecision, but it's rare. The drivetrain returned a figure of 7.2 litre per 100km, most of which was uninspiring metropolitan work, when the Cruze hatch arrives later this year it will have a little more torque but the Focus is smoother and quieter.

The interior is funky and stylish, most of which looks good and works well - only the chrome surrounds on the vents near the front doors cause an issue, reflecting in the window and across the line of the driver's eye to the mirror.

Cabin space doesn't feel as big or as airy in the Ford but there's enough room for me to sit behind my own driving position, something that is rare at the smaller end of the market. Rear three-quarter vision could be better - there's a thick C-pillar and a high-set waistline - which is probably why the rear parking sensors are on the standard features list.

Verdict

Ford may not be building this car at Broadmeadows (which is a shame for the local industry) but the new Focus feels like a strong, cohesive package that will do well once supply frees up. When the Cruze hatch arrives, the Red versus Blue battleground will not just be interesting to watch because of Commodore v Falcon, as the Focus will give small car buyers ample food for thought, particularly if they're in the market for a diesel.

Pricing guides

$9,490
Based on 90 cars listed for sale in the last 6 months
Lowest Price
$2,490
Highest Price
$15,999

Range and Specs

VehicleSpecsPrice*
CL 2.0L, ULP, 4 SP AUTO $4,950 – 7,260 2011 Ford Focus 2011 CL Pricing and Specs
CL 2.0L, ULP, 4 SP AUTO $6,820 – 9,570 2011 Ford Focus 2011 CL Pricing and Specs
LX 2.0L, ULP, 5 SP MAN $4,840 – 7,150 2011 Ford Focus 2011 LX Pricing and Specs
Ambiente 1.6L, ULP, 5 SP MAN $6,270 – 8,800 2011 Ford Focus 2011 Ambiente Pricing and Specs
EXPERT RATING
8
Stuart Martin
Contributing Journalist

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