Ford has never had a Focus as good as this. In many ways – engine performance, ride/handling qualities, interior and boot space – the all-new, German-built small Ford comfortably trumps its major rivals.
But it’s a bit player in its category, so far behind the top-three sellers – Toyota Corolla, Mazda3 and Hyundai i30 – in terms of market performance that it’s just not funny. In fact, the Toyota outsells it at a ratio approximating nine cars to one.
This is almost an automotive travesty. How can a car-maker that once fought it out for absolute market dominance in Australia fail to make an impact with a vehicle that rates among the best in its segment?
A part of the reason could be explained away by the pricing. Ford has settled its new Focus into a position where others can step in and take advantage.
The $25,990 (plus on-road costs) price for the Trend hatch might sound reasonable in view of the fact that most competitors have been elevating their entry-level cars too – but, unlike others, it’s what you have to pay for that makes the difference.
The Focus Trend’s basic safety technology is well-enough attended to, with both low- and high-speed autonomous emergency braking (operating over a broader range, from 3.6km/h to maximum speed, than the Mazda3’s 15-145km/h), AEB with pedestrian and cyclist AEB detection (up to 80km/h) and lane-departure warning as standard.
But it lacks the adaptive cruise control that’s standard on base-level auto-transmission Mazda3 Pure ($25,990) and Ascent Sport Corolla hatch ($24,370) models. It's especially disadvantaged alongside the entry-level Mazda3’s safety kit, including lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, AEB in reverse and rear cross-traffic alert with braking.
That’s quite a shortfall and, to get most of those things in the Focus Trend, it’s necessary to either fork out for a package that introduces adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert with active braking, or step up to the $34,490 Titanium hatch.
From here on in, the Ford Focus hatch trades mostly effective blows. Not only does it have an impressively spacious cabin, it also factors-in a well-shaped and spacious 377-litre boot (which compares to 295 litres for the Mazda3 hatch and the paltry 217 litres offered by the all-new Corolla) to swallow a decent amount of family luggage.
And the airy cabin offers excellent all-round vision, as well as being particularly capacious. There’s enough room to comfortably accommodate adult rear-seat passengers and the seats – though not as cushy as Mazda3 or Corolla – are well-contoured and supportive, offering ergonomic, rotating-knob adjustment for both backrest-recline and lumbar support.
Sat-nav is also part of the Trend package although, at this level, climate-control is lacking.
The downside for the entry-level Focus is that the interior designers must have run out of budget when it came to the rear seats: The door trims are downgraded over those on the front, with no sign of soft-touch trim, and there are no air-vents or centre armrest.
Some compensation can be found in the netting behind the front seats that’s handy for storage of magazines, iPads and the like.
So space, if not polished refinement, is big in the new Ford Focus.
And so is engine performance. The all-new, long-stroke 134kW/240Nm 1.5-litre EcoBoost turbo, complete with its combination of port and direct-injection fuel delivery – as well as fuel-saving cylinder deactivation and idle-stop technology – lets loose with plenty of torquey power.
It's assisted by a rotary E-Shifter-controlled, eight-speed auto transmission (with steering wheel paddles) that is so crisp-shifting and efficient that it brings into question the need for dual-clutch automatics.
And, belying its three-pot (three-cylinder) configuration, the engine is smooth and so quiet that most of the time you’d be struggling to identify it as anything but a four-cylinder. The rare occasions when the three-cylinder beat comes through only serve to give it character.
It’s thrifty too, managing 6.6L/100km on test to almost match the official claim of 6.4L/100km – although it must be operated on 95 RON PULP (or less-pricey E10) fuel.
The new Ford Focus came to Australia at the tail end of 2018 in five-door hatchback and wagon form, both equipped with the 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine/eight-speed auto combination and available in standard Trend trim, in sportier ST-Line form (standard on the wagon) or as a top-spec Titanium.
The range thus includes Trend, ST-Line and Titanium hatchbacks, and an ST-Line wagon. The ST-Line interior is resplendent in red-stitched trim, sports seats and a flat-bottom steering wheel, as well as adaptive LED fog lights, 10mm-lower, tightened-up sports suspension, and its own 17-inch alloy wheels.
The full-fat Titanium hatch brings adaptive cruise control, keyless start, auto-dipping active LED headlights, blind-spot sensors, reverse AEB, lane-keep assist and rear cross-traffic alert on top of the safety tech already fitted to the Trend.
Part-leather rim and powered, heated front seats also make their way into the Titanium.
The Ford Focus could feasibly make it as a car for small families realistically numbering no more than four.
But, in reality, it’s probably best-suited to mid-20s to mid-30s buyers with a bit of a slant towards males who will more likely respond to the car’s unquestioned on-road alacrity.
The pricing will determine which Focus will attract which demographic. Like any small car, towing is hardly going to be a prerequisite and the braked-trailer/caravan limit of 1200kg places a clear restriction on its capabilities there.
We’ve already noted Ford’s good work creating a comfortable, spacious interior for the Focus despite its on-road footprint pretty much equating the opposition – although it tends to be wider in the body than most, which does help in terms of shoulder room.
This should count for something to those seeking a bit of interior stretching space, while astute family buyers will quickly note the luggage-loading capabilities too.
Unquestionably the small Ford has a sportier bent than its competitors which adds a dimension of driver-pleasing character that’s not necessarily evident in other volume-sellers in the segment.
Just like the Focus ST-Line wagon tested early in 2019, it’s hard not to be impressed by even the base Trend hatchback.
It’s the driver’s car in the segment to be sure, and there’s no compromising in interior space or overall practicality.
The interior, particularly that of the Focus Trend, could be seen as a bit of a letdown. But, in reality, it’s really only a bit. Little effort or expense on Ford’s part would be needed to lift its game by simply upping trim quality in certain areas, especially the Trend’s rear doors.
The other question refers to the base level of standard safety gear, and the price that must be paid to equal most of its major competitors. In this context, the Focus is merely acceptable right now.
Really, it’s a case of so far not-quite-realised potential. It wouldn’t take much work for the Ford Focus to become Australia’s small-car segment leader. It’s that good.
How much does the 2019 Ford Focus Trend cost?
Price: $25,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 134kW/240Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.4L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 148g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (2018)