2012 Ford Focus Titanium: A New Focus Brings Clarity to the Commuter Car

Ford Focus Road Test

Last week, I confessed that my love affair with the automobile is anything but monogamous. Falling head over heels for anything that excels in its particular purpose, I've found myself coveting everything from sports cars to luxury sedans to pickup trucks to the tiniest of hot hatches. But if there's one class of car who's charms have eluded me, it's been  the small sedan. See typically, if a small, economical sedan has done its job well, I usually find myself arriving at the conclusion of my seven day test period in much the same manner as I will have arrived at that week's various destinations: with barely any recollection of how I got there. 

Indeed, it seems as if many of today's commuter cars live apologetic lives of obscurity, aiming to provide the least memorable mode of transport possible. Why? Because for many buyers, any moment of transient excitement, regardless of how fleeting, is seen as a potential problem. For some reason, although we continuously demand more of our phones ("Seriously? This thing doesn't upload HD video to Youtube!?"), more of our computers ("Seriously? This thing won't play four games as once on two monitors while streaming HBO?!"), and more of ourselves, ("Seriously? If I can't work four days straight, how will I pay off my new phone and computer?!), we seem trapped within the confines of the age-old belief that any degree of automotive excitement must be proportional to automotive trouble. So, manufacturers continue to try and offer things like more advanced phone-connectivity and on-board computer packages to ensnare the car buying public in their latest yawn-inducing, passive-driving, oatmealmobile. 

But an oatmealmobile this is not. Heralded by many better-connected scribes than myself as the saviour of the modern driver, this new (to us) Ford Focus has finally brought the Blue Oval's awe-inspiring Euro-spec hatchback to our shores after a few years spent dominating the European market, both quantifiably and qualitatively. And who can blame those Europeans for falling in love with something as avant garde as this? Looking appropriately sporting even without the high speed/low drag trim of the zoot scooting RS model, it's countenance is probably best described as technologically aggressive. And so it should, as much of what's visible to the naked eye is an exercise in form following function. Take, for example, the various grille openings. Although certainly looking slightly Transformers-esque, they actually house active shutters that meter the amount of air allowed underhood in order to balance the engine's cooling requirements with the car's aerodynamic profile. Similarly, the front windshield, pillars, and finely sculpted mirrors are all acoustically tuned to mitigate wind noise, with the windshield actually benefitting from layered construction to kill noise while the side glass is thicker than usual to achieve the same effect. Out back live a pair of the most interesting taillights you'll see on a hatchback this year (each of which undoubtedly costs a pretty penny, should you ever back one into anything), along with a rakish rear window, and appropriately aggro rear valance. 

Grasp the familiarly chunky exterior handle (which feels suspiciously reminiscent of a Volvo's), slide into the large door opening, and it's obvious that the technological wizardry that penned the masterful lines of the sheetmetal did a similar job within the interior. In fact, when it comes to small car interiors, this Focus' is quite simply in a class of its own. From the supportive, but superlatively comfortable seats to the quirky-looking steering wheel, everything is just right... and looks it. Being the top-spec Titanium edition, my tester's interior was an orgy of leather and LCD screens, with just enough buttons scattered throughout to run everything. But as impressive as a commuter-class hatchback with a Lexus-shaming infotainment system is in and of itself, it was the diminutive hatchback's driver-focussed (you can't expect me to pen this review without making that pun can you?) styling and practical nature that had me so impressed. Once you've got everything adjusted, it's almost impossible to complain about anything; the gauges are all readily visible and clearly rendered, the seat has enough adjustment to allow nearly all drivers to find the perfect position, and the steering wheel... oh the steering wheel. Sure, it might look a little gawky and awkward, but it's well sculpted, feels refreshingly small in diameter, and has a great texture to it. 

Which is great, because once you're underway, you'll never want to take your hands off that wheel. Ever. Period. Even after you've gotten to your destination, you might just want to keep on going. Even though we have yet to see any RS or ST performance packages available for this car (yet), even the luxurious Titanium Edition's fun factor is already off the charts. With a 2.0L four-cylinder Duratec engine under the hood producing 160 horsepower (hopefully soon to replaced by a forced-induction Ecotec mill) and a five speed dual clutch gearbox behind, the Focus trades a little bit of acceleration for unparalleled handling prowess. It simply changes direction like nothing else in its segment, and any comparison thereof would be as fair as comparing the agility of a St. Bernard with that of a velcro-covered Chihuahua. The steering, besides being absolutely perfectly weighted, is precise in a way that's eluded even the latest crop of BMWs, and is itself paired with possibly the best suspension ever slung beneath a common commuter car. Around town it feels like one of those sadistic roller coasters that only turns at right angles, while at speed it seems ready to tackle anything this side of the autobahn, and even some things on the other side of it. The 30% stiffer chassis communicates perfectly, as do the extremely adhesive tires, and when they tell  that it's time to slow up, the pedestrian steel brakes still do a great job of that. In fact, during my week's testing, I couldn't come up with a single complaint to lodge against the car's capabilities... and that's surprising, given it's somewhat horrific 58/42 front to rear weight balance. Then again, when the total curb weight barely breaks 3,000 pounds, there just isn't that much car to cope with. 

And yet, even though it might only (!?) weigh a ton and a half, it seems like anyone actually buying a Focus is getting at least three tons worth of car for their money, because as fun as this new Focus is (and it is, very) it still represents an amazing value. With features like adaptive cruise control, automated parking, a torque-vectoring front differential (undoubtedly playing a role in improving its fun-factor), a dual-clutch gearbox, launch control, a voice-activated infotainment system, a rear view camera, dual-zone climate control, and a complete keyless entry and start system, it doesn't just offer more for less, it offers more than is even available from any of its competitors. Throw in fuel economy that never saw the high side of seven litres per hundred even in the face of an onslaught of... ahem, spirited, driving and the only problem I arrived at upon the conclusion of my test period wasn't a deficit of Focus-focussed thought or opinion... it was Ford's waiting press fleet manager, hand outstretched, awaiting the replacement of a set of Focus keys!