Ford Focus Reviews

Ford's new Focus has plenty of what they call the "wow factor" not only in the way it looks but also how it feels to drive and the equipment it has.We've only driven one so far - the top of the range diesel auto hatch called Titanium. It's an absolute cracker although expensive for a Focus.Put a BMW badge on it and you'd think it was the bargain of the year. Priced at $36,090, the Titanium diesel bristles with luxury, safety and high-tech equipment. This is the one with Active Park Assist which helps (inept) drivers parallel park the car. It has heated seats, 18-inch alloys, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming. There's even voice control of a number of regularly used functions among the extensive kit inventory.Focus Titanium scores a five star crash rating with features like six air bags, stability control, adaptive cruise control and an adjustable speed limiter. Torque vectoring that meters power to each wheel individiually based on grip is on all models. The car's sharp dynamics is a safety feature in itself.All engines in the new LW Focus range are "next generation" including the twin cam, high pressure injection, 2.0-litre turbodiesel we drove. It's good for 120kW/340Nm and can consume as little as  5.5-litres/100km.The transmission is Ford's Powershift six-speed dual-clutch "manumatic" that functions like a quick change auto but is an automated manual. The turbo is a variable geometry unit and the engine passes Euro 4 emission regs.Stunning to look at in a car the right side of $50K. Striking modern angular design with beautifully laid out controls, damped dials. Two info' screens and an attractive instrument pod with plenty of soft feel surfaces in three tones/textures. Even the seats are good - electrically operated drivers seat and heated fronts.Partial leather seems a good compromise to full leather which can be too hot or slippery. The cabin is roomy and can take five at a pinch with a decent size, expandable load space and a full size (steel spare.)Feels like a thoroughbred European car through the wheel which gives sharp responses. Suspension is sporty but not too firm and easily copes with our rough sealed roads - with 18-inch low profile tyres. Performance from the smooth and quiet diesel is strong and in keeping with the sporty nature of the car. Pity diesels don't have a pleasing exhaust note.The driver assist features are greatly appreciated - stuff like auto wipers and headlights, capless refuelling, start button with remote key, hill launch and plenty more. We like the looks of it too - from all angles and it feels solid and well made (in Thailand).

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.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.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.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.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.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.

Mitsubishi Lancer VRX Sportback v VW Golf 118TSI Comfortline v Mazda3 SP20 Skyactiv v Ford Focus Titanium hatch v Holden Cruze SRi-V.CAPITALISM is all about choice and no vehicle type offers more choice for buyers than small cars. Australian motorists are blessed with 31 small car models, the largest category on the showroom floor. Little wonder, since the small car appeals to so many buyers on so many levels: It's a great first car, an urban run-around, the modern young family car, a sensible second car and a downsizing option for empty nesters and retirees.In fact, the recently upgraded Mazda3 is actually challenging long-time market leader Commodore for the outright honours in the showroom battle for sales. The classy field of challengers comes from Australia and around the world, including Japan, the US, France, Italy, Germany, South Korea, China, Malaysia, UK, Thailand and the Czech Republic.TEST DRIVERSWe chose five of the seven top-selling small cars for our comparison test and asked a young family and a couple of empty nesters to join us for a suburban drive to find out what they offer.Chris and Trinity Bond, and their children Coen, 6, and Oscar 2.5 live in suburbia where they conduct an insulation business. They are used to bigger cars but acknowledge the economic advantages of a small car and were surprised at the roominess of these vehicles.Bill Griffin, 50, and John Kremastos, 62, are semi-retired builders whose children are now independent. They also see the advantages of a small city run-around and were equally surprised at how many features small cars have these days.From left: Trinity and Chris Bond, John Kremastos and Bill Griffin.VALUEOur field includes high-spec automatics that vary in price by just $2600 from $29,990 for the Holden Cruze SRi-V to $32,590 for the Ford Focus Titanium.Despite being slightly cheaper, the Cruze sedan certainly doesn't suffer from a lack of features with fog lights, rear parking sensors, colour satnav, USB/iPod/MP3 plug and play, 30GB music hard drive, DVD, leather seats, heated front seats, lit vanity mirrors, aux 12V front and back. However, our test car didn't have Bluetooth (it is now standard on the latest models) or rain-sensing wipers which all of the others have.Ford Focus is the only one here with an automatic self-parking system. It also features electric driver's seat, rear parking sensors, Sony sound, dual-zone aircon, partial leather trim, Bluetooth with audio streaming and fog lights.The oldest model in the field is the Mitsubishi Lancer VRX Sportback ($32,490) which is shortly due for a mid-life model  update. Even so, it doesn't suffer from a comparative lack of features with USB connectivity, pollen filter, Bluetooth with audio streaming, front fog lights, rain-sensing wipers, alloy pedals, gear paddle shifters and a rocking Rockford-Fosgate sound system. However, it has a tilt-only adjustable steering wheel while the others also adjust for reach.The newest model is the Mazda3 which is actually the cheapest at $27,990, but ours came with a $3000 optional Luxury Pack featuring Bi-Xenon headlamps, sliding centre armrest console, leather seats, Bose 242-watt amplifier and 10 speakers including subwoofer cleverly tucked inside the space-saver spare wheel in the boot. In standard trim it's still got a lot of kit including fog lights, dual-zone climate aircon with pollen filter and Bluetooth with audio streaming.The Golf is the only model with front and rear fog lights and daytime running lights. It also has dual-zone aircon with a dust and pollen filter, Bluetooth with audio streaming, USB and a chillable glovebox. However, it has no parking sensors, but you can get an optional rear camera and rear sensors. Other options include a parallel parking assistance system, iPod connection and sat nav.The Golf and Mazda have standard keys, while the Lancer has keyless start and the Cruze and Focus have proximity keys that also automatically unlock the car door.All models now come with cruise control, steering wheel controls and auto headlights. In the value stakes, the Focus wins with its high level of spec and the party trick of automatic parallel parking.TECHNOLOGYAll models are petrol-powered, with the Cruze and Golf having turbo engines. Despite these turbocharged models, it's the naturally aspirated Lancer and Focus that win the power stakes on paper, sharing 125kW thanks to their bigger displacement engines.The Golf has 118kW, hence its model name 118, and the Cruze has the lowest power at 103kW. But power figures don't really mean much in real-world situations and the turbo models are certainly the liveliest of the crop, albeit with a little turbo lag off idle.The idea of turbocharging in small cars is not just about power, anyway. It's also about economy with these models having lower capacity engines that sip fuel in a miserly fashion. In the Golf that's 6.2 litres per 100km and 6.9L/100km in the Cruze.The just-released Mazda3 comes with the new fuel-efficient Skyactiv engine and transmission that equal the economy of the Golf. It is also the only model with stop-start technology that switches off the engine while stationary and starts again when you take your foot off the brake.The Lancer is the loser here with 8.9L/100km and no hint of any changes that promise improvements in the November model update.If music, connectivity and Bluetooth are important techno features, most models have a choice of systems. The easiest to use is Bluetooth with audio streaming. However, the Cruze offered the most entertainment options with DVD and a hard drive that the others don't have.Transmissions are six-speed autos with the Golf adding a seventh ratio and the Lancer using a continuously variable transmission.On the low-tech side of things, wheels on our test cars are a mix of 16-inch alloys (Mazda and VW), 17-inch (Cruze) and 18-inch (Lancer and Focus). All feature space-saver spare wheels restricted to 80km/h.DESIGNNew usually means better, but the Lancer's modern design has stood the test of time against the more modern models.Meanwhile, our testers thought the Golf looked "bland" and "plain" in this field.Winner here is the masculine-looking Focus with its menacing grille grimace with Bond declaring "I'm a Holden man but I like the look of the Focus", while his wife prefers the female curves and cute smiley "face" of the Mazda3.The Australian-made Cruze is the only sedan in the crew and comes with a lot of "Holdenised" bits of chrome and detailing. Griffin praises it for looking like a small-scale Commodore. It also has the neatest rear end with a discreet tailpipe.Inside, the Golf loses out again for appearing austere by comparison with the three newcomers, while the Focus is the other extreme, attracting comments that it looked too fussy and like "being trapped inside a 1980s ghetto blaster".The Mazda3 cabin draws some praise, but the wrap-around cockpit styling is criticised as "claustrophobic" and the forward display with colour satnav shines in the windscreen at night and is a distraction.Mitsubishi will have to address the expanse of hard plastic on the dashboard when it updates the Lancer, although the styling is simple, modern and functional.The Cruze is the winner inside with a combination of modern styling enhanced by tasteful touches of chrome, but traditional controls that are easy to understand and use.All have 60/40 rear split seats and fair legroom for small cars.In the back, all cargo areas are well carpeted with flat floors. The Focus boot seems the smallest, while the Cruze cargo area is very deep and despite not being a hatchback, it fits a ladder with ease.SAFETYEvery car in our comparison test - like many of the vehicles in this category - comes with a full five-star ANCAP safety rating making them a truly family car.They have six airbags while the Golf and Lancer add a knee airbag for the driver.They also feature stability control which works best in the Golf and was found to be a little over-reactive in the Lancer during a brief, but heavy downpour.DRIVINGSmall cars are built for the city streets and occasional highway run, so that's how we tested these vehicles.The benchmark in driving dynamics has long been the Golf which is a former Carsguide's Car of the Year.It has road-handling poise, a fast-acting transmission, a lively engine, sharp brakes ("severe" says Kremastos) and a natural steering feel.Our testers unanimously criticise the turbo lag from idle. Kremastos and Chris Bond claim it would "drive them nuts", however Griffin says you can drive around the problem.Once under way, the Golf is a spirited and rewarding drive.The Focus launched recently to rave reviews that hinted it might knock off the Golf for dynamics.However, our testers are not as impressed. They criticise the rough and indecisive transmission while Mrs Bond doesn't like the zigzag patterned gate of the selector.Her husband says handling is good, but "power is average and it's not super responsive," comments reflected by the others."Size is good for me," Bond says. "It's quite comfortable, but I wouldn't like to be sitting behind me."Griffin says that by comparison the Mazda3 is "more refined, quieter and smoother than the Focus"."The gearbox and motor feel better matched with no over-revving like you are flogging it." He also likes the ergonomics.Bond thinks there are "too many confusing buttons on the steering wheel" and says the car is "not as responsive as I'd like." His wife agrees and says the brakes are also "unresponsive".Kremastos says that except for the slight turbo lag, he is more than a little surprised at how nippy the car is around town, even though it has a 1.4-litre engine which is 400cc less than his Honda Goldwing motorcycle.The Cruze also attracts praise as "sprightly", although the bonnet rises and falls on acceleration and braking.It's steering also cops criticism as light and vague, while several drivers commented on the rough gear changes.Mrs Bond says the seats are quite comfortable and her husband likes the cabin."Looks can be deceiving. I'm a big fella and it was quite comfortable," he says. Griffin doesn't like the lack of a left-foot rest.The Lancer attracted neither good nor bad comments on its driving dynamics. It seems a handy utilitarian machine that delivers the goods in a no-fuss, unspectacular manner. The only criticism came from Griffin who said it got "a bit unsteady in the wet".Bond is unimpressed with the rally styling of the pedals and flappy paddle shifters on the steering wheel which he says is "a novelty I don't think I'd use".VERDICTIt's horses for courses here and we found a mix of preferences from our testers. If it's a driver's car you want, the Golf wins, but it loses points for tired design, lack of features and an austere interior.Lancer is praised as a no-nonsense car, but again feeling the signs of age in its features and interior design. The new model may be make amends.Focus draws extreme comments. It is praised for its exterior design, but criticised for its interior, while the driving dynamics fall slightly behind the Mazda and Golf.Griffin sums up the Mazda as the "best all-rounder". It performs all functions well without being a standout in any particular area.But the winner by three votes to one in our test team is the handsome Aussie-built Cruze.Mitsubishi Lancer VRX SportbackPrice: $32,490Options: pearlescent paint $450Engine: 2.4L, 4-cylinder, 125kW/226NmTransmission: CVTEconomy: 8.9L/100kmCO2: 213g/km, 6/10 greenhouse ratingSafety: 7 airbags, 5-star ANCAPWarranty: 10 years/160,000km (powertrain), 5 years/100,000km (car and roadside assist)Service: 15,000km/12 mthsVW Golf Comfortline 118TSIPrice: $31,990Options: metallic paint $500Engine: 1.4L, 4-cylinder twin turbo, 118kW/240NmTransmission: 7 speed DSGEconomy: 6.2L/100kmCO2: 144g/km, 7.5/10 greenhouse ratingSafety: 7 airbags, 5-star ANCAPWarranty: 3 years/unlimited km, VW Assist.Service: 15,000km/12 mthsMazda3 SP20 SkyactivPrice: $27,990Options fitted: Luxury Pack (Bi-Xenon headlamps, sliding centre armrest console, leather seat trim, premium Bose 242 watt amplifier and 10 speakers including subwoofer - $3000)Engine: 2L, 4-cylinder, 113kW/194NmTransmission: 6-speed autoEconomy: 6.1/6.2L/100kmCO2: 145g/kmSafety: 6 airbags, 5-star ANCAPWarranty: 3 years/unlimited kmService: 10,000km/6 mthsFord Focus Titanium hatchPrice: $32,590Engine: 2L, 4-cylinder, 125kW/202NmTransmission: 6-speed Powershift DSG,Economy: 6.6L/100kmCO2: 154g/km, 7.5/10 greenhouse ratingSafety: 6 airbags, 5-star ANCAPWarranty: 3 years/100,000kmService: 15,000km/12 mthsHolden Cruze SRi-VPrice: $29,990Options: prestige paint $500Engine: 1.4L, 4-cylinder, turbo, 103kW/200NmTransmission: 6-speed auto, Active SelectEconomy: 6.9L/100kmCO2: 164g/km, 7/10 greenhouse ratingSafety: 6 airbags, 5-star ANCAPWarranty: 3 years/100,000kmService: 15,000km/12 mths

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.

Choosing the best small car for your driveway just got a whole heap harder. Until this week, the Volkswagen Golf was king of the kids and the Mazda3 was the best way to balance class against cash. But now there is a Ford Focus that runs head-on into the Golf - a former Carsguide Car of the Year champion - and takes the top selling Three down a peg.It's priced from $21,990, drives more like a go-kart than a budget buy, and has the same combination of funky looks and technology that's already worked so well for the Fiesta. The Focus works so well because Ford has put all its small-car smarts into one package to create its first truly global car.That means Australian buyers get a payoff in all sorts of ways, although we're not sold on the American-style auto shifter or a fourth-quarter delay for satnav assistance in a car that's claimed to be a techno champion. Ford Australia hopes the Focus - which it once planned to build at Broadmeadows, before refocussing on the Falcon and its local inline six - will give it the buyer boost it has always needed in the small- car class, which now provides around a quarter of the country's monthly showroom action."We decided to take a more radical step," global Focus boss, Gunnar Herrmann, says this week at the Australian preview of the third- generation car. "The vehicle starts to feel like a grown-up vehicle. But when you start pushing it around corners . . . it's a complete different dimension of driving and having fun."The starting price of $21,990 says Ford is serious about the new Focus. It's the same sticker as the outgoing starter car, despite a huge number of improvements and a shipping label marked 'Saarlouis'.The Focus for Australia will come from Thailand from the middle of next year, but until then supplies will be limited because the German factory is running at full capacity. The basic lineup 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, and four trim levels from Ambiente to the Titanium.Basic equipment is everything you expect in the small class, from (electric) power steering and aircon to electric windows, audio and minor controls on the steering wheel, and a space-saver spare. But Ford is going funky and youthful and that means Bluetooth connectivity with voice control, right off the bottom, with a bunch of stuff added as you roll up the range. It's rear park sensors, alloys and cruise control headlining the Trend package; Sony sound, dual-zone aircon, auto lights and wipers, and a rear hatch spoiler on the Sport model; then active park assist, keyless entry and start, partial leather trim and 18-inch alloys on the Titanium.Ford says satnav with a larger central screen is standard on Sport and Titanium, but not until fourth-quarter deliveries, and there is an optional convenience pack on the Trend with the auto lamp and wiper package for $300, with a $2300 Sports Executive pack on the Titanium that tips in bi-Xenon lamps, adaptive cruise control and a sunroof. The top line on the bottom line translates to $38,390 for the Titanium diesel auto with pack upgrade, either as a sedan or hatch.Herrman talks passionately and in depth about everything from the steel in the new Focus through to the voice control system that could - but does not - make all the buttons on the dash redundant. "This vehicle has the most technology worldwide in a vehicle of this type. That's a proud story," he says.The headline act for the Focus is automatic parking - seen first in Australia on the Toyota Prius - that also stars in the television advertising. You still have to control the brake and accelerator, but it does everything from measuring the gaps automatically to working the steering for a perfect reverse park. There are plenty of gags that could go here, but let's move on to the trip computer, keyless access and starting, even the shape and position of the steering wheel. As always, the really smart stuff - active cruise and bi-Xenon - costs more and the smartest of all, including road sign recognition, is only for Europe at the moment ...The Focus looks edgy and youthful on the outside, youthful and very busy on the inside. You could even say the design of the central infotainment area is very Korean, like a Hyundai i45. The shape stands out from the traffic, and especially alongside a Golf or Holden Cruze, and that's entirely deliberate. Ford wanted to make a statement with the Focus and it has succeeded, creating a look that reflects movement. The basic body was done in England, then finessed in Germany and spun into the five-door hatch and a four-door sedan that looks more like a hatch. Inside, the seats are a global move that works surprisingly well but somehow the American-style auto shifter survived the Euro design focus to pacify the Homers of the world.Five-star ANCAP says it all, from high-strength steel in the body to six airbags with a special shaping of the driver's cushion to minimise leg injuries. More importantly, as safety switches to prevention of crashes, the Focus gets ABS, ESP with smart programming, hill-start assist and a torque-vectoring control for the differential that helps keen drivers but also provides a safety net for anyone in slippery conditions or bad weather.Focus or Golf? Golf or Focus? That is the obvious question as Carsguide heads for the new Ford and a surprisingly frank evaluation course that includes the nastiness of Punt Road, Melbourne in peak hour and slimy rally roads high in the Dandenongs.It's immediately obvious that the Golf is still ahead on cosseting comfort and cabin simplicity, but the Focus hits with the youthful bodywork, look-at-me dashboard, great seats, and an eager response to all the controls. The 1.6-litre engine is dozy until you get beyond 4000 revs, but the diesel is solid and the 2.0-litre petrol is handy. The manual is short a gear by 2010 standards but the shift is good and the ratios are fine, while the Powershift is a bit too 'auto' for our liking. And a silly little switch at the base on the T-bar for manual changes in the Sport setting is a joke in a car that's aimed at keen drivers.Ford quotes all its engine numbers using 95 RON fuel but says 91 is fine for petrol power. Still, the chassis is as taut as a Zumba-toned body, the steering almost talks, and the grip in corners is strong, consistent and impressive. There is some tyre roar at times but it's down from the previous Focus, and wind noise around the door tops can be excused in a Victoria wind rush.Every time the road turns twisty the Focus is keen to play, and we cannot wait to see how the car will go as an RS - one of the Carsguide favourite funsters of recent years - once Ford gets beyond the basic stuff. The Focus is definitely a winner, definitely a four-star car, and definitely at the front of the small-car pack. It's on target and a car for drivers, not just passengers in the commuter belt.

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,

Ford was so focused on getting the BA Falcon to market it pushed the first Focus into the background.

Belter. It's the word that sits best against the Ford Focus RS. The last time the Carsguide test team was this surprised and impressed by a turbocharged pocket rocket was when the Subaru STi first hit the road in Australia.The go-fast Focus has everything we like in a compact speed machine, even without the all-wheel drive grip and security net that comes with   Subaru's WRX family and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. It is a massive step up from the XR5 turbo, which was the hero car in the Focus family until the RS arrived.The RS is a car that makes every trip a fun run, although you must adjust to turning heads everywhere you drive it. Its turbocharged five-cylinder engine turns the front wheel and does it with plenty of theatricals, from the whoost and chatter of the turbo and wastegate to the way its front wheels scratch for grip under full throttle.The worst thing about the RS is that only 315 cars have come to Australia and almost every one is already with its new owner. There is talk of another RS when Ford does a complete model change on the Focus, as well as a Fiesta RS to tap the 2011 challenger in the World Rally Championship, and we cannot wait.VALUEThe price of the Focus RS is just about irrelevant, since all 315 cars were pretty much pre-sold. There could be a couple still lurking in Ford dealerships, but almost every one went straight to owners. That's proof that the price was right, even if $59,990 seems a lot for a front-drive car against a WRX from $39,990 and a Renault Megane RS at $41,990.TECHNOLOGYThe heart of the RS is the upgraded five-cylinder Duratec engine also used by Volvo and in the Focus XR5. The difference is big, though, and not just the boost to 224 kiloWatts. There are major hardware changes inside the engine and the turbo also gets a tweak. The key to putting so much power on the road is the Quaife-brand torque sensing differential, as well as RevoKnuckle front suspension and 19-inch tyres and rims.The RS also gets bigger brakes, tweaked stability control and a couple of convenience features including rear parking radar and excellent   Xenon headlamps.DESIGNThe RS is still a Focus, but the body bits make a massive difference to the way it looks. For our money it easily trumps the STi from Subaru and makes the Evo look a bit plain.There is a giant front spoiler and a substantial rear wing, but the WRC-inspired body changes include everything from the spoked alloys to a fake venturi under the rear bumper and meaty exhaust tips. Inside, the giveaway to the sports focus is the Recaro bucket seats and a meaty steering wheel. The look is not for everyone - and the kermit-green hero colour works best for people who like to wear their baseball cap backwards - but it makes the RS unique and desirable.SAFETYSome people think cars like the Focus RS are inherently less safe because of their potential for pace, but things like the bigger brakes and grippier rubber actually give them an edge. The basic Focus is a five-star car and it's the same for the RS, which also gets a full set of electronic safety gear - traction control, stability control, ABS brakes with brake assist. It also has six airbags.DRIVING - HE SAYSPaul GoverThe Focus RS is a hoot. It belts along whenever you uncork the turbo engine and shows how much is left in the Focus package beyond the XR5. It's a bit over-the-top in styling, but that clearly works for customers. And it is a car that makes you smile as you trip the central locking for another fun run.The response from the engine is great, with real meat from 1500 revs   and a sustained push to the dline in all the lower gears. It's even enjoyable to upshift early - rally style - to keep it right in the torque band.The five-cylinder engine has always had a special beat and the RS upgrade also brings the sort of whooshing and chuffing from the pipes and turbo that confirms a serious force-fed engine. The suspension is firm but not harsh, the steering response is instant and the brakes are great.The Recaro sports buckets are firm but well shaped, although make it tough to get in and out. The huge turning circle is a disappointment and access to the back seats is poor, and rear vision is also limited by the giant wing. But the Focus RS is a special car and one that makes a WRX seem pedestrian.Even the Lancer Evo suffers by comparison with the classy Ford, not on the performance front but because the RS is a taut package that does everything well and has impressive final finishing.SHE SAYSAlison WardThis outrageous Focus is not a family car but it is one of the most   enjoyable cars I have driven in 2010. It is speedy around corners, has great visibility, has easy handling and is easy to drive. Except for the over-large turning circle.I like that it's a hatch, and not just another WRX try-hard car. It's definitely punchier than the Subaru STi automatic we had in the driveway for a week. It's not easy to load a youngster into a car seat, but I like the comfort of those Recaro seats and the quick gearshift. I was sad to see it go.VERDICTA winner. The RS is a great driving car that is certain to be a collector's item. FORD FOCUS RS Price: $59,990Engine:  2.5-lite Duratec five-cylinder with twin-overhead camshaftsOutput: 224kW/6500revs; 440Nm/2300-4500revsThirst:  10.4-litres/100kmEmissions:  246g CO2/kmTransmission: six-speed manualBody: three-door hatchback SEATS : Four, Recaro front buckets and two-seat rear benchDimensions:  Length  4402 mm, Width 1842 mm, Height  1497 mm,   Wheelbase  2640 mm, tracks front/rear  1586 mm/ 1587 mm STEERING: power-assisted rack-and-pinionSuspension: fully independent with front MacPherson struts and rear   control blade multi-link systemFuel tank:  62 litres Wheight:  1492 kgWheels: 19x8.5 alloy Tyres : 235X35 R 19Safety: ABS with electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Dynamic Stability Control, Traction Assist, Emergency Brake Assist, driver and   front passenger airbags, front and rear curtain airbags, pyrotechnic seatbelt pre-tensioners (front and rear)

A little burble from the exhaust system, go-kart-like handling, the wind in your hair and a clean set of heels at the lights... that is what many office-bound men and women live for.