Ford Focus 1.6 EcoBoost review

Your having a laugh! £21,000 for a Focus?

The list price is about £4k too high. Not to worry as they will soon be discounted to a more sensible level.

By penncv3 on 14 January, 2011, 3:38pm

I'm Really Trying To Like This Car........BUT

When I saw the first pictures that AE published last year at one of the expos I really didn't like he looks at all. I'm really trying very hard to like it with these new photos but I just can't do it. The shape is all wrong and is trying too hard to be either a very downsized Kuga or a very oversized Fiesta. Whatever it's trying to do, it isn't working. And £21000 odd quid for something that looks decidedly iffy isn't going to sell it to me for a start. The technology is great, and the interior does indeed look like somewhere good to be if you have to spend time in a car, but that exterior.........ouch, sorry, it just doesn't work for me. The only thing that might save it is if it looks better in the metal but these pics don't do anything for me at all, sorry Ford.

By nick7 on 14 January, 2011, 6:21pm

Remember you will get a discount!

Looks expensinve on paper - but look at the list prices for Astras, Golfs and even Peugeots and Citroens. No one will pay these prices. You could get £5K off the old model without trying and the new CMax is already offered at disciunts of around £3K on broker web sites.

By hampson10 on 14 January, 2011, 6:53pm

I could buy an Alfa Romeo, Audi, Lancia or Mercedes for the same price!

I think Ford have delusions of grandeur! Who do they think they are! a prestige marque!

By JTravolta77 on 15 January, 2011, 12:42am

Jtravolta go eat breakfast and buy whatever you want.

If you look for an A-class you shouldn't be looking at the focus. Lancia is not perceived as a prestige brand anymore. No matter how hard they try. Being a different bravo doesn't help. Alfa Romeo isn't even perceived as a healthy brand for what it is. Are they cars fun, greatly design with italian flaire etc, great on the road? Yes. Are they high priced and considered unreliable, more than the average...Unfortunately. And they usually are cramped on the interior etc. As for audi who insists on selling the old A3 when the newer Golf seems more upmarket and is more refined on the road, great for them. But, you can't compare apples for oranges. List prices are just that. There are discounts, and several boxes to untick for getting a more realistic final pricing for the product. All of these gadgets on the titanium focus up the price conciderably and are there in these demo cars to impress idiotic reviewers. If you really need them you have to pay for them. Just like in any other brand. Try getting alfa romeo audi lancia or a mercedes car full speced and then look at a focus or astra again. You don't have to buy the 1.6 with 180 horsepower in titanium spec. Buy the way how much do the other costs for the same power? The downside for this generation of focus is the exterior and nobody can claim otherwise...Unappealling and awkard is the most gentle words. I mean how did the board even gave their approval? If you want to see how a facelifted focus will look in two years from now try searching for the electric focus front aston martin like grille in detroit motor show... There are other fugly cars in the class like megane 5-door, also boring cars like the front end of the astra and the whole shape of the golf and A3. But ford managed to f*** this up in a critical period. Hope they sell better in the US with this ugly mutt.

By giorikas81 on 15 January, 2011, 8:14am

Does Sony pay for advertising?

I was ready to buy a Mondeo but said no when I saw the Sony brand on the glossy centre.
Now it is in Focus.

It makes on wonder if Ford gets a better unit price for the ICE if the Sony name is displayed.

By daimler2 on 15 January, 2011, 9:41pm

Does Sony pay for advertising?

I was ready to buy a Mondeo but said no when I saw the Sony brand on the glossy centre.
Now it is in Focus.

It makes on wonder if Ford gets a better unit price for the ICE if the Sony name is displayed.

By daimler2 on 15 January, 2011, 9:42pm

Toommy

How did BMW get their "premium" brand image ? - I recall when they did their bubble cars and the company was a joke
Why are all "german" brands premium anyway - they may not be made in Germany and the Focus may -the "bits" for nearly all cars come from the same suppliers so is it all image and perception?
as petrol heads (otherwise why are we here?) surely we should know better than the "great unwashed" (in diesel ;)
I too am shocked at the price of the 180bhp model but surely thats partly due to only being availible in Titanium - having said that why charge thousands just for turning up the wick on the ECU

By Teifion2 on 16 January, 2011, 1:00pm

Are we saying that the 180bhp engine will not be available until November - 8 months after the car is launched?

Seems to be the case that the Titanium spec is much better than the Zetec. Where did all that horrible red come from?

I recently drove the cmax and the interior is great and the refinement something I've not experienced.

By ashington3 on 16 January, 2011, 10:08pm

A big Fiesta?

Ok, so the whole car is let down by the front end design. In fact just by changing the plastic bumper moulding, the car could easily be given a much better looking "face".

Are Ford playing it safe for the benefit of the US market? Europe could stand something far less conservative, and probably should.

However, Ford rarely get it wrong these days. You may or may not like the design, but this car is going to sell, even if it does look like a big Fiesta!

By j_harden on 16 January, 2011, 10:27pm

Better already

well...still not the best... but i must admit, i can already see how the car is going to grow and most people and start to sell well. In this trim its still not the best looker but its already improved from the first images we saw.

By kwashic on 17 January, 2011, 5:30pm

I'm going to drive this car first...

I will wait to drive this car before judging, tho 21k is high (more as i want to replace my hatch with an estate) but i purchased my 08 focus heavily discounted 2 years ago so hopefully Ford will oblige again.

If the prices remain high it could be the first time in 10 years I havent bought a Ford...(should my wife gets her way it'll be a Kia Sportage).

By zak2011 on 19 January, 2011, 12:52pm

color?

What color is the focus of the photos?

Lunar Sky or Midnight Sky??

Thanks!

By scabe on 3 April, 2011, 10:30pm