2012 Ford Focus SE Sedan Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO ...

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS

FYI: Ford Buyers Guide

Good belongings approach to persons who can wait.

Since its European foreword in 1998, the Focus has person's name one of the mainstays of Fords passenger car row worldwide. We got it in 1999, for replica day 2000, little-changed as of its European counterpart. But at what time the next age group debuted in Europe for replica day 2005, we reserved the unique Focus. SUVs now declining, crossovers now the Coming Thing, and Fords American notice was directed out in the direction of the Edge

We did get Focus, Generation Two, kind of, for 2008. It diverged additional supposed a bit as of its Euro counterpart, and was additional a main freshening of the unique supposed an all-new car. Small cars motionless werent advertising at petroleum time " awaiting gasoline management in progress to climb throughout so as to summer. In a divide development, at what time then-new CEO Alan Mulallay came in excess of as of Boeing, one of his first comments was amazing to the result of œat Boeing, we sold the similar 737 worldwide. Why are you advertising dissimilar cars beneath the similar person's name in dissimilar markets?

While the customer automobile marketplace is not a great deal similar to the commercial aircraft market, Mulally did contain a suitable point. And American automotive present contain changed as,because the existence of the softly-sprung full-sized œland yacht sedan " relations management contain probable full-grown up in imports, and desire cars so as to grip and are fun to drive. So why alter as of the European version, particularly in chassis settings?

So, still although its liberally in Wayne MI, the American third-generation Focus is as shut as it can be to the European one. The styling is almost identical (as was the container rear in 1999), and it has a fun-to-drive nature so as to is missing as of the majority comparably-priced Asian and still European competitors. œEuropean character too income European-level petroleum monetary system " if you believe gas management are far above the ground at petroleum time in the States, not even

The 2012 Focus moderator in together four-door sedan and five-door hatchback corpse styles, in trim custom as of essential S (sedan only) from side to side ever-fancier SE and SEL to top-level Titanium. Engine option is simple, a new 160-horsepower 2.0-liter straight fuel-injected twincam inline four. That drives the front wheels from side to side a five-speed physical (S and SE only) or six-speed œPowerShift dual-clutch automated physical transmission.

Watch TACHs exclusive promo video of the Focus models

Perusing the specifications, its my deduction so as to the SE determination be the center model. Offered in together corpse styles, it adds fancier trim and a few upgrades to the Ss not-quite-basic spec. It too intended a comprehensive catalog of likely standalone options and packages for the widest appeal. A Focus SE can be complete eager on a sporty and inexpensive compact, a completely electronically-equipped skill showcase, or no substance which in between.

Last weeks examination car was absolutely of the sporty persuasion. An SE sedan, it had the attach and Sport Package for maximum heavy participation and pleasure. To showcase Fords cabin contemporary technology, it was too ready by means of the Rapid Spec 203 A alternative collection of Convenience, MyFord, and SYNC packages and Sirius satellite radio. The consequence was a fine mixture of Euro-style fun-to-drive character, contemporary convenience, and petroleum economy, by means of 28mpg achieved by means of maximum fun by means of the eager engine and gearbox and negligible use of highways. YMMV, probably upwards there

APPEARANCE: Meet the Fiestas big brother. The seem of Fords newest little sedans is distinctive, identifiable, and extremely European. The styling is visually interestingly but cohesive, by means of flowing sculpted lines and a extended passenger cabin by means of well-raked windshield and backlight. Close inspection reveals so as to the well-liked oversized grille is more frequently supposed not blacked-out corpse paneling, by means of little higher and inferior openings. Look beneath the front of the car and discover careful notice to underbody aerodynamics in panelling beneath the front and rubber air dams in front of all wheels. Thats functional additional supposed for style, and mechanism as the Focus sedan is quiet and stable at all speeds, still on the highway in physically powerful crosswinds.

COMFORT: A almost two-inch growth in wheelbase and massively redesigned center denote so as to helpful additional space inside, for front and back passengers. Where a number of competitors contain de-contented completely compact offerings, the majority obviously by replacing soft-touch center panels by means of firm artificial Ford has left in the conflicting direction. Even in SE trim, the 2012 Focus is a cut on top of the standard in center resources and notice to detail. Windshield goblet has an acoustic manage layer to decrease noise pending eager on the cabin, and thicker surface and back goblet additional reduces center noise levels. All heavy characteristic a steering wheel manually-adjustable for together tilt and reach; in the SE by means of the Sport Package and on top of the rim is leather-wrapped for comfort. The Sport seats are extremely good, by means of firm, supportive padding and sensible bolstering. Yes, all is physically adjustable, still drivers cushion height. Windows are power, though, and air conditioning is too normal in all models. Instrumentation is total and obtainable well, by means of major instruments and trip in order beneath a hood in front of the intended and, here, audio in a little monitor at the top of the middle stack. Nav scheme screens live present in Focuses so-equipped. Part of the Rapid Spec 203A wrap up is a high-quality AM/FM/CD (audio/MP3/WMA)/Sirius/auxiliary be dressed in and USB audio system. Useful storage space spaces abound in the cabin. Rear passengers are not an afterthought. The back seat rapidly high-quality anywhere to live for two, or occasionally inquisitiveness mid-sized adults. In the SE, the rear folds in one piece. Sedan stem ability is high-quality for the cars size, and the hatch be hypothetical to be still better.

SAFETY: The newest Focus was intended and liberally to get together or exceed universal crashworthiness principles for the foreseeable future. Its unibody arrangement is liberally by means of extensive use of high-strength steel for power and glow weight. Over 31 proportion of the arrangement is complete of ultra-high power and boron steel for additional heaviness decrease and power and rigidity increase.

RIDE AND HANDLING: Really merely the Focus person's name is the same. The new unibody arrangement contributes as a great deal to street manners as it fake to safety, and the 2012 Focus is a extremely enjoyable car to drive. As far as I might tell, the merely profits to the fully-independent MacPherson swagger / œControl Blade multilink suspension for the Sport Package are upgraded wheels (alloy in its place of steel), additional upgraded on my examination car as of 16 decrease to 17, by means of H-rated 215/50 tires. No spring and upset differences. No complaints! The SE Sport Package too replaces the normal (in S and SE) back drums by means of discs, a valuable improvement. The electrically-assisted steering has a moderate touch, and the Focus is huge fun on a twisty second-gear rear street and at ease on the highway or in town. Torque vectoring via the ABS/traction manage scheme theater emulate a limited-slip differential to improved get authority to the ground, and to decrease understeer in corners.

PERFORMANCE: Fords the majority excellent development at petroleum time is beneath the hood. The new 2.0-liter aluminum alloy inline four construct 160 horsepower (at 6500 rpm) and 146 lb-ft of torque (at 4450 rpm), 20 additional horses and by means of a ten proportion development in petroleum economy. More is less? Yes " straight petroleum injection intended a senior compression ratio " 12.0:1 here, and on unleaded usual at so as to " construct increases together torque (and so,consequently horsepower) and petroleum efficiency. œTwin self-governing changeable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT), Fords word for dual cam phasing, additional contributes to a broad torque spread, efficiency, and inferior emissions. With the twin-clutch automated-manual œPowerShift transmission, shifting is certainly optimized for petroleum efficiency. With the five-speed stick, its the drivers choice. Yes, you can short-shift the engine no problem. But its happiest on top of 2500 in the inferior gears, and 4000 in the higher gears and rewards the intended by means of excited performance. No, its not a hotrod Mustang " but as the old saying goes, its additional fun to drive a slow car (relatively) quick supposed to drive a quick car slow. And still later absent as of highways as a great deal as possible, and enjoying the engine and smooth-shifting, moderate-throw gearbox as a great deal as possible, I motionless got 28 mpg overall. Better counting be no problem, now dial rear the correct foot.

CONCLUSIONS: With its new Focus, Ford moves to the front of the compact class.

     ¢ SEE ALSO: Demand Rising for New Ford Focus as It Earns Top Safety Pick

SPECIFICATIONS

2012 Ford Focus SE Sedan

Base Price $ 17,270

Price As Tested $ 20,580

Engine Type dual in the clouds cam aluminum alloy inline 4-cylinder by means of straight petroleum injection and changeable cam phasing on together camshafts

Engine Size 2.0 liters / 122 cu. in.

Horsepower 160 @ 6500 rpm

Torque (lb-ft) 146 @ 4450 rpm

Transmission 5-speed manual

Wheelbase / Length 104.3 in. / 178.5 in.

Curb Weight 3000 lbs.

Pounds Per Horsepower 18.8

Fuel Capacity 12.4 gal.

Fuel Requirement 87 octane unleaded usual gasoline

Tires P215/50R17 91H Conti ProContact

Brakes, front/rear vented disc / solid disc, ABS standard

Suspension, front/rear self-governing MacPherson swagger / self-governing Control Blade SLA (multilink)

Drivetrain transverse front engine, front-wheel drive

PERFORMANCE

EPA Fuel Economy " on foot per gallon metropolis / highway / observed 26 / 36 / 28

0 to 60 mph 7.7 sec

OPTIONS AND CHARGES

Rapid Spec 203A " includes:

Convenience Package " includes: cruise control, map lights, perimeter alarm MyFord & Sync Package, Sirius satellite radio $ 1,385

SE Sport wrap up " includes: 16³ let wheels, back disc brakes, piano black grille, back spoiler, metallic center trim finish, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob $ 1,130

17-inch machined alloy wheels $ 495

Destination accuse $ 725

SE Sport Package Discount -$ 235

Total Savings -$ 425