Ford Focus Reviews

The ST is Ford's first "global" performance car and will be sold in more than 40 countries. It's being delivered to showrooms as we speak and there will be no shortage of punters lining up to get their hands on the hot hatch, a long and eagerly awaited replacement for the XR5 Turbo.Built in Germany the ST is up against some stiff competition, but it's got the right pedigree and commands plenty of respect.If anything the styling is a bit understated. The car sits 10mm lower than a standard Focus, with ST tuned sports suspension, a body kit and rear wing, LEDs, bi-xenon lights and a Boxster style set of twin centrally mounted tailpipes.It rides on 18 inch wheels with 235/40 series Goodyear tyres, that protrude further than the rim providing some protection from gutter scrapes. Sadly, though, unlike the XR5, there's no GT stripes available - at least not for the time being (but we get the impression they're in the pipeline). Comes in a range of colours, but the standout is by far and away the hero Tangerine - "Learner plate" yellow from where we're standing.It's basically the same 2.0-litre Ecoboost turbocharged, direct injection engine that can be found in Mondeo and the Falcon, but in a different state of tune with some bits added and others replaced.The end result is an engine that kicks out 184kW of power at 5500 revs and 360Nm of torque from 2000 revs, with drive to the front wheels through a trick diff that modulates the delivery of power so it doesn't just sit there and spin the wheels when you hit the gas.The turbocharged four is paired with a short-shifting 6-speed manual with lockout reverse (there's no auto). The dash from 0-100km/h takes 6.5 seconds and it has a top speed of 248km/h, although the latter figure is not of much import. Fuel consumption from the 62-litre tank is 7.4 litres/100km and it takes premium unleaded. We got 10.6 litres/100km during the launch program.It's eye catching with its colour-coded, part leather Recaro sports seats (front and back). But the multi-layered dash is perhaps a little bit too busy and be confusing until you become familiar with the position of various functions.Satnav is standard but it's a small display and does not provide speed camera warnings, which you might think are something of a priority with the drivers of this sort of car. Given that the Falcon gets the warnings, that doesn't makes a lot of sense - there's nothing like consistency. There's no option to display the car's speed digitally either - another priority perhaps?There's just the one model,  with the one engine, one transmission and one suspension tune, priced from $38,290. Overseas there's three of them: ST1, ST2 and ST3 - but ST1 doesn't even get air conditioning. In terms of performance and equipment levels ours sits somewhere between the 2 and 3 (thankfully with air).Ford keeps making a big deal of the Microsoft based Sync system in this and others models. The problem is that's not fully functional in this country as yet and really provides only Bluetooth, with audio streaming and voice control. Overseas it's connected to the internet which opens up a whole world of possibilities. The Sony audio system boasts nine speakers.Gets a full five stars for safety, with six airbags and a host of safety features including a reversing camera.The sports hatch segment is fiercely competitive and there will be plenty of people out there comparing the figures. Suffice to say the Focus ST looks the part and is a treat to drive, with a sporty, attention getting exhaust note - even at lower engine revs.The ST sits securely on the road, with a low centre of gravity and that desirable "planted" feel. It features variable ratio electric power assisted steering and torque vectoring to provide added traction in corners. There's some squirm as the front wheels scrabble for traction on take off, but that's only to be expected.The clutch and gear change are smooth and easy to use, but some drivers complained that the top of the centre console snagged their elbow. The ride is thankfully not too soft, nor too firm, even though it is engineered for global tastes and the more you drive the car the more confidence in its grip and cornering ability continues to grow rounding up nicely on the other side of corners.The stability system has sport and off modes and the steering weights up as the car's speed increases,  easing off again at low speed, to make parking easier. Braking is strong and progressive too, with 320mm front stoppers that have been upgraded.Although known as the XR5 here, it was actually the ST overseas. Launched in 2006, Ford has sold almost 6000 of the cars here, priced at $35,990. The XR5's turbocharged 2.5-litre five cylinder engine was good for 166kW/320Nm and it did the dash from 0-100 in 6.8 seconds. The new one is 40kg lighter and is cheaper, faster and better equipped.

A turf war with street brawls and king-hits is underway in the hot-hatch segment. Ford has weighed back into the battle with the ST, taking the best from the superseded XR5 and limited-edition RS.Ford marketing general manager David Katic says keen Australian drivers have a real love of the hot hatch genre. "Focus XR5 and Focus RS were tremendously successful vehicles for Ford Australia and carved out a cult following, the Focus ST not only continues this tradition of hot hatches from Ford, but takes it to a new level,'' he says.As Volkswagen's supply of the outgoing GTI dwindles, Ford is ready to take the mantle of top dog in the segment. The ST is on sale in Australia from this month, although supply constrained by, says Ford, strong demand from the 40 countries getting the car.Priced from $38,290 there's no shortage of gear — the sports Recaro seats, dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable, heated and folding exterior mirrors, LED interior and rear tail lights, alarm, automatic bi-xenon headlights, and auto-dimming centre rearvision mirrors and rain-sensing wipers.The ST also gets a Sony sound system, with USB and Bluetooth link and nine speakers, sports alloy pedals, satnav (albeit on a small-ish 5in display), keyless entry and ignition.A turbo four from the EcoBoost family tops the list for the ST — a 184kW/360Nm two-litre unit (a close relative to the 179kW/353Nm four-cylinder Falcon's powerplant). The engine has direct injection, variable camshaft timing and a revamped intake and exhaust system, which includes a sound generator for better induction noise and a grille shutter to control airflow through the engine bay and improve aerodynamics. It is only on offer with a six-speed manual and lays claim to 7.4l/100km, which Ford says is a 20 per cent improvement over the outgoing ST, which wasn't on sale here. The other highlight is the Sport Steering system, a variable-ratio steering system that delivers the appropriate ratio to the job at hand. It's only a couple of turns lock to lock but works well in low-speed situations and in the corners.The electric power steering and three-stage stability control also work to counteract the dreaded torque steer, as does the torque vectoring system that brakes an inside wheel to stop the nose running wide.There's no doubt you're looking at a Focus, and a special one at that. The front end has been given a big front grille, the flanks have been adorned with side skirts and there's a sizeable roof lip spoiler as well. It sits squat — but not stupidly so — on 10mm-lower sports suspension 18in wheels with 235/40 Goodyear rubber. The rump has what Ford calls a "twin-hexagonal" exhaust outlet.The cabin is dominated  by the sports leather/cloth trimmed Recaro bucket seats, which are remarkably comfortable and provide excellent lateral support — they need to, but more on that later. There's a three-gauge binnacle atop the dash which boy racers might like but if it disappeared I wouldn't miss it.The five-star ANCAP safety rating is applied to the ST, which gets dual front, front-side and curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes with brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist, rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.The first impression of the ST is that it's quiet and civilised when sauntering through traffic, with a firm ride — it's not  uncomfortably so for a hot hatch, there's an initial compliance that makes life a little easier on the derriere and you won't need a kidney belt.The turbo powerplant on part throttle can deliver solid forward progress without fuss — slipping between gears, the shift has a hint of rubberiness to the lever but the action between the gears is clean. You won't need a massive number of cog-swaps of you don't desire them, as the engine is remarkably flexible — cruising at 100km/h in the tall 6th gear has the tachometer sitting at around 2200rpm. That said, if you want to stir it up, the animalistic tones from the sound generator and the turbo engine will encourage press-ahead progress on the right road.The first series of corners will have you recalibrating your steering wheel use, as it turns into bends with a ferocious enthusiasm, accuracy, good weighting and plenty of grip. Only thoughtless throttle application will disturb front wheel grip — the solid bolsters in the Recaro bucket seats are required features as the ST can generate plenty of lateral force.Body control is good and torque steer is still present, but not to the point of seriously disturbing the driver.The ST claims 7.4l/100km but our time in the ST had the trip computer showing 9.1 — but that's not bad given we weren't aiming for fuel economy records.The ST still has the busy centre stack that is not to all tastes and would take some time for familiarity.The sports steering wheel is a delight to use for its primary task but it's crowded with buttons that are not always easy to use.The centre display has myriad readouts but there's no digital speed readout — the instruments are clear enough to read but a digital display of speed could be handy, given the way the ST can quickly head into licence loss territory.The muscular front seats don't help rear legroom — I could just sit behind my own driving 191cm position but four normal-sized adults could be accomodated without concern, as will their gear with about 316 litres of bootspace.

Ford Australia is carefully promoting the fact that its new-generation Focus is designed more for European markets than Asian ones.In particular the global nature of the mid-sized Ford leans strongly in the Euro direction in style and handling dynamics.At one time there were plans to build the new Focus in Australia, but, sadly from our point of view, Ford’s head office couldn't make that work from an economic point of view, so most Australian Focus models are imported from Thailand.Interestingly, initial imports came from the Ford factory in Germany, with the switch to Thai built cars taking place midway through 2012. Our review car came from the Thai factory and build quality was pretty good.Ford Australia is struggling at the moment and must be sorry to have lost the chance of making the Focus here. Perhaps if there are problems with keeping the Falcon in Australia when the current model reaches the end of its life in 2016 there may be another attempt to bring production of the Focus Downunder.Priced from $21,990 the Focus comes as a four-door sedan and five-door hatchback. Ford is bringing in no fewer than four variants to Australia as it realises Falcon sales are continuing to slip and hopes to balance this out with increased sales of Ford Mondeo and the new Focus.The latter comes here as the entry-level Focus Ambiente, the mid-range Trend and topline Titanium. Our review car was a Focus Titanium and we appreciated its high-tech features. These include voice recognition and the ability to park itself after it recognises a suitable kerbside spot, so Ford Australia is providing features often only found in upmarket European cars.Petrol engines in the latest Ford Focus have capacities of 1.6 or 2.0 litres, the larger unit being a new design featuring the efficiency of direct petrol injection. There is also a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel. Our Focus Titanium road test car had the 2.0-litre unit.Most drivers will find the Focus’ engine using six to seven litres per hundred kilometres if they treat it gently on country and motorway trips. This consumption will increase to eight to ten litres per hundred kilometres around town. These are good figures for a petrol engine and show the advantages of developing the direct injection fuel system.At this stage Ford Australia isn’t planning to import smaller petrol units boosted by turbochargers. However, the success of such engines in competitors such as the Holden Cruze and Volkswagen Golf may lead to a change of plan on this.Styling of the new generation Ford Focus follows a familiar theme from the previous two generations, though we feel the stylists have backed off a little and this new model isn’t as radical in its shape as previously. This is probably a sensible move as Ford is keen to pull relatively conservative buyers into the showrooms.The Ford Focus Sport has a body kit to give it more dynamic looks and performance, including firmer suspension. It’s a smooth and responsive unit with good torque on hand at all revs over about 2000, even below that it has plenty of ability to hang on so that high gears can be held to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.Handling is very much in the European mould, with good feel through the steering wheel and a nicely balanced way of entering corners and maintaining the correct speed through them. Focus is happy to change direction part way through a bend should it tighten up unexpectedly. Keen drivers who no longer need a car the size of a Ford Falcon will feel comfortable behind the wheel of a Focus.Ride comfort is generally good, though some really rough stretches of road (not necessarily dirt roads) can bounce it around at times. Some tyre noise is evident on coarse-chip surfaces, though this has been improved from the roar that was evident on some older Focus models.Tyre noise is something that has been all-but engineered out of the Falcon for many years, so the aforementioned potential buyer moving down from a Falcon should try a Focus for themselves on a coarse road.

Looking tougher and with more firepower, Ford’s Focus ST might just be the new king of hot hatches...Set to go on-sale in around 40 countries, the Focus ST is billed as Ford’s first global performance car. It’s also, and apologies for getting all gushy so soon, flipping marvelous.My seat of the pants impression after a spirited drive along the Route Napoleon in the mountains around Nice is that it’s more flexible, more thrilling, and better sounding than its key rivals (Volkswagen Golf GTI, Renault Megane RS, and Mazda3 MPS).While there’s no word on pricing just yet (we can expect that to be announced in the next couple of weeks), or how many Ford Australia expect to sell, you’d be reasonably safe betting on it costing around the $40k mark (about the same amount as a VW Golf GTI). And at that price, it would represent excellent value for money.Fitted with a weapons-grade 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost (184kW and 340Nm), this engine, is, more or less, the same engine nestled beneath the bonnet of the Falcon EcoBoost.As mentioned there’s been no word on pricing, but the Focus ST is Ford’s attempt to steal the crown from Volkswagen’s Golf GTI (priced from $40,490+ORC) and so a price point of around $40k should be expected.Final specification, also, hasn’t been finalised for Australian-delivered cars, but there’s a fair chance our cars will have figure-hugging, partial leather, Recaro seats and dual-zone climate control, an alarm, sat-nav (that will hopefully be recalibrated for Australia, as, at the international launch it proved notoriously slow), auto headlights, auto-dimming rear vision mirror and rain-sensing wipers.Under the bonnet is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost engine which makes 184kW and 340Nm (overboost to 360Nm) from 1750rpm, is mated to a smooth-shifting six-speed manual, and returns 7.2L/100km.But what really impresses about this engine is, and it’s the same as the 1.0-litre EcoBoost, its off-idle, diesel-esque drivability - a signature trait of the EcoBoost family. And it doesn’t fall away either; the gearbox, which is well matched to the clutch, offers rifle-bolt precise shifts and a near seamless pouring-on of power.Plant your foot and while it doesn’t exactly snap your head off it does, as it reels in the horizon, leave you thinking it could happily keep on accelerating into next week... The Focus ST will get to the legal limit in 6.5 seconds, but it feels faster than that, and its in-gear punch is truly impressive. Indeed, it happily hauled itself out of tight corners in fourth-gear from 1500rpm.Looking more muscular but not tacked-on aggressive than a standard Focus, the ST gets a one-piece version of the trapezoidal grille featured on the rest of the Focus range. More than that it gets a bodykit and 18-inch alloys wrapped in 235/40 Goodyear Eagle rubber.There’s a subtle reworking of the interior, too, with darker headlining and trim on the pillars, the figure-hugging Recaro seats, which offer the perfect blend of grip and comfort, a specially-designed steering wheel, gearshift and pedals.Up on top of the dash is a set of three guages displaying water temperature, turbo boost, and oil pressure - they seem a little tacked on, and if they weren’t there we wouldn’t be disappointed. Other than that, the interior is typical Focus, with quality materials and impressive fit and finish.Thanks to reach and rake on the steering, and plenty of adjustment on the seat, it’s a cinch to get comfortable behind the wheel. There’s plenty of room in the front seats, and decent room in the back. In terms of luggage space, and Australian-spec cars will most likely be fitted with a space saver spare wheel, you’ll get around 316 litres, drop the 60/40 split-fold rear seats and this grows to 1062 litres.Like every other Focus, the ST is eligible for a five-star ANCAP crash safety rating, and it gets a raft of active and passive safety systems. There are front and thorax-protecting airbags for driver and front-seat passenger, as well as side curtain airbags for front and backseat passengers.It also features stability and traction controls with three-stage settings (Normal, Sport and Off), ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, and Enhanced Dynamic Cornering Control, and much more.Our drive route (as well as some excellent mountain roads) took in a considerable amount of suburban roads and, ordinarily, these highly-strung hot hatches can leave you shaken and stirred, but not the Focus ST. The suspension is sporting, sure, but it’s got just enough compliance to knock the hard edges off any and all bumps and ruts, and there were plenty of those on our drive - it’ll have no problem on our roads.The electronic power assisted steering (with variable ratio steering rack) is direct (you can go from lock to lock without taking your hands off the wheel), well-weighted and consistent, and while you do get a slight tug at the wheel (courtesy of torque steer under hard acceleration) it’s minimised thanks to Ford’s Torque Steer Compensation... And so grippy is the front end, and so flexible is the car that you’d have to have fists of ham and fingers of butter to get the nose to run wide out of a corner.Thanks to its off-idle grunt it feels just as rapid as the Ford Focus RS, but is much more refined and drivable in all situations. It leaves both the Mazda3 MPS and Renault Megane RS250 in the dust and, in my opinion is better balanced and with a lot more low-down oomph than a Golf GTI. Indeed, it’s just plain better than that car.

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

Ford Focus finally reached Australia in September 2002, several years after its European launch. The local importer blamed the delay on the huge success of Focus overseas, but the slow start meant Australian buyers were slow to focus on Focus, so sales have never reached the very high levels they deserve. The Focus is truly European in the way it rides and handles and keen drivers forced into a family car due to circumstances just love them. Many buyers considering downsizing from a Ford Falcon have chosen Focus ahead of an Asian car for this very reason.Ride comfort is pretty good for a small-medium car with sporting handling. Focus can be a little harsh on really rough roads but is generally very good on motorways and fine around town.As a price trimming method less sound deadening is fitted to the lower cost models and these versions can suffer from a fair bit of tyre/road noise on Australian coarse-chip roads.Ford Focus is sold with three or five-door hatchback bodies and as a four-door sedan. From September 2007 until mid 2010 the Focus also arrived in a sporting coupe-cabriolet two-door body with a folding hardtop.It comes in several luxury levels: Focus CL, LX and Ghia – later renamed Focus Ambiente, Trend and Titanium, so there's plenty to chose from. On the sporty front there’s the Focus Zetec, SR, Sport and ST170.Note we used the term ‘sporty’ rather than ‘sports’ in describing the previous models, because there’s couple of other models that genuinely deserve the ‘sports’. They are the Focus 166 kW XR5, sold from 2006 till 2011 – and the full-house Focus RS imported from 2010.The Focus RS is powered by a turbocharged Duratec RS 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine putting out 300 horsepower (224kW), and torque of 440Nm starting at only 2300rpm and providing a huge amount of grunt to make keen drivers smile every time they get a chance to open the throttles to the max.Engines in the standard Focus range are petrol or, from July 2007, turbo-diesel. Petrol units until the all-new Focus of 2011 come with capacities of 1.8 or 2.0 litres. The smaller unit is aimed at the fuel economy end of the scale and some may find it on the gutless side. If considering this powerplant may we suggest loading it with a few passengers and trying it on hilly roads. Some drivers will be satisfied, others may prefer to find a few dollars more and go for the larger engine.Turbo-diesel engines have 2.0-litre capacity and like all of their type come with plenty of grunt and low fuel use. They have  proven reasonably popular, but not to the extent of the diesels offered by many other Euro marques.Most Focus models prior to 2011 come with a five-speed manual gearbox. Some find the five-speed’s gearchange is slightly soft, others don’t mind it. Six-speed manual gearboxes are fitted to the Focus ST 170, the RS and diesel engines. From November 2011 the new Focus received a six-speed manual.Automatic transmissions have four forward ratios and aren’t offered in all models. This situation may seem strange to Australian drivers, but in Europe many prefer to drive manuals. The new model from May 2005 had manual overrides on the automatic, and in any case the auto seems to mate better with the engine from this time onwards.Ford has been building cars in Australia since 1925, so has built up a huge network of dealers. The company is represented strongly in country areas. Dealers in remoter areas may not have spare parts for the smaller models, such as the Focus, in stock, but can generally get them in within a couple of working days.With the exception of the red-hot Ford Focus RS insurance charges are usually moderate. While premiums aren’t to the low level of the locally built Falcon, they are often cheaper than other imported European cars in the same class.WHAT TO LOOK FORBuild quality of the Ford Focus is generally good (most older models come from Europe, from 2005 the majority were built in South Africa), though not up to Japanese quality standards. It’s wise to have a full professional inspection before agreeing to buy the car.Make sure the electrical systems are okay by turning everything off and on. Having the owner’s manual on hand is useful for this. Shuddering under braking could signal that new brake discs are required.The Focus ST170 and XR5 are often bought by the boy racers, then lowered and modified in many areas. A stock standard version is best. Check the alloy wheels on both models for signs of kerb damage.Look over the luggage area for signs of wear and tear. Scratches on the rear bumper will often indicate that lazy owners used the bumper as support when loading and unloading.A safety recall of pre 2010 turbo-diesel cars was instigated to check the fitment of the exhaust heat shield. Check with a Ford dealer or contact Ford Australia on 1800 503 672.CAR BUYING TIPTaking along a couple of other people to look at used cars can result in gleaning a lot more information in a short time about the cars’ condition.

Ford Focus Sport and Mazda3 SP20 Luxury go head-to-head in this comparative review.

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.