Zetec cars then add alloy wheels, a quick-clear windscreen and a leather steering wheel. Despite Ford’s claims that cabin quality has been improved, it is still no match for class leaders such as the Volkswagen Golf in terms of the plushness of the materials used and the overall fit and finish inside.Įntry-level Studio models come with air-con and a tyre pressure-monitoring system, but the next step-up, Style, adds Bluetooth and a DAB radio. The Focus’s boot will be fine for light everyday use, but remains comparably small – 270 litres smaller than an Octavia’s, in fact. There’s enough room for four adults inside (five will be a squeeze), although a Skoda Octavia will offer more head- and legroom in the rear of its cabin. Otherwise, things remain unchanged, which means the driving position is superb, thanks to the well laid-out pedals and wide range of seat and steering wheel adjustment. The handy shortcuts in the corners of the display make it easy to switch between functions, even though some of the on-screen buttons are a little small, which makes them tricky to hit at a glance, and it isn’t the most responsive system we've tried. The new 8.0-inch touch-screen we tried won’t be fitted to all versions – cheaper models get a much smaller 4.2-inch screen – but it’s a huge improvement over the mobile phone-inspired interface of the old model. The biggest change in the cabin is the new infotainment system, which brings with it a much simpler and more user-friendly control layout than the previous car's button-strewn chaos. The main complaints are some wind noise around its door mirrors on the motorway and tyre roar over coarse surfaces. Really, only a Volkswagen Golf comes close to the Focus’ talents.Īlthough the Focus's cabin isn’t as quiet as a Nissan Pulsar’s when driving at speed, it still has one of the quieter cabins of the class, being about on a par with the Golf’s. Large bumps are well damped, and the Focus does an impressive job of taking broken surfaces and crests in its stride. The Focus’s ride continues to feel well suited to the sort of broken roads we’re used to on UK roads, remaining as supple as ever. Its steering is now rock solid on straights, with not even the slightest hint of any weaving that some other cars are prone to, which makes easy work of motorway driving, and it loses none of its cornering prowess – it still turns into tight corners better than a VW Golf or Skoda Octavia. Revisions to the steering and suspension haven’t spoiled things: the Focus is still a class leader in this respect. The Focus’s gearshift is just as slick as before, but Ford’s efforts to make its engines quieter are noticeable – working it hard isn’t a chore, even if there’s still a slight buzz at the pedals when the revs are high. The biggest difference is in the new car’s refinement.
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