Ford Focus LX 2003 Review

Almost from the moment it was launched over there in 1998, the small Ford was regarded as the standard-setter for steering, handling, and ride in its class. Now, more than four years later, dynamics remain the Ford's outstanding strength on Australian roads. Among this group, the Focus is a superior drive in several important ways. For those who are drivers rather than motorists, the way the car communicates and co-operates with the person behind the steering wheel could be reason enough to choose it.

There's a firm technical foundation underpinning the Ford's behaviour: it has a suspension specification that makes better reading than any of the others. While the Focus's front suspension is the class's standard-issue coil-spring struts and A-arms combination, it has a truly sophisticated rear suspension.

Peugeot, Toyota, and Volkswagen all employ torsion beam rear axles. Space efficient and cheap to manufacture, the torsion beam has one major drawback: it doesn't deliver complete suspension independence. This design's lateral connection - the torsion beam - ties the two rear wheels together, allowing only partial independence. The rear suspension of the Focus, in contrast, allows each wheel its freedom. This was the car in which Ford introduced its Control Blade rear suspension, a clever and compact four-link layout, which has since found its way beneath the backside of other models. Our BA Falcon is the most recent convert in the Ford family.

But enough of the history. What matters is that the Focus rides, handles, and steers very sweetly indeed. Thanks, at least in part, to the Control Blade in its rear. The rear suspension makes the greatest contribution to the Ford's handling. Control Blade's ability to tailor toe angle through the wheel's range of vertical travel is unquestionably one of the reasons the Focus has the greatest grip and best balance when cornering.

The front end of the car does its bit, too. The steering is light but full o'feel, and the Focus's responses to inputs are prompt and precise. Ride quality, while good, isn't quite so outstanding. The Golf gives superior isolation from small surface imperfections, but there's no way anyone in their right mind would trade this small advantage for the Focus's slightly less absorbent but much more disciplined damping.

The Focus has only one obvious dynamic shortcoming. Its brakes - like the others, four discs with ABS - just don't give enough return on investment. Apply light to moderate pressure and they feel okay, but push harder and there's not a proportional increase in retardation. Disconcerting and disappointing.

Someone more sarcastic than myself might suggest that the brakes will seldom be strained. The Ford's performance is - and the next word has been carefully chosen - pathetic. From a standing start, the 1.8-litre Focus accelerates no quicker than the runt of this litter, the 1.6-litre 307. For in-gear rolling response, the smaller-engined Peugeot shames the Ford, the Volkswagen beats it soundly, and the Toyota utterly annihilates it. Despite this, fuel economy is no better than the others.

On paper, the 1.8-litre Ford engine doesn't lack technology, but on the road it falls well short of adequacy. This engine is so unresponsive and weak that it feels like you're driving with the handbrake on. At least the five-speed manual is okay. It will be used an awful lot.

Helped by relatively high-placed seats, the Focus interior has room enough to comfortably accommodate four adults. And comfortable it would be, if only the seats were better. The driving position is acceptable, but the seat doesn't offer much in the way of support or security. The front passenger gets a worse deal, because their flat-cushioned seat doesn't have the height and tilt adjust of the adjacent driver's seat. The rear seat, in contrast, isn't the worst in this comparison. Can't say the same for the interior. The design of the centre console stack lacks harmony, as well as being an ergonomic nightmare. Cheap-looking materials that appear to promise an early descent into scruffiness are everywhere inside the cabin. Whether looking or touching, there's no pleasure to be had from the Focus's interior.

Presentation and quality aside, the Ford does exert a modicum of showroom appeal. The lengthy list of standard features - including two dual-stage airbags, five lap-sash belts, a centre rear headrest, and ABS brakes - makes the price seem reasonable in comparison with the other three cars. And the Ford's exterior, despite its age, still looks bold if not conventionally beautiful.

This car review is part of a four-car comparison from Wheels magazine, February 2003, which compared the Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus, Peugeot 307 and VW Golf. Click here to read more.