Ford Focus 2019 Review

The Ford Focus Titanium is the crème de la crème of Ford’s small car range. It drives out of the showroom replete with all the gear that’s already offered in the company’s latest small car, plus some.

It includes many things that are either optional or simply not available at the more proletarian level. Exclusions? There are a few, but the Focus Titanium pretty much matches the spec of other makes in its top-shelf peer group.

It also addresses some of the criticisms that have been directed at the base-model Ford Focus Trend; specifically the lack of some safety technology that’s standard in similarly-priced competitors.

Adding a whole lot of equipment over lower-spec Ford Focus models, the $34,990 Focus Titanium comes with important safety add-ons that only come packaged-up as options on the base Focus Trend variant.

There’s autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, sat-nav and SYNC 3 voice control, for example, and that’s merely scratching the surface.

Ford can’t afford to ignore the importance of competitive warranty provisions and there’s security in the Focus’s industry-standard five-year/unlimited-kilometre cover.

It’s sweetened by what’s described as promised-price servicing plus, at “participating dealers,” a free loan car and low-price tyre guarantee programs.

We know by now that the new Ford Focus is a sweet experience on the road. Although the top-spec Titanium – in lieu of the sporty spring/shock settings and independent, multi-link rear end reserved for ST-Line and Active models – runs the standard torsion-beam rear suspension. The Focus benefits from the same, endearing 134kW/240Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine and the tight-shifting eight-speed auto transmission that are standard across the range.

And, provided you don’t step straight from the tighter-handling ST-Line or Active Focus, you’re likely to still be impressed by how dynamically well-sorted this small hatchback is.

t’s not easy to think of anything that’s better-balanced and more enjoyable to drive on a day-to-day basis, whether in the urban jungle or out on the open road.

The fuel economy isn’t bad either at 7.4L/100km (as tested). That said, the Ford Focus Titanium does require costlier premium unleaded petrol.

The all-new Ford Focus launched into the Australian market in December 2018 and has yet to make a noticeable impact in the small-car segment.

With 2733 cars sold between the beginning of 2019 and August it’s an also-ran in a market dominated by Toyota Corolla (21,126 year-to-date sales), Hyundai i30 (19,441) and Mazda3 (19,108). The small Ford is also being outsold by Volkswagen Golf (9971), Honda Civic (7303) and Holden Astra (3630).

Clearly it’s hoped that the injection of new variants such as the higher-riding Active /ford-focus-active-2019-review-120299/ introduced in mid-2019 will add something to the annual sales tally. The 206kW/420Nm 2.3-litre Focus ST hot hatch will also up Ford’s sales when it arrives early in 2020.

In addition to its recognised ability to deliver real driving pleasure, the Ford Focus Titanium does an excellent job of looking after its passengers too. Its interior space has been well documented previously, while the boot, which can be stretched from 375 litres to a seats-folded 1345 litres betters all its main competitors other than the Volkswagen Golf.

In Titanium spec, there’s a general upgrading of quality and amenities too: As well as some extra outside brightwork, Focus Titanium buyers also get adaptive LED headlights, heated and folding side mirrors and 18-inch alloys.

Inside, there’s a subtle upgrading with leather trim, heated front seats (disappointingly powered on the driver’s side only), wireless phone charging, higher trim quality and a richly-toned B&O sound system with nine speakers and a boot-mounted sub-woofer. You also get a rear-seat armrest and upgraded door trims – although there’s still no air venting to the back of the cabin.

On the safety front, the Ford Focus Titanium also means blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert with active reverse braking and active cruise control are all factored-in as standard, on top of the high and low-speed AEB, pedestrian detection/avoidance and lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist.

If good interior space and poised on-road dynamics is your bag, you’d be struggling to do better than the new-generation Ford Focus.

It has already proved itself in a recent comparison that included Mazda’s also new-gen Mazda3 and the relatively new 12th-generation Toyota Corolla. Although it didn’t win our comparison, it was ahead of the two Japanese cars in many areas.

We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again: the Ford Focus deserves much better than the minimal attention it’s getting from Australian buyers, especially in high-grade Titanium trim.

As a refined, well-rounded five-door it’s at the top of our list. It’s neither lacking in character, nor suitability to the practical needs of those looking for a virtually flaw-free small hatchback.

How much does the 2019 Ford Focus Titanium cost?
Price: $34,490 (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)