Ford Focus Active 2019 Review

Ford Australia admits the Ford Focus Active is very much a niche vehicle in a market that’s flooded with SUVs and moving away from traditional small cars.

Indeed its only real compact car-based crossover rivals are the cheaper Subaru XV (from $28,490 including different sheetmetal to the Impreza) and the more expensive Volkswagen Golf Alltrack (from $35,750), which is based on the Golf wagon.

While the Focus Active is officially classified as a small car, both these competitors are classed as SUVs -- the Alltrack as a mid-size SUV.

At about $30,000, the Focus Active is pricier than all versions of Ford’s own unloved small SUV, the EcoSport ($22,790-$28,990) and also $1000 dearer than its Escape mid-size SUV, which opens at $28,990 in front-drive four-cylinder form.

And you could argue that for $4000 more than the Focus Trend on which it’s based, the Active is little more than a jacked-up hatchback with some extra plastic body bits.

But that would sell the Focus Active well short, because as Ford’s first foray into a crossover vehicle segment, it brings many advantages over heavier, less efficient sports utility wagons.

Firstly, the Active is based on Ford’s bigger new Focus hatch, which rides on the Blue Oval’s all-new C2 platform and has 20 per cent more torsional rigidity and a 50mm-longer wheelbase.

That liberates 365 litres of boot space and up to 1344 with the rear seats folded (without a full-size spare wheel), a body wide enough for four full-size adults and a decent 1500kg towing capacity (750kg unbraked), while keeping kerb weight to 1400kg and fuel-efficiency to 6.4L/100km. (We recorded 7.7L/100km on the launch drive.)

That’s in part thanks to the same zesty and high-tech 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that incorporates displacement on demand (ie: cylinder deactivation) and idle-stop tech. With 134kW of power and 240Nm of torque, the triple easily matches the four-cylinder engines of its small-car rivals.

Matched to a silky-smooth eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters as standard, the diminutive turbo triple is peppy enough to deliver strong acceleration at all engine and road speeds. It also sounds just a bit different while doing it – even if it can get a bit drummy under light throttle loads when it runs on just two cylinders.

The Focus Active also carries over the strong standard safety suite of the Ford Focus. The systems include autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, forward collision warning, lane-keeping aid and lane departure warning, post-collision braking speed-sign recognition and speed-limiter.

Other standard carryover technologies include keyless entry/start and Ford's SYNC 3 infotainment system with 8.0-inch touch-screen, DAB digital radio, two USB ports and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.

To the Ford Focus’ tally, the Ford Focus Active adds 17-inch alloy wheels with higher-profile 215/55 R17 Hankook tyres, wireless phone charging and dual-zone climate control.

Also unique to the German-made, front-wheel drive Ford Focus Active, helping it stand out from the small-car crowd, is a body kit comprising new-look front and rear bumpers with lower ‘skid plate’ inserts and matt-black lower edge, which is shared with the side skirts and wheel-arches, and roof-rails.

Inside, the crossover look continues with Nordic Blue interior accents on the fabric seat trim, steering wheel, doors and dashboard, Active-branded side-sill scuff plates and a useful 180-degree split-view reversing camera.

While the rotary-dial gearshifter and electric parking brake give the centre console a clean and uncluttered look, these extras don’t do much to lift the Focus’ overly dark and understated interior.

Although the cabin is whisper-quiet (except for tyre noise on coarse-chip road surfaces), and packed with high-quality soft-touch materials, it lacks the design flair of rivals like the latest Mazda3.

Naturally there are options, including a $1250 Driver Assistance Package including adaptive cruise control with stop/go, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and rear AEB, plus very handy lane centring and evasive steer assist systems. This makes the Active as safe as almost anything out there.

There’s also an $1800 Design Package comprising 18-inch alloys (also with higher-profile 215/50 rubber), adaptive LED headlights with cornering function and rear privacy glass.

The only stand-alone options are a panoramic sunroof ($2000) and prestige paint including unique Orange Glow hue ($650).

A capped-price service offer limits each service to a reasonable $299 for the first four years and, like all new Fords, the Focus Active majors on after-sales back-up with a five-year/unlimited-km warranty and free service loan cars.

The best part about the Ford Focus Active is its revised chassis. It borrows the independent multi-link rear suspension and twin-tube dampers from the Focus ST-Line wagon and specific spring, damper and anti-roll bar tuning. It also goes the opposite way to sports-tuned ST-Line models by raising its ride height.

The 30/34mm ride height increase front/rear mightn’t sound like much but it makes getting in and out a little easier without any discernible effect on the Focus’ crisp steering, solid cornering and cosseting ride.

But the real advantage comes any time you leave the bitumen – whether it’s to find a secluded beach, reach a remote camping ground or just need to use a rutted gravel road.

The extra ride height and matt body extensions can also provide a bit more peace of mind over rough roads, sharp driveway entrances and nasty car park chocks – the sort of obstacles that can make you wince in a standard-height passenger car.

Combined with specific new Trail and Slippery drive modes — which sound a bit gimmicky but do allow noticeably more and less tyre slip respectively (aiding progress on sandy tracks or icy surfaces) — the Active is more than a crossover show pony but still more efficient than an equivalent-size SUV.

While on the surface it might have limited appeal, the Ford Focus Active adds a worthwhile dose of capability, practicality and individuality to a highly accomplished family hatch. It would be even better in wagon form with diesel power.

How much does the 2019 Ford Focus cost?
Available: Now
Price: $29,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 134kW/240Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.4L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 148g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (2019)