Ford Focus Hatchback Titanium 1.0 Ford EcoBoost 125PS 5d Owner Review

I bought this latest generation focus as a replacement for my 15 plate focus 1.0 ecoboost 125 which I had also owned from new. My 15 plate focus was a joy, the best car I have owned and a joy to drive. When researching the latest ‘all new’ model, it never occurred to me to check that this also included a new gearbox with bigger gears-approximately 8% bigger across the box-which has, in my opinion, wrecked what was a perfect engine/gearbox package in the previous model. Whoever it was in the Ford R &D team who tested the new power train either didn’t do it on UK roads and in typical UK traffic or did so entirely on dual carriageways or motorways. The engine needs to pull above 1,750 rpm (compared to the previous models 1,500rpm) which equates to 50mph in fifth and 55/60 in sixth-assuming a fairly level road but less on any incline-even a relatively shallow one. That is not consistent with real driving in the UK as we know it. Effectively you have a five speed box with a very occasional overdrive. If it ain’t broke etc. I find it so frustrating that I ask my wife to drive frequently now and I am not a good passenger!! Suffice to say, I wouldn’t buy another.