When motoring sedately around town in Drive the transmission is keen to quickly upshift for economy, but it’s less eager to downshift again, so on occasion I found that my test car could feel like it was caught in too high a gear. When driving with a bit of enthusiasm in shift-it-yourself Sport mode, however, the transmission really shines and you can really feel its crisp-changing character, although the experience is spoiled a little by the fiddly Selectshift shifter button mounted on the gear knob, and a longish delay between requesting a shift and having it executed. Actual shifting happens quickly, but the signal takes a while to reach the box.
Performance- and efficiency-wise the Focus Titanium with the six-speed Powershift automatic will run from 0-100 km/h in just over 9 seconds (if you want more speed, there’s always the Focus ST), and it turns in official fuel consumption ratings of 9.0 / 6.2 L/100 km (city/highway). In my own mostly city driving I saw an average consumption of about 9.9 L/100 km.
In terms of safety, the Focus comes standard with a full array of active and passive safety features including electronic stability control, tire pressure monitoring system, and all the expected airbags. My test car’s Technology Package added a lane keeping alert and a blind spot information system with cross traffic alert. In IIHS crash tests the Focus scores an Acceptable crash rating on the small front overlap test and Good ratings in all other tests.
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Warranty: 3 years/60,000 km; 5 years/100,000 km powertrain; 5 years/unlimited distance corrosion perforation; 5 years/100,000 km roadside assistance Competitors: |
With Ford’s “Employee Pricing” promotion in place at the time of writing, the Focus S sedan starts at $16,456, making it thoroughly competitive with other sedans in the segment. The SE starts at $18,248, and the Titanium at $24,389 (which is $2,110 off my test car’s $26,499 base sticker price). As driven, my loaded test car topped $30,000, but for that money you get a remarkably luxurious and well-equipped car. Ease up a little on the options and the Focus remains nicely equipped and a solid value, and its crisp styling, upscale interior and engaging chassis help it stand out regardless of trim level.
Pricing: 2016 Ford Focus Titanium Sedan
Base price: $26,499 ($24,389 at Employee Pricing)
Options: $4,350 (18-inch Wheel Package $500, Technology Package $750, Winter Package $300, Block Heater $100, Power Moonroof $1,200, Navigation $800, Active Park Assist $400, Exterior Protection Package $300)
Destination: $1,600
A/C tax: $100
Price as tested: $32,549 ($30,439 at Employee Pricing)
2013-2014 Compact Cars
January 1, 2014
