Ford Focus Trend 2015 Review

Ford Focus Trend
Road Test

Ford has sharpened up an already sharp small car by building on the strengths and ironing out the shortcomings of its respected Focus hatch and sedan. The $24,390 pre on-roads opening price for the auto version of the entry Trend variant may sound a little high, but there's enough standard equipment – including sat-nav and climate control – to justify it.

Ford's languishing Focus is hopefully in for a revival as buyer responses kick-in following the launch of the upgraded LZ-series range in July.

Despite the minimal changes made to the outward appearance, the stuff lurking underneath the latest Focus is worthwhile indeed. It helps shift the small Ford to front-and-centre in any showroom face-off with its major competitors: Hyundai i30, Mazda Mazda3, Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Golf.

Previewed months earlier – when Ford debuted the LZ-series update with the ST version – the regular Focus range is identified by a new bonnet and fascia, as well as a shaped hatch and new tail lights. All ensure you won't mistake the new model for its predecessor.

Hiding behind the Ford-signature gaping grille and the slim headlights are active grille shutters to aid aerodynamics, while inside there's a functional, all-new dash replacing the radically sculptured and intimidating affair that featured in previous the LW-series model. However, there's no question that it's the adoption of Ford's EcoBoost engine technology across the range that puts the new Focus on a much zippier footing.

All the figures point in the right direction: The 1.5-litre Euro5-compliant turbocharged petrol used in all variants (except the ST) is more powerful, more economical and cleaner than the previous normally aspirated unit.

The turbo engine's 132kW/240Nm outputs are 7kW and 38Nm better the the 2.0-litre predecessor, while its fuel consumption drops – with assistance from an idle-stop system – from 6.6L/100km to a thriftier 6.2 in automatic form. In fact it's only possible to get a six-speed manual Focus if you specify the base-grade Trend hatch or step-up to the mighty Focus ST.

The quoted fuel consumption figure for the 1.5-litre, as is pretty much normally the case, is optimistic. On a country-road biased test programme, our Focus Trend averaged 7.6L/100km – in itself not unreasonable, but not good enough to raise appreciative eyebrows. At least Ford doesn't insist on premium unleaded... The figures also tell us the new Focus is cleaner too, with a quoted CO2 figure of 146g/km compared to 154 previously.

The extra torque of the EcoBoost mill adds noticeable spring to the small Ford's step. There's no real need to wait for turbo spool-up to get going, whether it's accelerating off the line, or moving out to pass slower traffic on the open road. It's a smooth-enough revving engine that is not at all unhappy to make a dash to redline and is only mildly intrusive when doing it.

Even if the dual-clutch transmission is gone (replaced by a conventional six-speeder), there are no great feelings of loss. The new box is smooth, quick-shifting and responsive, and doesn't suffer the slight off-the-mark harshness of many a DCT.

In terms of steering response the Focus was always something special: Ford has lifted the benchmark higher with the LZ-series, via a general rework that refines the electric steering, retunes the rear shock absorbers and stiffens up the front-end.

So what the Focus used to be dynamically, it's now even moreso, yet without stepping into the realms of ride harshness or choppiness over roughed-up roads. The Trend's more conservative 205/60-series tyres (on 16-inch wheels) err towards comfort without diluting too much the intrinsic sporty nature. It's responsive to steering input, even if the ratio is not particularly quick at 2.7 turns lock to lock.

If the entry pricing sounds a little high, the Focus Trend compensates with plenty of standard equipment – even if it fails to list some of the electronic safety aids that are standard at top-spec Titanium level. Within the more conservative, more functional all-new dash, sat-nav is part of the regular package, as is climate-control air-conditioning, an easier-to-view 8.0-inch colour touchscreen, Ford's SYNC 2 emergency assistance and voice activation, iPod and USB integration, and a CD player. Overall it's a simpler, more driver-friendly arrangement and actually manages to look quite classy too.

The five-star ANCAP rated Focus gets six airbags, a rear-view camera and rear parking sensors, while for an extra $300 it's possible to specify a convenience pack that adds an electrochromatic rear-view mirror, auto headlights, rain-sensing wipers and follow-me-home lighting.

It's necessary to step-up to Titanium level to get the updated Active City Stop (autonomous braking) system that now functions at speeds up to 50km/h, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front parking sensors and an improved version of Ford's active park-assist system.

What we didn't particularly like in the Focus was the cruise control arrangement on the left-hand side steering wheel spoke which was far from intuitive. The individual buttons hard to differentiate by feel alone.

As you'd expect, the Trend's front seats are nicely supportive in Euro style, cloth-trimmed, and manually adjustable for height, while the 60:40 split-fold back seat has a tumble-fold cushion to help maximise load space. Under the floor of the handy-size hatchback boot is a full-size (steel) spare wheel.

Dimensionally it's all exactly as before: Up front it's a reasonably stretchy place to be, but back-seat passengers can be a bit compromised on legroom if the front seat travel is being used up.

The new Focus is no ground breaker – it's more a refinement of an already well-designed, well-sorted small car. As such, it has little trouble matching it with a very tough line-up of competitors and truly deserves a top spot in what is arguably the toughest segment of all.

2015 Ford Focus Trend pricing and specifications:
Price: $24,390 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 132kW/240Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 146g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

Also consider:
>> Hyundai i30 Active X (from $24,390 plus ORCs)
>> Mazda Mazda3 Maxx (from $24,390 plus ORCs)
>> Volkswagen Golf 92TSI (from $24,990 plus ORCs)