Missing the mark, Focus sedan

I have always liked small Fords like the Escort ZX2 and previous generation Focus. They had good handling and decent power. Nothing has changed in that regard. I actually like the new design as well, except for the rear end which looks wimpy in comparison to the rest of the car.

Now the low down

The engine is low tech and does not have things such as throttle by wire, direct injection, VTEC(or similar). While it can cruise at speeds of 80 mph, it feels like you are really having to push it to maintain the speed and feels out of its element. It does not feel as lively off the line as other Ford models I have driven with the same engine; perhaps gearing has something to do with it, It is rated at the obligatory 140hp, a standard it seems in the compact(not economy) market. It is no speed demon, but at the current price of $4.23 for a gallon of gas that has somehow lost all it's importance to me. How times change. Now I worry more about keeping my speed between 60-65 mph without being run over by all the other speed demons. As a side note, in about 85% highway driving I averaged 31 mpg. Not the 35 mpg they advertise so heavily, but I was driving a rental car so admittedly I was driving it harder and faster than I normally would.

No gripes about the suspension. It soaks up bumps without losing composure and has good high speed stability. The steering felt just right. Not to firm and not too loose. Neutral you could say. I did a fair amount of low speed cornering in this car coming back down the mountain from Yosemite and the car behaved well with only modest body roll. The grip was obviously limited by the tires, but still decent for a car in this class.

I almost did not mention the transmission or brakes, because they are so ordinary. Nothing good or bad to say. Performed just as you would expect in a lower priced car. 4 speed automatic and front disc/rear drum brake set up. My preference is the manual transmission, which is an option as a 5 speed.

The areas I feel the car lacking in are attention to detail. It's the little things that were not included or simply left out that really makes me disappointed. After giving this quite some thought I think their emphasis was on the "SYNC" system, which is their audio/verbal command system which is a joint venture with Microsoft and everything else interior wise took a backseat. It makes you wonder what else might have taken a backseat?? It just feels like a half finished project. I know that a Honda Civic is several thousand more than a Focus, but when I am in a Honda I am always surprised at the amount of thoughtful, innovative, useful things interior wise that are done. Just the opposite feeling here.

Areas of concern for me: Center console whose lid was not designed to stay open. center console that has a hidden area in the bottom things get lost in, instrument display that does not go very bright, dome lighting that cannot be manually turned off, no latch to open trunk from inside(have to push keyfob) speakers of poor quality, a really uncomfortable area to lean your right thigh/knee against while driving, no dead pedal, window roll down buttons that are not placed well. I think you get my point. On a positive note my passenger and I thought the front seats were supportive and comfy.

It has some modern sound options, IPOD hookup, SAT radio. The car I rented did not have that microsoft system(SYNC). The instrument display is out of the ordinary in looks and design. It made it more difficult for me to read my speed.

This car has many annoying flaws, but it will still get you from point A to B in relative comfort. And it is more comfortable than a Toyota Yaris on long highway trips. It gets pretty good gas mileage too, a concern that has moved to the top of my list when shopping for a new car. If I could get one for a couple of grand less than a comparable Toyota Corolla or Honda Fit, I would consider it.