Few hatchbacks, in fact scratch that…
No hatchbacks are truly perfect, and the Ford Focus is no different. But coming so close to it that you’re terrified, the Ford Focus does tick that box. And now there’s a new one out on SA roads, and I’ve been driving it.

Mercifully there’s an easy way to sum up the new Ford Focus, and it can be done by addressing just three areas: SYNC, steering and engine.

SYNC is Ford’s proprietary in-car entertainment and information system, developed in conjunction with Microsoft. It is incredibly clever, nifty and capable, and also not yet available in the new Ford Focus.

The SYNC system in this car works through a 4.2-inch TFT display that, from the driver’s position, doesn’t look big enough to play a game of Angry Birds on while you sit in traffic. And worse than that, you actually can’t because it isn’t a touch screen.

So if you can’t touch it, that means you control it from the dashboard or the steering wheel buttons. In both places you’re a bit inundated with buttons to push, to the point of confusion. Seriously, a week into driving it and I still wasn’t completely seamless in answering calls via the steering wheel. However, give me another week, which is what you’ll have if you buy it, and it’ll be second nature.

The SYNC system we get in South Africa at the moment isn’t the full spec one, and if I’m honest it sort of lets the side down when compared to the boxes you can check when buying a competing hatch. But the good news is: the full SYNC is coming soon.

And it’s bringing the following with it: AppLink, access to Ford developed in-car apps, pre-set responses to SMS and emails (even using emoticons), it’ll be standard across the range and finally, GPS navigation. Well worth the wait.

The engine is a biggie in the Focus I was driving; well actually it’s quite small. There is a range of options to go for if you want including Ford’s new economical Eco-Boost 2-litre which impressed in the new Focus ST a few months back. Sadly the 1.6-litre Trend that I was testing just didn’t do much to excite. It proof that the eco-fools who are strangling our exhaust emissions by decreasing our power are winning.

Passing on the highway, torque in third and even getting up to speed from the lights wasn’t a tremendously exciting or easy affair. Thankfully I was so distracted by the buttons, the comfortable seats and the pretty new styling that I didn’t care much. What happens when those novelties ware off though? This fact leads me to say, get a faster one or save up and get the new ST.

And no we’re on to the party piece: the steering. The steering made the slow acceleration, the predictability of owning a Ford and the whining of Gareth Cliff in the morning all worthwhile. They’ve done something with the steering in the new Focus which makes it simple, fun and safe to drive. When pulling a 48-point turn in a PnP parking lot because Meryl and her friends from the old aged home have parked like…well…people who live in an old aged home, the Focus is light as a feather. So much so that you almost dread getting on the road at speed should the lightness continue there. But surprisingly it doesn’t. Once you’ve hit speed, the steering haunches down and becomes well-weighted and responsive. It really is quite a phenomenon. Well done Ford EPAS.

But in the end, it all comes down to price. Doesn’t it? And you’ll be picking up this entry-level Focus for just under R220 000. The range expands as you check the automatic box, or the 2-litre box and there really is no end of choice. For me, I would say, get a 2-litre manual. You’ll thank me when you need that extra oompf to pass a removal truck on the M1, and you’ll still get the joyful steering and busy inside. Granted it’s a tad more expensive than the comparable VW, but you get more equipment as standard (at least by my checklist) and you get the joy of driving a nicely styled car, not a junior marketing execs run-around.

Model
1.6 Ambiente 4 door R218,900
1.6 Ambiente PowerShift R234,450
1.6 Trend 4 door R239,300
2.0 GDi Trend 4 door R259,100
2.0 GDi Trend PowerShiftR274,700
2.0 TDCi Trend PowerShifR289,400
1.6 Ambiente 5 door R218,900
1.6 Trend 5 door R239,300
2.0 GDi Trend 5 door R259,100
2.0 TDCi Trend 5 door R274,900
2.0 TDCi Trend PowerShifR289,400
2.0 GDi Sport 5 door R285,200
ST 2.0 EcoBoost ST1 5 R317,400
ST 2.0 EcoBoost ST3 5 R362,500