Ford Focus Titanium 2012 Review

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory & delivery charges): $32,590
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Nil
Crash rating: Five-star (EuroNCAP)
Fuel: 91 RON ULP
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 6.7
CO2 emissions (g/km): 156
Also consider: Volkswagen Golf 118 TSI ($33,990), Mazda3 SP20 ($27,990), Holden Cruze Hatch SRi-V ($30,490)

You'd be forgiven for thinking the Ford Focus Titanium was an impenetrable vessel fashioned from a giant block of almost indestructible metal. However the name is a little misleading. In fact it refers to the range-topping specification, a naming convention which is now being used by Ford globally to delineate its fancy-pants models.

How long until we see the Falcon Titanium? My bet is 2016, it could be earlier. But I digress...

The Focus Titanium 2.0-litre direct injected petrol variant costs about the same as any other top-shelf small car from a European or Japanese marquee -- $32,590 to be precise -- but comes with the sort of luxurious features and high-tech gadgets you'd expect on a Mercedes-Benz costing more than twice as much.

For instance, the car can virtually park itself, thanks to the cunningly named Active Park Assist. It utilises ultrasonic sensors that can measure a parallel parking space in conjunction with servo motors in the steering wheel to guide itself into said space. You still have to prod the throttle and brake, but it's a neat system that works -- not just a gimmick that looks cool on TV ads.

The standard features list is pretty good for a car of this size. You also get keyless entry and ignition, reverse parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, a self-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone climate control, ambient LED interior lighting, 18-inch alloy wheels, voice controlled audio and Bluetooth phone, twin colour LCD screens, cruise control and heated leather seats.

Audiophiles will also be pleased to know the sound system is one of the best in class -- a high quality nine-speaker Sony system that doesn't distort at higher volumes. 

All this techno-wizardry makes living with the vehicle significantly more pleasurable, but such technology can all be for nought if the car drives poorly. Thankfully, Focus is a pearler.

Boasting one of the highest torsional rigidity ratings in its segment, combined with an astutely tuned suspension rig, the new Ford Focus remains one of the best handling vehicles in the small car class.

Driven at regular speeds in and around the 'burbs, the Blue Oval's global small car is very well behaved. The ride quality is decent, let down only by its low profile 18-inch diameter wheels shod with 235/40 tyres, which transfer the odd thump through the frame and into the cabin.

But when shoved ungraciously into corners, the Focus responds enthusiastically and will reward the savvy driver. It also gets its power down rather well when accelerating out of corners thanks to torque vectoring control (splitting torque between the front wheels to improve stability and drive).

The solid chassis delivers not only good response and confidence-inspiring levels of grip but also plenty of feedback. That this car has a weight-to-stiffness ratio better than some Italian exotic cars will be of little interest to many buyers, but it's nice to know.

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is also a nice piece of kit, now featuring direct injection for a boost in power to 125kW. These extra herbs give the car more hustle than its predecessor and though torque hasn't risen much, now 202Nm, the engine is eager, and doesn't mind being revved hard.

The Focus Titanium models come standard with the Blue Oval's 'Powershift' six-speed automatic transmission, a dual-clutch unit akin to Volkswagen's DSG setups. While I'm not convinced the gearboxes are quite up to VW standards, they come close and are a vast improvement on traditional automatics - smoother, faster, and more efficient.

Paired with the updated engine, the transmission makes the engine feel more potent, quickly swapping cogs should the need arise. The gearbox works well in Drive, while 'S' mode adds about 1000rpm which helps get things moving a little quicker. Upshifts are rapid in the dual-clutch gearbox and though downshifts are not as sharp they still drop down with haste. The tiptronic mode however was disappointing, being slow to react to input.

The exterior design of the new Focus may not be to everyone's delight, but the author found the styling grew on him pretty quickly. Remarks by friends and family were equally positive. 

On top of the trendy European posterior, the interior is easy on the eye, starting with cyan coloured lighting across the dash controls -- a bit different but not unwelcome. 

Steering wheel controls are numerous and initially befuddling, but after an hour or so driving from Perth toward Margaret River became second nature. In fact, it turns out some thought has gone into the unorthodox control layout.

Keyless entry and engine start is great, especially with a three-month old bub in tow. The baby seat was also easy to fit, slotting in nicely to the middle seat and still leaving enough room for four adults; rear occupant leg room was surprisingly good.

Boot space was adequate, and as an aside the stereo was excellent. Audio is piped out of nine speakers with a Sony head unit taking care of interpreting sounds. I have to say, it is probably one of the best OEM audio system in a non-prestige small car I've ever listened to. 

A five-star Euro NCAP safety rating is reassuring  and when you look at both the spec sheet and spend some time in the captain's chair, it's evident the latest generation Focus has benchmarked German rivals such as Volkswagen. It's a very well executed vehicle and has a solid sense of quality about it, and though more expensive than the Mazda3 and Holden Cruze equivalents, it's closer in spec to the German car.

Priced at $32,590 for the petrol-powered Ford Focus Titanium hatch model on test (the diesel costs $36,090 and sedans versions are the same price), the value equation isn't too shabby. It'll probably end up more like $35K by the time you leave the dealership, but you're getting the kind of the features and technology that five years ago were only available to upper echelon prestige cars.

The Ford Focus has an enviable reputation in Europe, but its status in Australia is not quite as elevated. Perhaps this latest generation model will change perceptions. The car is an absolute gem to drive, it's easy to live with and our test car appeared almost as robust as a titanium-clad war machine. If this is the yardstick, the hard-charging Focus ST will be worth the wait.

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