Ford Focus Hatchback (2011 - 2018) 1.0 EcoBoost Style 5d Owner Review

The ford focus is a basic low-priced medium sized hatchback that serves as a good all-rounder and presents excellent value for money. Firstly the car looks smart and sensible, the new styled grille gives the car a hint of attitude, it may not be exciting to look at, but it has a mature/grown up character that non-boy racers will like. The interior continues this theme, its layout is smart and logical. There are touches of chrome trim which really add quality to the car, buttons feel reasonably good quality and it doesn't feel like its about to fall apart! The infotainment system is appropriately equipped although is a little laggy and at times, not intuitive. The audio system however is decent, although those for an ear for high fidelity may wish to replace this, as they would with any car. The interior is pretty comfortable and spacious and the seats are comfortable, flexible and supportive. They lack lateral support for tight cornering however. Passengers up front have lots of legroom, the back isn't bad either, although is tighter than expected for a car this size. The boot is generous and will provide enough space for flight cases/ musical equipment etc. There are a number of storage spaces available within for drinks/food etc. Driving The 1L eco boost engine comes standard with 100bhp and 170nm of torque. The power and low down torque gives the car enough poke to progress along at a reasonable pace, without too much effort or thrashing. it is noticeably eager off the mark and provides plenty of in-gear poke from just under 2000rpms. The car leans a tad on the slow side and the acceleration is steady at best but it will happily keep flow with traffic and climb hills without too much bother. The throttle response and turbo lag is slow though, which makes spirited driving almost impossible. The ride quality is simply fantastic, the car is surprisingly wafty and soaks up bumps with no trouble. The engine is rather quiet and road noise/wind noise is well supressed. It is best to keep cruising at or above 2000rpm as the engine feels unbalanced and laboured below this, presenting a deep unhappy rumble. The car is equipped with a 5 speed gearbox which is pleasant to use, although its strange to not have a sixth gear in a car designed purely for economy. The handling is pretty decent, the levels of grip are good and body roll is existent but well controlled. The steering feels nicely weighted, direct and responsive although is lacking in feedback for the enthusiastic driver. The tight turning circle and lightness of the steering makes light work of manoeuvring in the road. As with any car, it is not without its flaws, but I think ford have done a great job with this one. They have really continued their legacy of producing simple great allrounders, this model in partciular really impresses with its comfort and refinement. Of course a Japanese equivalent will be faster, a german will be smoother and an american bigger, Its sensible and won't impress boy racers, but those who require a car thats not particularly bad in any area, is comfortable, reliable, drives well and is great on fuel - I would say look no further!