10 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
Nice little car. Not Best in Class but pretty darn good!
Date of Review: Jun 14, 2008
The Bottom Line: In a field of vehicles this size, it it worthy of consideration. Only wished it came in a hatchback!
Very nice vehicle and is competitive with offerings out of Japan.
DRIVING EXPERIENCE:
The Focus is a pleasure to drive . The engine and cabin are extremely quiet compared to the others. The steering is tight (a good thing) and good steering radius really impressed me. I found that the transmission slows a bit too much when going into the passing gear I found that the car does keep speed. The cabin is super quiet, even when shifting gears (can barely hear the engine) and the shifting is smooth as butter. The suspension gives a sporty ride but I found that it was not as rough as the Civic. When I test drove a Corolla the other day I found that it had much more road noise and I also felt the ride wasn't as smooth as the Focus. Fuel economy is pretty good also. After 6 tanks of gas I am getting 31.2 mpg in mixed driving which is about 65 percent highway. I wanted to get cruise control but was told it was not available. I love the traction control and find it useful.
INTERIOR
The upholstery much improved over prior years with excellent fit and finish. I like the solid feel of the build quality. The interior lighting and design are good and I like the ambient lighting. Relatively high seating position with great visibility except directly to the rear. The SYNC audio system is absolutely amazing is really terrific and works as advertised. From my understanding, this is through and exclusive arrangement by Ford Motor Company with Microsoft. The Focus sync system is very cool I have an MP3 player and it works even without batteries in it. The back seats are extremely roomy and comfortable for a small coupe. Huge trunk space even if you wanted to install a subwoofer. I wish it had a telescoping steering wheel. The interior is clean and is well thought out as the controls with the satellite radio and sync take a little time to become accustomed. I like the availability of a USB port.
EXTERIOR
Surprisingly athletic styling, though the little vents look a little odd on the side of the vehcile. I suppose this could be a matter of individual taste. Paint is pretty and well executed and comes in a variety of colors.
PRICING / OTHER
Pricing is a little more competitive than some of the offerings from Honda and Toyota and this vehicle typically comes with rebates.
Thanks Ford, great job! I am looking forward to seeing and driving the new Fiesta when it comes out some time in the next two years.
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