Road test: Ford Focus 1.6
August 08, 2008
Less isn't always more in the car world; but it can be quite appealing. As I write this I'm driving a Ford Focus 1.6-litre. It's the entry level, cheap-as-chips job: $26,190 to you, five-speed manual gearbox, steel wheels with plastic wheeltrims.
I'm having a ball in it. Devoid of luxury equipment and leery styling add-ons, you get to really focus on what a car is all about. And this one really highlights what great steering and a well-sorted chassis the Focus still has. It's a fleet car that's fun.
But surely it would be more fun with more grunt and goodies? True. But here's the thing: the 74kW/150Nm powerplant might be a little lacking in the mid-range (peak torque is not delivered until 4000rpm), but to move up to the 107kW/185Nm 2.0-litre version you have to abandon the idea of a manual transmission because Ford New Zealand doesn't reckon there's really a market for such a car; if you want to bigger engine you must have a four-speed automatic gearbox. Which is nothing special in these days of five and six-speeders, by the way.
The 1.6 manual exists primarily as a price leader. But hey, whatever. You still get to shift your own gears and extract more enjoyment from your Focus drive.
And the $26k price really is not much more than supermini money. It's a pretty good (and large) family car for that kind of dosh.
The steering and chassis of this - and any other - Focus remain superb. There's a nimble feeling to the car that makes it a cut above most of the competition and Ford's sophisticated Control Blade rear suspension is more than a match for bumpy Kiwi backroads.
Only the low-rolling-resistance 15-inch "Energy" tyres on the entry Focus let it down. They are lower-grip and higher-profile than the 17-inchers on the Focus 2.0-litre, and as a result this car doesn't turn in or hang on as well as its (slightly) bigger brother.
Cabin quality has been improved in the facelift Focus and the base version probably benefits most of all, since the soft-touch plastics and new switchgear are more obvious in a more, ahem, basic interior.
The Focus 1.6 still gets six airbags and stability control. So what do you miss out on compared with the $4000 more expensive 2.0-litre Focus? Well, the entry car lacks cruise control and a trip computer. Nice stuff, but no drama.
Console yourself with the entry car's extra thrift: the manual manages 6.7 litres per 100km in the Combined cycle, compared with 8.0 litres for the 2.0 auto.
By the way, my favourite Focus is still the $44,990 XR5 turbo. By a long, long way.
What this means to you:The cheapest Focus is still basically entertaining.
I'm having a ball in it. Devoid of luxury equipment and leery styling add-ons, you get to really focus on what a car is all about. And this one really highlights what great steering and a well-sorted chassis the Focus still has. It's a fleet car that's fun.
But surely it would be more fun with more grunt and goodies? True. But here's the thing: the 74kW/150Nm powerplant might be a little lacking in the mid-range (peak torque is not delivered until 4000rpm), but to move up to the 107kW/185Nm 2.0-litre version you have to abandon the idea of a manual transmission because Ford New Zealand doesn't reckon there's really a market for such a car; if you want to bigger engine you must have a four-speed automatic gearbox. Which is nothing special in these days of five and six-speeders, by the way.
The 1.6 manual exists primarily as a price leader. But hey, whatever. You still get to shift your own gears and extract more enjoyment from your Focus drive.
And the $26k price really is not much more than supermini money. It's a pretty good (and large) family car for that kind of dosh.
The steering and chassis of this - and any other - Focus remain superb. There's a nimble feeling to the car that makes it a cut above most of the competition and Ford's sophisticated Control Blade rear suspension is more than a match for bumpy Kiwi backroads.
Only the low-rolling-resistance 15-inch "Energy" tyres on the entry Focus let it down. They are lower-grip and higher-profile than the 17-inchers on the Focus 2.0-litre, and as a result this car doesn't turn in or hang on as well as its (slightly) bigger brother.
Cabin quality has been improved in the facelift Focus and the base version probably benefits most of all, since the soft-touch plastics and new switchgear are more obvious in a more, ahem, basic interior.
The Focus 1.6 still gets six airbags and stability control. So what do you miss out on compared with the $4000 more expensive 2.0-litre Focus? Well, the entry car lacks cruise control and a trip computer. Nice stuff, but no drama.
Console yourself with the entry car's extra thrift: the manual manages 6.7 litres per 100km in the Combined cycle, compared with 8.0 litres for the 2.0 auto.
By the way, my favourite Focus is still the $44,990 XR5 turbo. By a long, long way.
What this means to you:The cheapest Focus is still basically entertaining.
Post a comment
To post a new comment, you must Sign in first.