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With more than 10 million sold since its introduction in 1998, the Focus has proven to be a favourite with buyers worldwide.
The Focus Titanium, with its long list of standard features and excellent driving dynamics should see solid additions to that total by way of sales in Australia.
Fuel consumption around town was in the range of eight to nine litres per hundred kilometres and in the country this easily dropped to six to seven litres, with high fives on offer if you put our mind and right foot into economy mode.
Standard equipment includes satellite navigation, Active Park Assist, voice control, keyless entry and start/stop, partial leather seat trim, heated front seats and good-looking 18-inch alloy wheels.
The audio system is a standout, featuring nine speakers, an AM/FM tuner, single disc CD, MP3 compatibility and Bluetooth streaming. There’s Aux connection for external music devices, USB and iPod ports. Driver information is provided by a multi-function display with distance to empty, average fuel consumption, average speed and outside air temperature.
The Titanium we reviewed had the 2.0-litre GDi Ti-VCT direct injection petrol engine. Putting out 125 kW of power and peak torque of 202 Nm, the engine is smooth and pleasant to sit behind. It pulls strongly at low to mid revs and isn’t overly harsh if revved to the top end of the tacho.
Active Park Assist searches for a parking spot at the side of the street. Then at the press of a button on the centre console the system reverses the Focus into the spot with the driver operating the footbrake only.
Voice control can choose a radio station, select a cabin temperature, dial a contact on a Bluetooth connected phone and play a Bluetooth-connected device. Clear diction is the key to avoiding frustration, though as with all such systems we had troubles at times. A Help function can make life easier while you’re learning the ropes.
Focus has increased torsional rigidity in this latest generation. Stiffened front and rear subframes, together with well placed insulation materials, combine to cut road noise and vibration. There’s the usual increase in sound intrusion on coarse-chip surfaces, but the Focus is certainly better in this respect than previous models. Having said that, the Falcon, which is completely designed for Australian roads, does it significantly better.
Active safety comes via ABS anti-skid brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Emergency Brake Assist. Dynamic Stability Control incorporates Traction Control. Hill start assist, something that’s of no use on a car with an automatic transmission, is fitted
All models in the Ford Focus range have driver and front passenger forward and side thorax airbags. There are side curtain airbags for front and rear seat occupants.
Handling is excellent for a car in this class, being noticeably better than Asian models in this respect. The steering is sharp and precise and the midsize Ford holds its line even on bumpy roads. It’s always willing to change direction in mid corner and the feedback to the driver will suit those who see cars as mere transportation devices.
Ride comfort is very good, all the more so when you consider the sporty dynamics of the chassis. Even rough and ready Australian backroads don’t give it any grief and long trips can be completed with minimal effort.
The engine was mated to the six-speed dual-clutch PowerShift double-clutch automatic transmission. In Normal mode the Ford PowerShift automatic takes care of itself. In Sport mode shifting decisions are made by the driver.
However, instead of having paddles on the steering wheel it’s operated by a button on the gear shifter. This works well enough, but the big advantage of a paddle control system is the safety achieved by not taking your hands of the steering wheel.
The double-clutch auto wasn’t as grumpy as some of its type at very low speeds, but still doesn’t have the smoothness of a full torque convertor automatic.
The 2012 Focus Titanium is a topline model crammed with latest smart technology and driver aids and our test week in a hatchback version saw us enjoy the finest features in modern motoring at a pretty modest cost.
| Vehicle | Specs | Price* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ambiente | 1.6L, ULP, 5 SP MAN | $6,380 – 8,910 | 2012 Ford Focus 2012 Ambiente Pricing and Specs |
| Ambiente | 1.6L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO | $7,700 – 10,780 | 2012 Ford Focus 2012 Ambiente Pricing and Specs |
| Trend | 2.0L, ULP, 5 SP MAN | $6,380 – 9,020 | 2012 Ford Focus 2012 Trend Pricing and Specs |
| Trend | 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO | $6,600 – 9,240 | 2012 Ford Focus 2012 Trend Pricing and Specs |
$4,990
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