2012 Ford Focus Reviews

While we probably won't see a Ford Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost Down Under until at least 2014 we won't have to wait that long to sample the Blue Oval's award-winning engine.See, when Ford's tiny-tot SUV, the EcoSport, hits dealerships late next year (2013), it'll be the 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost engine that'll headline. And what a brilliant engine it is. Currently available in two states of tune (74kW and 170Nm with a five-speed manual or 91kW and 170Nm, and up to 200Nm on overboost for 30 seconds, and a six-speed manual) an dual-clutch transmission, or Powershift in Ford-speak, is being developed to suit the tiddler engine......since launch in Europe a couple of months ago, this engine has made an instant impact accounting for almost a quarter of all Focus sales.This is a tricky one. See, because there's so much time between now and when the Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost arrives in Australia Ford is remaining tight-lipped about pricing.But, given 70 per cent of our market in Australia is centred on automatics you can imagine this vehicle won't launch until the Powershift transmission is available, and that it'll be sometime after the EcoSport goes on-sale. Ford is hoping to make that vehicle a hero for the brand (via the engine). So while we can't be 100 per cent certain, we're pretty sure you can expect, as standard, things like Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, 16-17-inch alloys, auto headlights, dual-zone climate control, and much more. Given the extra cost involved in building this clever little engine, pricing will probably see it sit at the upper end of current Focus pricing, so, somewhere between $25,000-$35,000. Maybe. We really can't be sure.Under the bonnet is a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine. We drove the bigger, metaphorically speaking, engine that makes 91kW and 170Nm from just off idle at 1300rpm - 4000rpm. This was mated to a six-speed manual, and returned an impressive 5.0L/100km (on the combined cycle). But what makes this engine truly remarkable is its level of refinement and drivability, and not just for a small capacity engine, but for an engine full stop. Because of the inherently unbalanced nature of a three-cylinder car, Ford's engineers came up with a handful of firsts, like purposely unbalancing the crank pulley and flywheel to balance the engine - there is absolutely no vibration transferred to the car's structure - there is no balancer shaft. It also runs an offset crankshaft to reduce piston friction and thus improve fuel consumption, and the cam belt, made from a mix of glass fibre and rubber, runs through oil and lasts the life of the engine.One interesting side effect of making the engine smaller has been in weight saving (around 33kg when compared with the old 1.6-litre four-cylinder in the Focus) over the front-end of the car. And this has helped improve steering and handling, making a car that was already at the top of the small car handling tree even better.There haven't been any changes to the exterior of the Focus for this EcoBoost model, nor to the interior. And so, it's the same old well laid out dashboard with quality materials and fit and finish. There's plenty of room in the front and the back of the car.Given the Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost is just an engine dropped into the Focus, it's as safe as any other Focus (Ford says the smaller engine actually improves front-end crushability). That means it gets a five-star ANCAP crash safety rating, and all of the usual active and passive safety systems. So, it gets, as standard, stability and traction control, hill-launch assist, ABS with emergency brake assist, airbags for front and back seat passengers, and much more.This is where the 1.0-litre EcoBoost shines. Thumb the starter button and there's a slight off-beat shudder and then, nothing... it settles into a smooth, and quiet idle that, with the radio playing, you can't help but wonder if the start-stop function has cut in. Under hard acceleration, the engine growls with a delicious beat that reminds you of a five-cylinder. Our substantial launch drive saw us tackle plenty of steep and winding roads in the Eiffel mountains, and the countryside around Cologne. From the get-go, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost offers diesel-esque off-idle pulling power, and allows for lazy driving. It would happily pull from 1000rpm in fourth gear, and that's despite running relatively tall gearing. Even on the autobahn, the triple (three cylinders) was happy to run with the big beemers and Mercs rocketing along the outside lane. Squeeze the throttle at 140km/h in sixth gear, and the Focus EcoBoost pulled, and pulled hard.

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 fittedAll 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.

Australia's favourite car in 2011 was the Mazda3.  The Japanese compact also topped the small-car class despite a solid challenge from the Toyota Corolla and opposition from more than 20 other babies.But does that make it the best small car in Australia today? There is only one way to find out, which is why we have the Mazda3 lined up against its toughest showroom rivals for the first in a series of Carsguide title fights.Picking the top four for this punch-up is - relatively - easy. We might like the idea of an Alfa Romeo, or the patriotism of a Holden Cruze, or the space in a Mitsubishi Lancer, but we would not recommend one of those to our best friend.And, apart from personal preferences and bias, that's what car choice really comes down to. Which car would you choose to drive away if it was your life and your money?The Mazda3 is an automatic choice since it's the reigning champion, and the Toyota Corolla gets an automatic spot as the number one contender. We also have to take the Volkswagen Golf because it's the best car in the small-car class - if not the best value - and the final spot goes to the Ford Focus because it's the sweetest drive and was a finalist in last year's Carsguide Car of the Year award.VALUEYou can spend just over $20,000 to put a quality small car on the road, but it's easy to go much higher with high-performance models such as the $39,490 Mazda3 MPS and $52,490 Golf R. So we settled in the midrange, where most private buyers spend their own cash, with four fighters with prices covered by only $2000. The Corolla Levin ZR comes in at $29,990 and the Golf 118TSI Comfortline is $31,990.All come with a host of creature features that just five years ago were standard only in luxury cars. Apart from being the cheapest, the popular Corolla is also a valued asset because it is easier to sell at trade-in and is the only one here with the security of capped-price service costs. It also doesn't scrimp on features with a totally keyless entry and start system that detects when you approach the car and automatically unlocks, Bluetooth, an MP3 compatible CD player, front fog lights, cruise control, moonroof, rain-sensing wipers, auto-on HID headlights and climate control airconditioning.Our Mazda comes with much the same gear, but this luxury version adds $3000 to the $27,990 price for Bi-Xenon headlamps, a sliding centre armrest console, leather seat trim and a 10-speaker Bose 242-watt sound system. The Focus Sport includes a spoiler, sports seats, auto wipers, Sony sound, leather steering wheel, dual-zone airconditioning and, since December, satnav as standard.The Golf is the only one here with daytime running lights. It also has an optional park assist system at $1400 and rearview camera at $500.TECHNOLOGYThe newest engine here is the Mazda Skyactiv-G 2.0-litre with an auto stop-start system called i-stop. It's not the most powerful unit at 113 kiloWatts, well down on the 125kW Focus However, Mazda's engine is married to a new Skyactiv six-speed transmission which is not only silky smooth but, together with the i-stop function, helps the vehicle achieve the best fuel figures of 6.1-6.2L/100km.It is marginally lighter on fuel than the VW which has the smallest 1.4 engine, but boosted to 118kW with a turbo. It manages 6.2L/100km due also to the transmission, a seven-speed DSG auto. Toyota's ageing 1.8-litre engine is the weakest with only 100kW and is relatively thirsty at 7.3L/100km because it only has a four-speed auto.On the electronics side, the Mazda and Ford have voice recognition and satnav, although the high-mounted screen in the Mazda is almost impossible to see in direct sunlight or for anyone over 50. On the low-tech side, the Corolla is the only vehicle with a full-size spare.SAFETYCarsguide takes safety seriously and all four cars have a five-star ANCAP rating. The Toyota and VW lead the pack with seven airbags, adding knee protection for the driver, while the Mazda and Ford have six airbags each. All have parking sensors to avoid carpark bingles, but the Focus and Golf have an optional self-parking feature which is a real show-stopper.DRIVINGJumping back into the cars is a reminder that small-car buyers have never had better choices than they do today. All four of the so-called babies have plenty of space, good performance and the sort of equipment that used to make time in a Mercedes-Benz special. But there are significant differences.Looking first at the champion, the Mazda's cabin feels surprisingly cramped and dark, there is lots of noise from the tyres, and there is also bumping and thumping on poor surfaces. The Focus is a nicely sporty drive, but the cabin controls are complicated and confusing and it doesn't seem all that big.The Corolla has the roomiest feel and update work last year has made the cabin a nice place, while the suspension is great. It's just a pity about the four-speed gearbox. And the Golf? We expected to drive best and it goes, but the cabin is dark and not particularly inviting, and the DSG gearbox - once a first choice with Carsguide testers - now has us worried. We get lots of owner complaints and poor feedback, and that's not good.VERDICTNo drum roll, no fanfare, just the bottom line: it's the Toyota Corolla. The world's favourite small car is my choice - back at the top again, after a long run down the field - as the best small car in showrooms today.The Mazda3 is still the people's choice, and consistently Australia's favourite, while the Volkswagen Golf is the class of the field and the Ford Focus is the most fun. But picking a winner in a very tight contest means I have no friends and must consider everything.The Golf is quality but you pay the price, the cabin is like a cave, and I cannot help wondering and worrying - after a string of owner questions and complaints - about the DSG transmission. It's a lovely car, and one I love to drive, but I could not buy one. The Mazda3 is, plain and simple, showing its age. The cabin is cheap, there is too much road noise and suspension thump, the engine is nothing special, and - even though it's a little thing - the satnav screen is tiny. It's nice, but not as good as I remembered. And the Focus, a COTY contender last year? The thing it does best, corners, is the one thing most Australians don't care about. It's a good car, but not a great car. And the messy dashboard and confusing switches drive me batty.In a field of four, the Corolla is ordinary but extraordinary. It sneaks up on you with surprising strengths that reflect a deep and long-term understanding of the real needs of small-car buyers. It's only got a four-speed automatic, but that is easily offset by capped-price servicing through the warranty period. The Corolla is the car I would be happiest to drive away and own, and that makes it my winner.Paul Gover Rating1. Toyota Corolla2. Volkswagen Golf3. Mazda34. Ford FocusToyota Corolla Levin ZRPrice: $29,990Warranty: 3 years, 100,000kmService: capped-price for 3 years or 60,000kmSafety: 5-star ANCAP, 7 airbags, stability and traction control, ABS, EBD and BAEngine: 1.8L 4-cylinder 100kW/175NmBody: 5-door, 5-seater hatchDimensions: 4245mm (L), 1760mm (W), 1515mm (H), 2600mm (WB)Weight: 1280kgTransmission: 4-speed auto, FWDEconomy: 7.3L/100kmVW Golf 118 TSI ComfortlinePrice: $31,990Warratny: 3 years, unlimited kmService: 15,000kmSafety: 5-star ANCAP, 7 airbags, stability and traction control, ABS, EBD, BA and hill startEngine: 1.4L, turbo 4-cylinder, 118kW/240NmBody: 5-door, 5-seater hatchDimensions: 4199mm (L), 1785mm (W), 1479mm (H), 2574mm (WB)Weight: 1330kgTransmission: 7-speed auto DSG, FWDEconomy: 6.2L/100km, 144g/kmMazda3 SP20 Skyactiv luxuryPrice: $30,990Warranty: 3 years / unlimited kmsService: 6mths/10,000kmSafety: 5-star ANCAP, 6 airbags, stability and traction control, ABS, EBD and BAEngine: 2-litre 4-cylinder, 113kW/194NmBody: 5-door hatchDimensions: 4460mm (L), 1755mm (W), 1470mm (H), 2640mm (WB)Weight: 1346kgTransmission: 6-speed Skyactiv auto, FWDEconomy: 6.1-6.2L/100km Ford Focus SportPrice: $30,190Warranty: 3 years, 100,000kmService: 15,000km/annualSafety: 5-star ANCAP, 6 airbags, stability and traction control, hill launch, ABS, EBD and BAEngine: 2.0L 4-cylinder, 125kW/202NmBody: 5-door, 5-seater hatchDimensions: 4538-4362mm (L), 2010mm (W), 1451-1484mm (H), 2648mm (WB)Weight: 1900kgTransmission: 6-speed auto, FWDEconomy: 6.6L/100km, 154g/km

The case for diesel continues to be less than clear cut, especially if you are looking for a small car. Take Ford's latest diesel Focus sedan. The test car, a 2.0-litre TDCi diesel with six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission in mid-range Trend trim, has a retail price of $30,500, or $3710 more than the 2.0-litre petrol auto Trend. That's a big gap even if you are not on a tight budget, especially considering higher pump prices for diesel. Some of that gap will be recovered on resale, but only about $1000 after four years.While the diesel is easier on fuel, it is not that much more frugal, with a combined average of 5.5litre/100km compared with 6.6litre/100km in the petrol Trend. But if you have to have a diesel, the Focus should be at the top of the list. It is cheaper than a comparable Volkswagen Golf and more rewarding to drive than a Holden Cruze. And for those with a soft spot for diesel power there is the appeal of the way the engine operates, delivering instant and effortless acceleration when and where it is needed.Like all turbo diesels, the Focus TDCi delivers its best at low to medium engine speeds, is flexible and tractable around town and composed and relaxed on the open road. It also has lower carbon dioxide emissions. The 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine has been updated to produce 120kW (up 20kW) and 340Nm from 2000 to 3250rpm. (up from 320Nm or 340Nm on an eight second over-boost).It has a new generation combustion system, higher pressure fuel injection and a small low inertia variable vane turbocharger. These help deliver stronger and more refined punch, at lower engine speeds, rapid and elastic mid-range acceleration and lower fuel use than its predecessor, all helped by smooth and decisive six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission. The engine is commendably quiet on idle and barely discernible from the petrol Trend on the move.Like the hatch, the latest sedan is longer, stronger, lower, a little heavier and sits on a longer wheelbase. Armed with sophisticated good looks, the sedan is identical to the hatch forward of the rear doors, but has a different rear end with a longer roof and larger rear quarter windows.The interior layout is attractive and well finished with quality trim. The cockpit-style driving position has deep-set instruments and an array of controls on the steering wheel and central command console that take time to master. Seats are large and well-bolstered with plenty of adjustment and the steering column adjusts for reach and tilt.The boot is large for its class and the rear seats split fold and the seat cushions flip up to allow the back seats to fold flat.On the road, the Focus remains at the top of its class in chassis dynamics. It feels taut, solid and agile and is inspiring and rewarding to drive with accurate tactile steering, a firm composed ride and secure and confident handling. It is also very quiet with very little wind and road noise, the 16-inch wheels and tyres on the Trend being quieter, more compliant and with a tighter turning circle than the 18-inch wheels fitted to the top of the range model.There are three trim levels in the diesel sedan, the Trend, the Sport and the Titanium, all automatic and all the same price as the hatch versions. The Trend comes with six airbags, stability control, a five-star crash rating, alloy wheels, cruise control, rear parking sensors, a single CD audio with voice control, Bluetooth and USB/iPod connection, fog lights, a space saver spare wheel, lumbar adjustment on the driver's seat and a bonus for a diesel, a capless fuel filler. A $300 option pack adds automatic headlights and wipers, auto-dipping mirror, and follow me home lights. Focus sales jumped 30 per cent last year in a total small car market that was up only 0.9 per cent, although not too many of them were diesels.

There's a lot of competition for sub-$40,000 wallets in the small cars class. The Mazda3 is leading - and gaining more ground - with around 29,000 sales giving it close to 19 per cent of the market this year, with a big gap to the Holden Cruze's 23,000 and 15 per cent. Ford's Focus is seventh with 9000 and 5.5 per cent, but is trying hard to regain the attention it once used to have.The Ford Focus hatch has an entry level of $21,990 but asks $26,790 for the petrol engine and dual-clutch 'Powershift' auto transmission tested here in Trend spec, which lifts you to 16-in alloys (the base model has steel), front fog lights, rear parking sensors, cruise control, Bluetooth and voice control.The Hyundai i30 SLX is $900 cheaper, but while it won the Carsguide COTY gong a few years ago, its 2.0-litre engine offers less power and torque, and features like the four-speed auto will make it start to look outdated among the competition.Holden's Cruze CDX 1.8 is $300 less at $26,490.  Its smaller engine also delivers less power and torque but uses more fuel, albeit 91RON rather than the more expensive 95RON Ford recommends for the Focus. The Cruze has similar safety features, and adds leather heated seats, but not Bluetooth - a feature that should be standard at this price.The Toyota Corolla Levin SX hatch is $200 more than the Focus, and like the Cruze, has a 1.8-litre engine that delivers less power and torque while using more litres of the 91RON.The class benchmark is the VW Golf, which you can in 90TSI from from $700 more with a great little turbo engine and twin-clutch transmission that combine for better economy and sparkling response, but it has staid style, smaller 15-in wheels - which don't hamper its dynamics - standard manual aircon and space-saver spare.Mazda3 Maxx Sport hatch is $1570 more and has one less gear and a thirstier 2.0 litre engine, but on 91RON delivers similar power to the Cruze and Corolla - around 20 per cent less than the Focus. But the Mazda also adds satnav, six-stacker CD player and dual-zone climate control aircon among its extra features.The new Focus hatch needs to stand out on the street - and it does, looking like a Fiesta on steroids with funky body styling, hints of sport kit around the front fascia, and a pronounced rear spoiler.But the interior takes it a bit too far, with a lot of visual buzziness stretching from the cluttered centre stack across the driver's cockpit area. The blue-lit instruments look great, but there seem to be more buttons and controls than anybody would ever need.The new Focus has earned a five star ANCAP rating, and ticks all the boxes for safety.  A battalion of 10 airbags is joined by stability and traction controls, front seatbelt pre-tensioners, hill start assist, and anti-lock brakes with brake force distribution to compensate for uneven loads and brake assist for panic stops.The Trend hatch tested here carries Ford's 2.0-litre engine with common-rail fuel injection, developing 125kW of power and 202Nm of torque, and with the choices of either the six-speed dual-clutch sports automatic version we drove, or the five-speed manual (which drops the price $2300 to $24,490).The auto is the more economical of the two, with official thirst of 6.6L/100km to the manual's 7.2L - both of them on the more expensive 95RON fuel. But while most sports transmissions use a side-gate for you to then row the shifter back and forth for 'manumatic' changes, the Focus instead has a little button on the knob that you toggle up and down with your thumb - a technique that's fiddly and unsatisfying.The Focus is composed and predictable on the road, with its good grip, accurate steering and comfortable ride clearly the car's main highlights. With well-damped suspension and steering, you hear, rather than feel, the bumps. However, the rubber and road don't meet quietly, and there's tyre noise over all but the smoothest surfaces.It's easy to manoeuvre in most parking situations, but it's got an oddly poor turning circle for something this small, and that shows in tighter city spots. Despite the sport aspirations of having a twin-clutch transmission, the system is clearly geared for economy rather than performance.Unless you're manually controlling the gear selection with the button, the transmission changes up very quickly in normal mode. That will keep the thirst down a bit, but it can be annoying when it keeps jumping the gun well before you'd want it to. But we applaud the 'grade logic control' set-up that gives you extra engine braking to control descents, which means it doesn't run away when you're heading down a slope. Tap the brakes, and the transmission changes down and reins you in to a safer speed.Heading up a hill, and the transmission selects the best gear and stays there without hunting back and forth. That's clever. And, along with the dual-clutch transmission, it's the kind of technology we've too seldom seen on small and affordable cars until recently.The 2.0-litre is a capable engine for most tasks, and will cope well with overtaking and hauling even a full load of adults. But you need to push the revs to achieve that, and there's no sign of a truly inspired response. For that, you need to look to the turbodiesel Focus - or the Volkswagen Golf.

The small car segment is the hardest-fought at the moment. And getting harder. Which gives the new Ford Focus an even bigger job to do, in trying to gain some ground on the classy VW Golf, sales-leading Mazda3 and a battalion of other strong contenders.The base model Ambiente’s price has been kept at $21,990, with all the equipment you’d expect – and some added goodies thrown in. There’s Bluetooth with voice command even in the entry model.Of the other trim levels, the Focus Sport has a greater emphasis on driving enjoyment.Key features include sports suspension, 17-inch alloy wheels, sports front seats, dual zone climate control and a Sony audio system with 4.2-inch colour screen and multi-function display. Sport also scores the Convenience Pack as standard equipment.It is more comprehensively equipped than the outgoing Zetec model. Titanium has even more goodies and sells from a starting price of $32,590. But one omission – or more truly, latecomer – is the satnav, which won’t join the range until later this year.The dynamic new look has real cut-through on the street and a classy new interior featuring Ford's acclaimed kinetic design language.Two distinctive bodystyles are available, sedan and hatch, each with its own appeal. Drivers will no doubt appreciate the cockpit-style driving environment, but while the cabin has lost none of the comfort and practicality, the centre stack and surrounds are starting to look overdesigned..Five stars in crash testing, with six airbags and a raft of technology to try and prevent the crash in the first place. There’s also a stronger body with extensive use of high-strength steels. New Focus also features a patented front chassis subframe, which de-couples during severe frontal impacts, avoiding deformation in the passenger cell footwell area. Pedestrian protection has been boosted by the addition of a "soft" cowl design in the front body structure and Ford has also relocated the windscreen wiper system to help further reduce injury risks.The basic line-up for the 2011 Focus is simple: hatchback and sedan bodies, three engines - 1.6-litre petrol, 2.0-litre turbodiesel and 2.0-litre petrol - with five-speed manual and six-speed DSG PowerShift auto.The double clutch Powershift manumatic would be difficult to overlook for everyday and sporty driving as it offers the best of both worlds and an extra gear over the manual which is five speed only. What happened to the six-speed manual?The hero car for the Focus will be the next RS. But what’s arrived this week already bodes well for a future hot hatch.In a brief stint over rough dirt roads and snaking blacktop, the new Focus showed good grip and agility.The smaller 1.6-litre petrol engine needs to be egged up the rev range to get any sparkle, but the 2.0-litre is more enthusiastic – no surprises there. But it is the 2.0-litre turbodiesel that we spent more time with that looks to be the best all-rounder, developing 120kW/340Nm – 20kw and 20Nm more than the last Focus TDCi we drove. The six-speed automatic transmission is a good worker, but the button on the side is fiddly and awkward to use.For full drive impressions, see Carsguide this weekend.

The small car segment is the hardest-fought at the moment. And getting harder. Which gives the new Ford Focus an even bigger job to do, in trying to gain some ground on the classy VW Golf, sales-leading Mazda3 and a battalion of other strong contenders. Value The base model Ambiente's price has been kept at $21,990,