Ford has updated the Focus. For 2022 the popular family hatchback has been given a raft of tech updates and styling tweaks as part of a mild facelift to help it remain fresh and competitive against the competition.
The timing is right – there’s a new Astra from Vauxhall on its way, an all-new and very impressive 308 from Peugeot and tech-packed alternatives from the premium end of the market that are squeezing sales of the Focus.
What changes have been made?
Yes, like the Fiesta, the Focus has undergone a light facelift, particularly at the front end. A raised nose and larger grille are present, with Ford moving the badge onto the grille with it. New LED headlights are standard with a refreshed Daytime Running Lights (DRL) pattern.
Ford says Trend, Titanium, ST-Line and slightly-more-rugged Active versions will be available for the five-door hatchback and the estate versions. Thankfully, Vignale has taken a back seat; it’s been relegated to turning up as a personalisation pack that adds little else besides some bespoke wheel designs. The ST remains, too – scroll down for more details on that one.
The estate version’s load area has been tweaked, too, with a new adjustable boot floor and a ‘wet zone’ that’s lined with water-resistant material and a divider to separate it from the rest of the load area.
What’s it like inside?
The revised Focus introduces a new, much larger infotainment screen running SYNC 4 – the OS that was first available on the Mustang Mach E. Ford claims that the new 13.2-inch screen is the largest in its segment.
That also means the button configuration on the dashboard has been cleaned up, with the climate controls being moved to the screen, rather than having physical switchgear further down.
What new engines are available?
Ford says there’s a wider rollout of its EcoBoost Hybrid engines here, which are just mild hybrids – no full hybrid or plug-in hybrid here – with the 1.0-litre mild-hybrid engine developing 125 or 155hp.
There’s also a base model, non-mild-hybrid 1.0-litre, too. Ford claims up to 51.4mpg and 116g/km from the thriftiest petrol version. If you’re still set on diesel, Ford provides; a 1.5-litre EcoBlue diesel is available, making 120hp and a claimed 56.5mpg.
Along with the new engines, Ford’s introduced a new seven-speed automatic version.
What about the ST version?
Yes, Ford’s done next to nowt with the ST, which we’re happy with. Beyond the mild visual tweaks and fresh technology inside, Ford hasn’t messed with the basic recipe.
That means a 2.3-litre turbocharged EcoBoost version, available with a six-speed manual or a seven-speed auto, developing 276bhp and 310lb ft. An electronic limited-slip differential is standard, and a new ‘X Pack’ includes rev matching for the manual transmission versions, bespoke alloys and a Track mode in the drive mode selector.
What this means for you
Prices start at £22,465 for a basic Trend hatchback, with Titanium clocking in at £23,715 and ST-Line models starting from £24,545. After some proper performance? The ST will set you back £33,885.
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