Test drive Ford Focus

The main focus of the Focus update is not the fashionable looks and not even the three-spoke steering wheel. Now this is a car, first of all, for young people. Only here's the trouble: the station wagon got on the test. Maybe here he is - the harbinger of a new fashion ...

The main focus of the Focus update is not the fashionable looks and not the three-spoke comfortable steering wheel. Now it is a car designed primarily for young people. Only here's the trouble: for the AvtoTachki test, the novelty got in the station wagon. But maybe here he is - a harbinger of a new fashion: the first "carriage" that will not be associated with a barge suitable only for transporting seedlings and other country nonsense (after all, you can carry a snowboard and bicycles in a huge trunk)? In any case, there are several reasons to count on it.

He is very handsome

You can argue as much as you like about who is more attractive: Jessica Alba or Monica Bellucci, but among my friends there are no those who would not like Angelina Jolie. Likewise, if everyone admits that the Focus is in any way similar to an Aston Martin, then it is beautiful. This is an axiom.

Let comparisons of Ford with Aston Martin already turn up more than exchange rates, due to the grille with chrome stripes, the voluminous hood with stampings and squinted headlights, the Focus is currently not only recognizable, but perhaps the most beautiful car in its class . Probably, since the days of the Chrysler 300C (2004-2010), the world has not seen a more unusual civilian station wagon. But if, because of its size and deliberate angularity, it looked like an alien from the Mesozoic, then the “car” from Ford is the embodiment of style and sport. And it appeared at the right time: in an era when noisy alcoholics on playgrounds are decisively forced out by equally noisy workout fans, and the main trend of the season is to look fit and well-groomed.
 

He rides cool

The golf class is in big trouble. He is getting closer and closer to becoming completely useless to anyone. On the one hand, it is supported by the B-class, on the other, subcompact and compact crossovers. And in general, most class C cars have become too slow, which is definitely not conducive to attracting young customers. There are, of course, exceptions. For example, a turbocharged 180-horsepower Astra and a 140-horsepower Golf, but in general, all these cosmic-looking hatches in civilian versions do not shine with dynamic performance. Civic sedan - 10,8 sec. up to a hundred, Kia Cee'd - 10,5 seconds, Citroen C4 - 10,8 seconds, Renault Megane - 9,9 seconds, Nissan Tiida - 10,6 seconds. (and these are good numbers by the standards of the class).

Focus drives differently. Even in a station wagon with a new 150-horsepower engine, the car accelerates to 100 km / h in 9,4 seconds. (the hatchback does it in 9,2 seconds and the sedan in 9,3 seconds). And it's not just dry numbers. The new EcoBoost power unit, which replaced the 2,0-liter GDI in Russia, is the best thing that has happened to the Focus in recent years. Firstly, it works in tandem not with PowerShift, which, according to impressions from other Fords (not counting the updated Fiesta), can cut off oxygen even to the most promising engine, but with a fast 6-speed automatic transmission. Secondly, it unlocks the full potential of the chassis.

 

Focus not only did not lose its former excitement of handling, it became even more perky. The steering, in which the software was changed, became more precise and got rid of artificial gravity. The car became stiffer (the rigidity of the bushings of the lower arms of the multi-link rear suspension increased by 20%). I upgraded to the Focus from a business sedan and had real pleasure in riding the station wagon. He holds the road perfectly, almost does not heel, is absolutely clear in terms of taxiing and, in addition, has a tendency to skid. It's a lot of fun, but, alas, the new system of directional stability does not allow any special liberties.

With all this, the Focus became less noisy (the model received additional noise insulation in the wheel arches, doors and under the hood, as well as the glass and housings of the rear-view mirrors were replaced) and smoother. Due to other shock absorbers and silent blocks, the station wagon perfectly fulfills minor irregularities.
 

Gadgets

Imagine that you were invited to take part in the tests of the pre-production model of the iPhone 7 - a concentration of the latest technologies, from which all geeks will go crazy, but which is still damp. In many ways, albeit with some exaggeration, the Focus can give the same feeling. In terms of the number of options not typical for the C-class, it significantly surpasses all competitors (perhaps only the seventh Golf stands next to it).

The comparison with the iPhone was no coincidence, because the SYNC 2 system is similar in functionality to Apple's Siri. With the help of voice commands, she is able to build a route, tune the radio, change the temperature in the cabin. Alas, in terms of feedback, the witty "Siri" SYNC 2 is far from the only problem. The system is very promising, but its work has not yet been brought to the ideal: it periodically freezes and does not recognize speech with a XNUMX% result.

 

Another important "feature" that can completely capture the driver for a long time after purchase is the automatic parking system (both perpendicular and parallel). After testing the option, two of my colleagues argued whether it was needed at all. The first one was convinced that using it meant admitting that he didn’t know how to park on his own, which was a shame for a man. The second ended the argument with the phrase: "She does it so cool that I, frankly, do not care what others think."

Focus also allows its driver to waste time in a traffic jam. For example, read a book or news without fear of bumping into the bumper of the car in front. The Active City Stop system is able to brake the car itself at low speed. But it works at the very last moment, so testing it requires as much courage as the first parachute jump.

 

There is also an additional cigarette lighter socket on the top of the dashboard. Judging by the fact that this is a distinctive feature of cars for Russia, it is intended for a video recorder, because they are already joking about the addiction of our drivers to this gadget even on American TV.

By the way, the socket for connecting the device is just one of the changes made to the car specifically for the Russian market. The Focus from Vsevolozhsk also received a heated windshield, heated windscreen washer nozzles, heated front seats and a steering wheel, increased ground clearance, an engine capable of digesting AI-92, improved noise isolation, navigation with display of traffic jams in real time and SYNC2 with voice control in Russian ...
 

It's not that cheap anymore

Yes, you heard right: the new Focus is not the most affordable in its class, and to a certain extent this is its trump card. The first car of the family just blew up the market at its price. Due to this, it was incredibly popular and, for example, beat off almost all buyers from the Fiesta. But a car designed for young people probably cannot be the cheapest in its class. It should be like clothes that hipsters love: high quality, from a well-known brand and not compete in value with budget brands.

"Focus" costs at least $ 9. ($ 336 with all possible discounts for trade-in, recycling and Ford Credit programs). It will be a hatchback with a 7-horsepower engine and a manual transmission. A sedan with the same engine will cost at least $ 876 wagon - $ 105. The version that we had on the test cannot be bought for less than $ 10. If the car is retrofitted with a navigation system, a rear view camera, a full-size spare wheel, curtain-type side airbags, xenon headlights, 914-inch discs, electric folding mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, automatic parking systems, automatic braking and tire pressure monitoring, then the car will be cost 11 046 $ already. Intersections with Fiesta are a thing of the past.

If we are talking about station wagons, then, for example, a Skoda Octavia with DSG and a 150-horsepower engine (8,3 seconds up to 100 km / h) will cost at least $ 16, but in a configuration similar to the maximum, the Focus will cost more than $ 319 $. But the See'd c "automatic" and a 19 liter engine (725 hp) in the top-end version costs $ 1,6 129.
 

Modesty

It seems that most of all modern youth do not like to be deceived. For example, a thing that has not changed too much was passed off as a completely new one (although it works with the same iPhone S). So, in Ford, despite the number of changes in the Focus, which are sometimes enough for the release of the next generation of the model, they admit that this is not a new car. Representatives of the company avoid the word restyling, calling the Focus new to distinguish it from the car leaving the market, and honestly admit that this is not about a generational change. And this is not only honest and modest, but also makes the fourth Focus wait harder.

Of course, despite all of the above, it is difficult to predict sales of the Focus station wagon in Russia. It is a stylish, fast car with all the modern options. But to understand this, you need to ride it for at least a couple of days. However, for those who are not ready for drastic changes in consciousness, there is a sedan and a hatchback. And they, too, are unlikely to disappoint. It looks like the Ford Focus has made a serious bid to become super popular again and possibly revive interest in the C-Class.