Ford Focus 2012 car review

New car report: Sharp Focus

The world may still be struggling to drag itself out of the financial quagmire that it's been wallowing in since 2008, but there are some positives to have come out of the muddy money mess. None more so than the small and compact car sectors which have quickly risen to the top of sales ladders all over the world. And how these cars have improved in quick time!

The demand for smaller cars has resulted in manufacturers cramming spec that was once reserved for larger, luxury models into smaller packages, and Ford would rate as one of the main players leading the charge. We saw it with the Fiesta and now its bigger brother, the Focus has raised the bar even higher.

The top of the line Titanium, which like other members of the Ford family, has taken over from the Ghia as the elite model in the range, now gets Active Park Assist (a semi-automatic parking function), Adaptive Cruise Control, Satellite Navigation, heated front seats, bi-Xenon headlights with cornering feature, 18 inch alloys and keyless entry and start and front parking sensors all in with the standard spec package.

As recently as a year or two ago, such features were only available in large premium cars with $150k plus price tags. Even then, most of these things were options that added thousands to the list price, not standard features.

Dynamically, the Focus continues to get better with each new model and the 2012 Ford Focus offers sharp handling, brisk performance and a level of quality  beyond that which a compact hatch is entitled to provide. On the road, the Focus sets high standards of refinement and comfort.

Three powerplants are available, starting with the 1.6 litre 92kW/159Nm Duratec petrol engine in the Focus Ambiente, while the remainder of the petrol range (Trend, Sport and Titanium models) are powered by a 2.0 litre Duratec Gasoline Direct Injection (GDi) engine producing 125kw/202Nm. A 120kW/340Nm 2.0 litre Common rail Turbo Diesel (TCDi) is also on offer.

All models drive the front wheels through a 6 Speed PowerShift automatic transmission. This is a dual clutch auto unit, similar in concept to Volkswagen’s DSG affair. This set-up has become the transmission of choice for most European manufacturers in recent times, while Japanese car makers have mainly opted for CVT automatics.

Both types of transmission have been adopted for reasons of improved fuel consumption and lower emissions, with the double clutch type being the preference for enthusiastic drivers due to its quick, positive shifts and direct power delivery, lacking the vague slip usually associated with a CVT.

Except for the entry level Ambiente, all models are equipped with Cruise Control with Speed Limiting, alloys of 16, 17 or 18 inch diameter, rear parking sensors, front fog lights and Electric Power Steering (EPAS).

Follow-me-home lighting, rain sensing wipers, dual zone climate air conditioning and auto dimming rear mirror come standard on Sport and Titanium models, and the entire range has Bluetooth with voice control, Hill Launch Assist and a vast array of safety gear.

Fuel consumption figures of 6.4L/100km are quoted for both the 1.6 and 2.0 litre petrol powered versions, with CO2 emissions of 149g/km. The diesel is said to consume 5.3L/100km and emit 139g/km.

Ambiente, Trend and Sport models come in five door configuration only, while Titanium buyers get the option of hatch or the more conservative four door sedan.

The Ambient starts at $35,990, Trend is $38,990 for petrol and $41,490 for diesel, Sport and Titanium models are $44,490 and $49,990 respectively.