Ford Focus 2014 Review

The Ford Focus Sport sits right in the middle of the third generation Focus lineup, above the Ambiente and Trend models, and below the Titanium and hot ST.

DESIGN

You can pick the Sport by its 17 inch wheels, splashes of chrome, tinted headlights, and hatch spoiler. The Sport is only available as a hatch, which will be good news for those wanting to take advantage of the hatch’s more versatile interior.

Like any current Focus hatch, the Sport can seat four adults comfortably with plenty of clever storage bins, and there’s 316-litres of cargo space in the back on top of a spacesaver spare.

VALUE

Our Sport has the 2.0-litre petrol engine, but it’s also available with the 2.0-litre turbodiesel at a Sport range-topping $31,690.

With the optional six-speed dual clutch automatic fitted to our test car, the Sport comes in at $28,190.  It’s also available as a five-speed manual for $25,890.

The Sport comes equipped with a leather wheel, dual-zone climate and speed-limiting cruise control, 5-inch multimedia screen with satnav and Ford’s Sync Bluetooth and voice-activation connectivity, which makes it easier to avoid the centre stack’s Blackberry-like array of buttons.

It’s also got fantastic seats, plus 9-speaker audio, auto wipers, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and heated side mirrors.

A reversing camera and rear parking sensors are also standard, plus red ambient lighting for a subtle sinister feel at night and individual reading lamps for each corner.

ENGINE

The 2.0-litre direct-injected petrol engine puts 125kW and 202Nm, which is more than enough for an everyday small hatch. It scores an okay 6.6L/100km combined, with a clever active grille shutter that helps with aerodynamics at speed.

SAFETY

The Sport carries the Focus range’s five-star ANCAP safety rating, with dual frontal, side and full-length curtain airbags, ABS, EBD, emergency brake assist and stability control.

DRIVING

On the road, the Sport’s tighter suspension tune is a lot more comfortable than you’d think, and there’s great stability through the bends. This is a quality suspension setup.

However, the six-speed Powershift auto can be a bit slow to react, and it can be a bit indecisive, but the shifts are quite smooth. 

There’s an overall solid, premium feel from behind the wheel, and it’s nice and quiet at highway speeds.