Ford sold more than a million Focuses last
year. That figure is dose to 400,000 more than the entire South African car
market, which gives you some idea of the impact Ford's compact sedan has had.
However, further scrutiny of the South
African sales figures show that the Focus did not even crack the top 20 in
2012, languishing behind competitors such as the Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen
Golf.
The
Focus is the standout car in the class when it comes to noise suppression
We've always been great fans of the Focus
and have been left scratching our heads at the underwhelming sales figures. Why
aren't South African consumers taking to the vehicle? So, we devised a plan:
run a Focus for a year and try to uncover any foibles that would explain why
it's in the sales doldrums. Unfortunately, we liked the Focus even more after
the term concluded. Plan failed...
Before we get to the driving experience,
though, let's start with its visual appeal (or, in the eyes of some team
members, a lack thereof). As C-segment hatches go, the Focus is good-looking
car sitting visually somewhere between the sober, understated Golf and the
exuberance of Citroen's DS4 and the Alfa Romeo Giulietta.
No
complaints about space in the front. Fascia design is very driver-focused
Helping it lean more towards the latter was
the $1,615-odd Trend option pack (the model line is called Trend, as is the
pack - confusing), which covers the comfy seats in somewhat artificial-feeling
leather (also found on the steering wheel and gearknob). The pack also adds an
automatic function to the lights and wipers, adorns the sills with deep
additions, enlarges the wheels to 17 inches (in an ST-aping design), pops a
mildly OTT spoiler on the back and highlights the grille and headlamps in
chrome. Considering what it includes and how much it enhances the appearance,
this option is a no-brainer. We did have to fend off a few backyard racers who
thought it was an ST, though...
The
pleasingly sculpted steering wheel can get up to four sets of buttons
The Trend pack doesn't hide the
opinion-splitting amoebic rear lamps, however; they appear far too large for
the surrounding surface areas and just too far into the flanks. Spy pictures of
vehicles undergoing testing for the 2014 facelift hint that Ford might rejig
these elements, as well as the front bumper and lights.
The interior is a modern affair and has an
upmarket feel. Soft-touch materials on the facia and doors enhance the feeling
of perceived quality. The Focus is packed with standard features, including a
multifunction steering wheel that has four paddles that master audio, cruise
and voice-control systems. They took some getting used to, but at the end of
the term I was a deft hand at flitting between the Bluetooth, sound and cruise
settings.
Rear
passengers fare modestly well, but this isn’t Focus’s strongest attribute
New for 2012/'13 was the fitment of the
Sync connectivity system that includes Blue tooth, USB playback and voice
control. It integrates seamlessly with iPhones and Android cell phones, but the
voice control does seem too sensitive to tone of voice.
The cabin is comfortable in the front and
the driving position is hugely configurable thanks to seat-height adjustment
and tilt-and-telescoping steering. Rear legroom, however, is a bit sparse for
taller passengers. I used it to transport my smaller kids and they fit just
fine, however. Similarly, the boot is one of the largest in its class but can
come up short when tasked with swallowing a family of four's holiday
paraphernalia. While on the topic of the boot, the hatch is heavy, making it
almost impossible for children to handle.
