Ford Focus Ghia Sedan 2006 Review

7-day Test

Ford's small car star Focus is cheap. The entry model starts at just under $21k with an accomplished 2.0-litre four, quality build and good safety report. It's cheap because it has to be, up against several worthy opponents in this class such as popular Mazda3, Holden Astra and VW Golf.

But with some breadth of budget one can contemplate up-speccing; in Ford's case to Focus Ghia. At this level it's about comfort and refinement. Focus' much-vaunted chassis and handling qualities lend a polished (for want of a word other than 'smooth') ride which translates well in this little luxury model wannabe.

Leather and woodgrain-look trim, electrically-adjustable driver's seat and climate control come standard, and good passenger room makes Focus Ghia a big-hearted small car proposition.

Ford's 2.0-litre Duratec four-cylinder wants for nothing but is hampered by an automatic transmission -- the only option available for the Focus Ghia. It's made worse by the fact it's only a four-speed. Response is slow and sluggish with a large gap between first and second gears. Employing the sequential quasi-manual shift is a requirement rather than entertainment for anything other than promenading around town.

Focus' handling and steering is highly praised (see CarPoint's launch review), with reason. It certainly goes where pointed (‘Focus' would be a terrible misnomer, otherwise) returning a solid, satisfyingly planted feel; a welcome change from the flimsy, lightweight treatment often encountered in this segment.

Focus feels controlled in cornering and robust and well put together over rough surfaces, and ride is quiet. It was a very calm seven days.

We expected more comfort for the Ghia upgrade, however. Seating is stingy, the standard-issue pews wrapped in cheap looking, feeling (and smelling!) beige leather that already showed wear and became unforgiving during any decent drive time.

The steering-wheel is trimmed in leather, but a matching handbrake lever cover is option-only, for $85. Even the Ghia-labelled floor mats come at a ($90) cost. The steering column-mounted audio control is odd, oversized, obstructive and looks like an afterthought. And the climate control system, a given at luxury-level, struggled during a few days in the Australian summer, forcing fuel consumption over 9.0lt/100km.

The outmoded four-speed auto and subsequent compromise to the Duratec's performance is also far from the right formula.

The Ghia treatment is barely discernible exterior-wise, apart from those well-worn red and blue badges and hokey 16-inch alloy wheels.

The test car had a $325 rear spoiler and Ford offers a body kit for $1415. Optional 17-inch alloy wheels, which go some way to filling the gaping expanse under the wheel arches are available for $1000.

The standard Focus is good value but the Ghia is expensive (starts at $30,990, add $300 for metallic paint, $110 for alloy pedals, to start…) and doesn't look or, more importantly, feel like you've spent the extra money, blending among the herd of small, and increasingly mid-size, cars on offer for around $10k less.

See CarPoint's 2005 Ford Focus launch review for more details.