The Ford Focus has been one of the best-selling foreign cars on the Russian market for many years. During its 16-year history, more than 750 thousand Focus vehicles of three generations have been sold in our country. But for all the prevalence of the model, potential Focus 3 buyers are interested in knowing what kind of car it is, how does it drive and behave on the road? Let's try to figure it out...
Appearance plays a primary role for many when choosing a car, and the Ford Focus is all right with this: it is beautiful, elegant, sporty and fit both in the sedan and hatchback body. But there are no comrades for the taste and color, so you don’t need to focus on the exterior, but go straight to the interior of the car.
The interior of the “third Focus” is not without elegance, and the obvious redundancy in it of all kinds of buttons and levers per unit area does not cause rejection. And the quality of plastics and assembly is excellent.
You can only find fault with the blue-violet displays and button illumination. Despite the fact that its brightness was muted, all the same, this "cyanosis" is not entirely pleasing to the eye. I am glad that the instrument scales have a white backlight, which is softer and better perceived.
During operation, you may get the impression that a good part of the buttons and inscriptions on them are made too small. Indeed, the way it is, and with its diversity and dense layout, the center console resembles an airplane cockpit. Getting into the "third Focus" for the first time, you get a little confused, overshooting in search of the desired function. However, you get used to everything quickly, and it is worth noting that the main controls on the car do not suffer from a dwarf disease.
For the Ford Focus, a Sony audio system is available with a 5-inch LCD display, six speakers, USB and AUX connectors, Bluetooth support, voice control, and the ability to control from the “multi-steering wheel”. In addition, a 4.2-inch color display is located on the dashboard, which displays the readings of the on-board computer. Music sounds decent and high quality, its management is quite understandable and simple. But reading the navigation readings is not very convenient, but all because of the too small screen.
The front seats in the Ford Focus, regardless of body type, are suitable for people of almost any build - they are simply comfortable.
But in the back seat it is more comfortable to sit in a hatchback, since the sedan has a more sloping roof, which takes up a certain amount of headroom.
The engine range of the sedan and hatchback is slightly different: the “five-door” has a 1.6-liter unit that produces 85 horsepower and 141 Nm of torque, which is paired with a 5-speed “mechanics”. Only one thing can be said here: if you can still drive around the city on such a car more or less confidently, then it’s better not to meddle on the highway, as it accelerates sluggishly and uncertainly, and the lack of power will be especially acute on busy highways.
With a 1.6-liter 105-horsepower engine, you can combine both “mechanics” and a 6-band “robot” PowerShift with two clutches. But even such a Ford Focus has mediocre dynamics. If for a quiet ride in the urban cycle it is also enough, then the track and overtaking are not quite his element. In general, it is useless to turn the engine: at high speeds, there will be much more noise than dynamics. And again, it is better to combine a 105-horsepower unit with a manual gearbox, since the robotic transmission does not reveal its full (and so small) potential. Its purpose is to calmly deliver you from point A to point B, and it will probably suit only a frankly phlegmatic driver.
Another 1.6-liter engine already produces 125 horsepower and 159 Nm of torque. In civilian modes, it is quite quiet and economical, but if you turn it well, it shows good activity. But then again, he is capable of fully revealing his talents with a five-speed manual gearbox. With a robotic PowerShift box, the Ford Focus 3 will only satisfy a calm person without driver ambitions. The responses to the accelerator are damped, and the “sport mode” does not seriously change the picture.
A two-liter engine with a return of 150 “horses” and 202 Nm of peak torque is the best option for lovers of dynamic driving. And to fully realize the potential of a perfectly tuned chassis (more on that later) allows, again, the manual gearbox, besides, the appetite is moderate, and the noise level is low.
The tandem of a 150-horsepower unit with “mechanics” turns the “Focus” into a driver's car, allowing you to quickly start from a standstill, as well as confidently accelerate from medium speeds, making it a pleasure to overtake on the highway. Yes, and chasing from traffic lights to traffic lights and at the same time not falling into the mud with your face on a two-liter car will definitely work.
But to the "robot" and in this case there are some questions. In the urban cycle, PowerShift copes with its work perfectly, even in traffic jams it changes gears clearly and smoothly. The trouble with the robotic box is different - acceleration from medium speeds. For example, moving at a constant speed of 70 km / h, the box turns on the sixth gear for the sake of efficiency, and if you need to accelerate (for example, for overtaking), then the fourth gear is turned on, but the traction is completely insufficient - the two-liter unit reaches its peak characteristics by high "revs". In addition, the “robot” is inherent in a little thought before sticking the desired gear. When overtaking, this behavior definitely does not add positive emotions. In general, with any active actions, PowerShift is reluctant to downgrade. Again, with this motor, "sport mode" does not help much. There is even some impression that the company did not adapt the gearbox control program at all for a 150-horsepower aspirated engine.
Well, in terms of behavior on the road, the “third” Ford Focus is a gambling responsive car, which becomes much more interesting to drive when there are many turns on the way. Excellent feedback is provided thanks to the steering system, which, with a set of speeds, fills the steering wheel with weight in proportion to the increase in speed. The car bites into the asphalt to the last, so to bring it into demolition or skidding, you need to try hard.
The suspension of the Ford Focus is comfortable: there is a slight buildup on the waves, hard bumps are overcome elastically, and small pits and potholes are extinguished by 16-inch tires with a dimension of 215/55. A car with a 150-horsepower engine is equipped with 17-inch wheels (215/50), although the smoothness of the ride suffers a little from this, but the Focus does not turn into a stool. In general, a certain stiffness of the car's suspension is justified, and its energy intensity is up to par.
The hatchback is slightly lighter than the sedan, which affects the behavior. It is more reckless, and because of its dynamic appearance it is perceived as a more sporty car. On the Ford Focus III hatchback, you just want to sink the gas, go through the turn as quickly as possible or just arrange a high-speed race from traffic light to traffic light. But at the same time, do not forget which engine and type of gearbox are installed on the car. On a sedan, you want to go calmly and measuredly.
In all trim levels, the "third" Ford Focus is equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with emergency braking assistance. Electronic Stability Program (ESP) is available for all versions except the base one, but somewhere as an option, and somewhere as standard. It constantly monitors the parameters of the movement of the machine and, if necessary, makes effective adjustments. It is worth noting that you cannot turn it off completely, but you can use the "limited help" mode.
It is worth mentioning the innovative automatic braking technology called Active City Stop, installed on expensive versions of the Focus, which, when driving at speeds up to 30 km / h, helps to avoid collision with other cars. When the system detects a risk of collision, it will automatically apply the brakes (see crash test page for details). It also deserves attention because it won the EuroNCAP Advanced Reward for safety.
What is the secret of Ford Focus attractiveness for a woman? Our test pilot Eva Motornaya found this out by getting acquainted with the top-end configuration of a restyled hatchback equipped with a powerful gasoline turbo engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The Ford Focus family came to Russia in 1999, and since that time more than half a million hatchbacks, sedans and station wagons of three generations of this model have been produced and sold in our country. Who was more among the buyers - men or women? Publicly available statistics are silent about this. However, according to personal observations, the representatives of the weaker sex especially favored the extravagant and nimble hatchbacks of the first generation.
The second generation model had, in our opinion, already clearly masculine charisma. These cars were associated with the concepts of "solidity" and "utility" - qualities that men value more in a car. But with the family of the third generation, everything returned to normal. Swift body lines, a more avant-garde interior design and designer “lure”, one might say, returned the status of a ladies' favorite to the Focus. At least, the restyled hatchback, which we delivered to Eva Motornaya for testing, is much more logical to call a fashionable thing than a car of the previous generation.
Mix but do not shake
For Eva, it is important that the five-door Focus looks unbanal and sporty. “The car of the past generation reminded me of a kind of burgher, rooted in his conservatism. Now it's an athlete in a fitted suit. The grille a la Aston Martin, the lean sides and biceps of the wings - this, it seems to me, is such an unintentional reference to Bond. It's also nice that the external embellishments are not excessive - the designers' sense of proportion did not disappoint. The necessary accents are made only on the LED strips in the headlights, the silver muffler tip and the line of windows and the radiator grille. Well, since we are dealing with the "top" configuration of Titanium, there are many spectacular and even status solutions. For example, when you unlock the locks, the car not only opens the mirrors, but also illuminates the space at the front doors - I have only seen such a welcoming illumination in cars of a higher class, for example, in Jaguar and Lexus models, ”Motornaya shares her first impressions.
What about the salon? “There are a lot of nice little things here,” says Eva. - The driver's seat seemed to be cut specifically for me. The steering wheel, with a soft texture and heating, is equipped with many keys - you can receive phone calls, turn on cruise control, and sort through the radio tracks. Or take the icons of the onboard computer. When I turn on the low beam, a car with headlights on appears on the screen. How can you not like this? Further - more: with a button on the ceiling lighting unit, you can choose one of seven shades of illumination for door pockets, handles, pedals and cup holders - if you want, choose lighting for clothes, if you want - according to your mood!
Nissan Sentra
(4-door sedan)
Hyundai Elantra
(4-door sedan)
Alfa Romeo Giulietta
(hatchback 5-door)
According to my test partner, one cannot fail to note such nice “chips” as a 12-volt socket located on the top of the front panel. You can connect a DVR or a radar detector, and the wires will not lie in an untidy fringe on the selector lever. And, finally, the main character - 8-inch central touch screen "multimedia" - it's convenient and status. The most frequently used functions - radio stations, navigation, climate control and the menu of the connected smartphone - are placed on the central menu, and they do not need to be dug out of its depths. Alternatively, you can use voice commands, for example, set the desired temperature for climate control.
In the rhythm of the city
In utilitarian terms, - Eva believes, - Focus is in perfect harmony with the life algorithm of a city dweller. “The hatchback interior is not very spacious, tall passengers in the back row will be cramped. But for me personally, the dimensions are suitable. Yes, and the sixth-grader son quickly settled in the back row. At his disposal is a retractable armrest with a pair of cup holders, pockets in the backs of the front seats, a power outlet and a USB slot in the center armrest. The trunk is also not a record size, although for domestic needs, for example, trips to the supermarket, it fits perfectly, ”concludes Motornaya.
“At the same time,” she continues, “with the compact dimensions of the hatchback, it is easier to find a place in a tight parking lot. Backing up might not have been so easy because of the massive rear pillars. But there is a video camera and sensitive parking sensors that also monitor the lateral interval. In addition, the test car is equipped with a parallel and perpendicular parking assistant. True, I tested this system only as an experiment - I got used to relying on my own strength. However, for beginner motorists, this option is not superfluous at all. It also helps when leaving a crowded parking lot. But I recommend the blind spot monitoring system to everyone - the indicators in the side mirrors work efficiently, but unobtrusively, ”Motornaya shares her experience. And then he recalls another know-how, introduced as if with an eye on women: “The convenience of a fuel tank without a screw cap (the system is called Ford EasyFuel) can hardly be overestimated. I can easily imagine that I ended up at a gas station in the winter somewhere far from Moscow. With most other machines, you will most likely have to unscrew the cork yourself, risking damaging your manicure. So, in this Focus, you don’t need to unscrew anything. I put a filling nozzle in the tank - and that's it.
And what does our test pilot have to say about handling? This, according to her, is another strong trump card in the hands of the hatchback. “It is very easy to turn the steering wheel, which is important for me, and the common phrase “the car obeys the steering wheel perfectly” is just about this model. Another plus is the responsive turbo engine (this is Eva about the 1.5-liter Ecoboost turbo unit, equipped with direct fuel injection systems and independent variable valve timing). For my needs, the dynamics are enough for the eyes, I overtook both in the city and on the Moscow Ring Road very confidently. "Automatic" also works smoothly and quickly.
JONNYmsk › Blog › Test drive Ford Focus III
Driver's seat: 5
Everything related to the driver's seat deserves the highest rating. The front seats are excellent - comfortable, stiffness just right, lumbar support, good lateral support. The range of adjustments is really huge. Both front seats are height adjustable. The steering wheel is a little frilly, with tides for the right grip, adjustable in two directions. The landing is generally lower than in the previous model, but this does not affect the convenience; people of almost any height and build will comfortably accommodate here.
Front panel: 4
Let's leave aside the arguments on the topic of design. In the new Focus, I remember one major miscalculation - the armrest is located too high and close to the gear lever, which makes it difficult to switch to even gears. Also, the center console is very wide and at the same time runs into the front riders from below. This leads to the fact that the driver’s right knee constantly touches it, and there is a junction of soft upper and hard lower plastics ... The handbrake lever is generally a foreign object - some kind of club of incredible size, it is pulled not towards itself, but upwards - an unsuccessful copy from the Honda Civic . They also made up their minds with the audio system - I have not seen such a scattering of a couple of dozen small buttons for a long time. Of the pluses - the controls for light and climate are habitually located and the control is intuitive. In addition, as aptly noted in advertising booklets, the front panel seems to hug the driver, it's cozy here.
Instrument panel: 5
The instruments are beautiful and informative. The font is somewhat playful, but this does not interfere with reading instrument readings. On a small display between the speedometer and tachometer, several indicators are simultaneously displayed from the on-board computer. Excellent graphics and clear image.
Climate: 5
For the weather in the cabin, the familiar dual-zone climate control with clear controls is responsible for the second Focus. You can only complain about the small display font.
Visibility: 4
At first glance, visibility has become worse. The glazing line is high, the windshield is small, the low roof and narrowed rear pillars make it difficult to look back. But this impression is somewhat misleading. There are no problems while driving. Side mirrors are comfortable, easy to maneuver in the stream. Only the review back is slightly worse than on the old Focus.
Finish: 4
Despite the fact that the manufacturer promises a noticeable improvement in quality, in reality everything is not so good. Indeed, the upper plastic is good, soft, pliable and pleasant. The lower one is stiffer, but it's not so important. The fit of the parts is also noticeably better than in the previous model. You can criticize the overly massive center console made of glossy black plastic, slippery to the touch. Looks shabby and cheap. But that's not the point. The feeling of quality and reliability is gone. In a new car, the interior is flimsy and delicate. The central glossy panel is so thin and weak that it is pressed through at the slightest pressure. Do you know this pleasant feeling in solid German cars, when each button has clear ON and OFF positions? In Focus, this is not even close. The buttons on the steering wheel and radio play, and the four-way joysticks actually walk in all directions. Of course, there are also positive aspects. For example, the climate control unit is made very high quality (however, it feels like it was simply transferred from the previous model), the control unit for power windows, mirrors, and the engine start button are no complaints.
Equipment: 5
The test car was almost in the maximum configuration. Power mirrors, windows, dual-zone climate control, bi-xenon headlights, cruise control, a Sony audio system with a five-inch color display and steering wheel controls, seat and windshield heating, fog lights, 16-inch alloy wheels. The price of such a car is approaching 780 thousand rubles, which, taking into account interesting options, makes it comparable or even somewhat cheaper than its competitors.
Salon: 4
The interior of the car has become typical for its class. Spaciousness and a supply of space in all directions are a thing of the past. A powerful front console now runs into the front riders, the width of the cabin has decreased, there are no complaints about the height. At the rear, the interior has also become narrower, but now there is very little space in the knees. Sitting behind me, I barely touched the backs of the front seats. Compared to its closest competitors, the Focus interior is now no larger than in the Toyota Corolla and Mazda 3. The new Astra is a little larger, and the Honda Civic is now the most spacious car - sitting back in my car, I seemed to be in a dimensional D class. In fairness, I must say that the passenger seats are good, and getting into the car is comfortable.
Trunk: 4
In appearance, the car has practically not changed in size, the official technical specifications indicate the preservation of the trunk volume. But in fact, it has noticeably decreased and is now small. It has a regular rectangular shape, but a high threshold and a small height, there are really no side niches. In general, nothing special compared to other hatchbacks. Sedan unfortunately could not see.
Comfort: 5
Fortunately, there were no unpleasant surprises here. Focus on 16-inch wheels made a very positive impression. Acoustic comfort has skyrocketed. At 60 kilometers per hour, the cabin is quiet. The car gently passes medium bumps and quietly swallows speed bumps. A trifle is not transmitted to the salon at all. At the same time, the suspension is dense and collected, I did not notice the buildup, the rolls are small. Well done engineers! Now you need to reduce your Civic score for comfort by half a point 🙂
Engine: 5
Now the Focus is equipped with a modern 1.6-liter engine with 125 horsepower. The car rides well at low speeds, and after about two thousand, the engine pulls a difficult car great. But according to the sensations, the speaker still does not fully correspond to the declared power. The difference with my Civic is only 15 horses, but after the Ford Honda rides much faster.
Acceleration: 4.5
The 1.6-liter engine is enough for dynamic city driving. The motor will allow you to confidently stay ahead of the flow and, if necessary, be smart. It feels like it will be enough on the track, but the power reserve is small. Once again, I repeat that the feeling that not all horses are working at full strength did not leave me.
Gearbox: 5
The mechanics are the same as on the previous model. Convenient lever, fairly clear switching, well-chosen gear ratios. Of the shortcomings - the lever moves could be smaller.
Steering: 4
At low city speeds, steering responses are too smooth, even sluggish. You can quickly shake the steering wheel left and right and the car will continue to move straight. Informativeness is not enough, and zero is practically not expressed. But as soon as you go faster, a good feedback will appear, the effort will increase slightly, and communication with the car will be established. I like this Focus much more, because it is even better than the previous one. Only now he pleased much more often and in almost all modes of motion.
Brakes: 5
The brake pedal is light, sensitive, the stroke is small. Dosing effort is easy, the brakes are very accurate. They even reminded me of BMW's and liked them more than the Civic. With powerful decelerations, the pedal does not go to the floor. The previous Focus with brakes was also in order, but the new information content has become even better.
On the road: 4.5
Several turns I went quickly on the limit and was very pleased. Firstly, in such modes, the steering is at its best, and secondly, the rolls are minimal. Everything seems to be great, but the car still falls short of the top five. And that's why. Not every time we drive to the limit, the car should be well controlled even when driving calmly. And here too soft reactions to taxiing and lack of feedback. Light pedals and silence in the cabin also do not add emotions, the ride is boring. Overall, not bad, but to get the highest rating, I expect something more. Back behind the wheel of the Civic, I felt like driving a sports car. The new Focus came out not as reckless as the previous one.
Fuel consumption: 4
On the test Focus, the average fuel consumption was more than 10 liters. This is not surprising, since for a small test drive, people usually try to test the car in all driving modes 🙂
Outcome:
Unfortunately, Ford Focus 3 has lost its main advantage - balance. There is a significant increase in driving comfort, the design has noticeably freshened up, but the car has lost some qualities in terms of ergonomics, handling, and has become cramped. And most importantly - ceased to stand out among classmates. And if earlier the low price, spacious interior and handling were serious arguments, now I don’t see such significant advantages over competitors.
Test drive Ford Focus 3
The Ford Focus has been one of the best-selling foreign cars on the Russian market for many years. During its 16-year history, more than 750 thousand Focus vehicles of three generations have been sold in our country. But for all the prevalence of the model, potential Focus 3 buyers are interested in knowing what kind of car it is, how does it drive and behave on the road? Let's try to figure it out...
Appearance plays a primary role for many when choosing a car, and the Ford Focus is all right with this: it is beautiful, elegant, sporty and fit both in the sedan and hatchback body. But there are no comrades for the taste and color, so you don’t need to focus on the exterior, but go straight to the interior of the car.
The interior of the “third Focus” is not without elegance, and the obvious redundancy in it of all kinds of buttons and levers per unit area does not cause rejection. And the quality of plastics and assembly is excellent.
You can only find fault with the blue-violet displays and button illumination. Despite the fact that its brightness was muted, all the same, this "cyanosis" is not entirely pleasing to the eye. I am glad that the instrument scales have a white backlight, which is softer and better perceived.
During operation, you may get the impression that a good part of the buttons and inscriptions on them are made too small. Indeed, the way it is, and with its diversity and dense layout, the center console resembles an airplane cockpit. Getting into the "third Focus" for the first time, you get a little confused, overshooting in search of the desired function. However, you get used to everything quickly, and it is worth noting that the main controls on the car do not suffer from a dwarf disease.
For the Ford Focus, a Sony audio system is available with a 5-inch LCD display, six speakers, USB and AUX connectors, Bluetooth support, voice control, and the ability to control from the “multi-steering wheel”. In addition, a 4.2-inch color display is located on the dashboard, which displays the readings of the on-board computer. Music sounds decent and high quality, its management is quite understandable and simple. But reading the navigation readings is not very convenient, but all because of the too small screen.
The front seats in the Ford Focus, regardless of body type, are suitable for people of almost any build - they are simply comfortable.
But in the back seat it is more comfortable to sit in a hatchback, since the sedan has a more sloping roof, which takes up a certain amount of headroom.
The engine range of the sedan and hatchback is slightly different: the “five-door” has a 1.6-liter unit that produces 85 horsepower and 141 Nm of torque, which is paired with a 5-speed “mechanics”. Only one thing can be said here: if you can still drive around the city on such a car more or less confidently, then it’s better not to meddle on the highway, as it accelerates sluggishly and uncertainly, and the lack of power will be especially acute on busy highways.
With a 1.6-liter 105-horsepower engine, you can combine both “mechanics” and a 6-band “robot” PowerShift with two clutches. But even such a Ford Focus has mediocre dynamics. If for a quiet ride in the urban cycle it is also enough, then the track and overtaking are not quite his element. In general, it is useless to turn the engine: at high speeds, there will be much more noise than dynamics. And again, it is better to combine a 105-horsepower unit with a manual gearbox, since the robotic transmission does not reveal its full (and so small) potential. Its purpose is to calmly deliver you from point A to point B, and it will probably suit only a frankly phlegmatic driver.
Another 1.6-liter engine already produces 125 horsepower and 159 Nm of torque. In civilian modes, it is quite quiet and economical, but if you turn it well, it shows good activity. But then again, he is capable of fully revealing his talents with a five-speed manual gearbox. With a robotic PowerShift box, the Ford Focus 3 will only satisfy a calm person without driver ambitions. The responses to the accelerator are damped, and the “sport mode” does not seriously change the picture.
A two-liter engine with a return of 150 “horses” and 202 Nm of peak torque is the best option for lovers of dynamic driving. And to fully realize the potential of a perfectly tuned chassis (more on that later) allows, again, the manual gearbox, besides, the appetite is moderate, and the noise level is low.
The tandem of a 150-horsepower unit with “mechanics” turns the “Focus” into a driver's car, allowing you to quickly start from a standstill, as well as confidently accelerate from medium speeds, making it a pleasure to overtake on the highway. Yes, and chasing from traffic lights to traffic lights and at the same time not falling into the mud with your face on a two-liter car will definitely work.
But to the "robot" and in this case there are some questions. In the urban cycle, PowerShift copes with its work perfectly, even in traffic jams it changes gears clearly and smoothly. The trouble with the robotic box is different - acceleration from medium speeds. For example, moving at a constant speed of 70 km / h, the box turns on the sixth gear for the sake of efficiency, and if you need to accelerate (for example, for overtaking), then the fourth gear is turned on, but the traction is completely insufficient - the two-liter unit reaches its peak characteristics by high "revs". In addition, the “robot” is inherent in a little thought before sticking the desired gear. When overtaking, this behavior definitely does not add positive emotions. In general, with any active actions, PowerShift is reluctant to downgrade. Again, with this motor, "sport mode" does not help much. There is even some impression that the company did not adapt the gearbox control program at all for a 150-horsepower aspirated engine.
Well, in terms of behavior on the road, the “third” Ford Focus is a gambling responsive car, which becomes much more interesting to drive when there are many turns on the way. Excellent feedback is provided thanks to the steering system, which, with a set of speeds, fills the steering wheel with weight in proportion to the increase in speed. The car bites into the asphalt to the last, so to bring it into demolition or skidding, you need to try hard.
The suspension of the Ford Focus is comfortable: there is a slight buildup on the waves, hard bumps are overcome elastically, and small pits and potholes are extinguished by 16-inch tires with a dimension of 215/55. A car with a 150-horsepower engine is equipped with 17-inch wheels (215/50), although the smoothness of the ride suffers a little from this, but the Focus does not turn into a stool. In general, a certain stiffness of the car's suspension is justified, and its energy intensity is up to par.
The hatchback is slightly lighter than the sedan, which affects the behavior. It is more reckless, and because of its dynamic appearance it is perceived as a more sporty car. On the Ford Focus III hatchback, you just want to sink the gas, go through the turn as quickly as possible or just arrange a high-speed race from traffic light to traffic light. But at the same time, do not forget which engine and type of gearbox are installed on the car. On a sedan, you want to go calmly and measuredly.
In all trim levels, the "third" Ford Focus is equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with emergency braking assistance. Electronic Stability Program (ESP) is available for all versions except the base one, but somewhere as an option, and somewhere as standard. It constantly monitors the parameters of the movement of the machine and, if necessary, makes effective adjustments. It is worth noting that you cannot turn it off completely, but you can use the "limited help" mode.
It is worth mentioning the innovative automatic braking technology called Active City Stop, installed on expensive versions of the Focus, which, when driving at speeds up to 30 km / h, helps to avoid collision with other cars. When the system detects a risk of collision, it will automatically apply the brakes (see crash test page for details). It also deserves attention because it won the EuroNCAP Advanced Reward for safety.
chervyakov86 › Blog › Ford Focus III. Opinion after a test drive.
The appearance of the cars is dictated by the flagship of the brand. In Russia, Ford's flagship is Mndeo, which was recently updated, followed by Focus. The updated Focus will appear on display only by the fall. Yes, and it will differ from the “old” one only in appearance, and then only in the muzzle ... well, the changes to touch the interior are very insignificant.
A lot of hopes were pinned on the 3rd Focus, and the manufacturer tried as much as possible to move away from the stamp of the “credit pump”, which the car earned in our country by the 1st and 2nd generation. It was made, so to speak, a little bit of what is called “Luxury”, drawing a more carefully design. Whether it turned out or not, opinions were divided, and the car turned out to be an amateur, so to speak. In general, the design of the car looks quite harmonious, the only thing you can find fault with is the optics of the head light. The headlights look somehow featureless and faded, like the eyes of zombies from popular films. I think it would be possible to put lenses in the headlights and xenon at least on the maximum configuration, if you ask for such a price for a car ...
We look further salon. Getting into the car and closing the door behind you, unpleasant tactile sensations from the door handle immediately appear. It is too thin, and if you close the door with force, you feel how it bends, and has sharp edges that dig into the palm, which also does not add to overall comfort. The salon will be cramped if you are taller than 180 cm. For example, after I adjusted the seat to my height, when turning my head to the left, to see, for example, the road when turning left, I saw this:
Behind the wheel you feel quite comfortable (if you forget about the B-pillar, and this is the only thing you will see if your height is more than 180 cm), the seat has such average lousy lateral support, it does not throw around the cabin in corners, and that's enough. The steering wheel, in my opinion, has a small adjustment range for reach. The bagel itself is a convenient size and convenient thickness. It was incomprehensible to me the decision to place the music control keys and BC on the part of the steering wheel that you need to press when using the horn. The inclusion of seat heating is carried out by a roller, and has 5 intensity modes ... 2011 ... why couldn’t you put a key? The shape and location of the handbrake poker is somewhat incomprehensible, although this is more a matter of habit and aesthetics, and not an ergonomic flaw, just like a pedal hanging from the top, and not a floor pedal, this is a matter of habit. The panel has a massive shape, and probably from this, coupled with a cramped cabin, I had a feeling of discomfort throughout the trip.
Car Vsevolozhskoy assembly, and of course there are sores. Such as the gaps between the door and the door card, and the rattling interior.
The atmospheric engine with a volume of 2000 cm³ produces 150 forces and 202 N∙m at 4000 rpm. I can’t say that the car has hurricane dynamics, and I got the impression that the engine only pulls from the bottom up to 4000 rpm, there is no sense in turning it before the cutoff. A simple example: during a very active test, on the way to the airport, I grabbed onto a Kia Ceed, and could not catch up. DANGERSURGUT assumed that she was on the mechanics, but the fact remains. The engine itself is quite reliable, and I do not know a single fact that 2 liters cause problems to their owners. The bulk of complaints about 1.6 PowerShift.
powershift. This is the weak link in this car. Robotic automatic transmission with two clutches. At its core, the 6DCT250 box is an analogue of the 7DSG, it also works in a dry environment, and just like the first generation DSG has problems. Let's start from simple to complex, what a car owner with such a robot may face:
Vibration at startup.
- Jerking when shifting from 1st gear to 2nd.
- Leaking input shaft seal.
- Rapid wear of the clutch discs.
- Failure of the gearbox control module.
- Breakage of forks that change gears.
Replacing the clutch results in a big problem for the owner, even if the car is under warranty, and work will be done on it, since the dealer does not have such spare parts, everything needs to be ordered. Delivery times can be up to 2 months. Self-repair of the clutch can result in serious expenses. Since the degree of wear of the clutch discs depends solely on operation, it is not uncommon for owners to go for adaptation several times a year to adjust the gaps. And everything would be fine if all this did not occur on cars that had not yet skated 40 - 50 thousand km. There is an opinion that flashing the robot solves these problems, but again, not always, and only God knows what it all depends on.
I want to note that on the new Mondeo, Ford abandoned the robotic boxes, and returned to the classic torque converters. On the restyled Focus, there will still be PowerShift, and I think it will remain unchanged, the maximum that they will do is change the firmware on the control unit. Wait and see.
Here is such a bunch of internal combustion engines and gearboxes that accelerates a car weighing 1337 kg to 100 km / h in 9.3 seconds. And the maximum speed is 200 km / h, which is more than enough for a “budget” C-class hatchback.
In terms of suspension, this car has a classic layout for an urban European hatchback: McPherson in front, multi-link in the back. The car stands very confidently on wheels in tight, long turns, and practically does not heel during dynamic lane changes in the stream. No hint of drifting or skidding, even on winter studded tires. With all this, the suspension is not rigid, the balance between good handling, comfort and energy consumption is observed. Among C class hatches, in terms of suspension, I would put this car in 4th place in my personal rating, after the Volkswagen Golf, Skoda Octavia, and Mercedes Benz A-Class. And the opponents are not the most unpretentious, so the result is very good.
It is very difficult to sum up this car, on the one hand the car is not bad enough, having, like other cars, its own list of pluses and minuses. Personally, this car does not cause any emotions in me at all. And the thing is that being a lover of nemchura, everything else goes against my understanding of the car. I have a lot of questions about ergonomics and spaciousness of the cabin, appearance, quality of finishing materials…
In general, this is a solid, safe car that doesn’t drive badly, doesn’t look bad, if only they solved the problem with the robot, or returned to the classic automatic transmission.
EURO NCAP results - 5 stars.
Test drive Ford Focus III: four liters for two
On the serpentine of the Black Sea coast, the portal Kolesa.ru enjoys the excellent handling of the new Focuses, along the way noting a big difference in two engines of the same size.
Gathering several dozen Ford Focus IIIs and twice as many journalists on the Black Sea coast is not an easy task. Especially at the end of October. But the organizers coped with it; right in the parking lot of the Gelendzhik airport, the press was waiting for as many as five lines of "third" Focuses of all stripes - already with the engines running.
Since the Focus hatchback has already been on our test, the eye immediately fell on the sedan. Moreover, the organized event, in general, is timed to coincide with the start of production in Russia of this type of body. Although, to be honest, I was hoping to see a station wagon, but the premiere of the “car”, and, at the same time, the “charged” version of the ST, in Russia will take place only next year.
Externally, the three-volume Focus III is a reduced Mondeo. The "matryoshka" design concept of models from the "premium" segment is slowly reaching mass brands. Although the designers managed to preserve the sportiness of the five-door version in the appearance of a more solid body: roasting the stern with a small spoiler molded on the trunk lid makes the sedan more rapid.
Having opened the trunk lid of the Focus sedan, I immediately understand that, having taken a flat travel bag instead of a travel suitcase on a three-day trip, I made the right choice. As in the case of the hatchback, practicality has become a victim of stylish design: the opening of the cargo compartment is narrow, and the volume of the trunk, under the onslaught of a full-size spare tire, has decreased from 467 liters in the previous generation to 372 liters in the current one. The difference of almost 100 liters is clearly not in favor of summer residents!
This was confirmed by Ford's top managers at an evening press conference organized in the concert hall of the Kempinski Hotel. The new style of the third generation Ford Focus is designed to pull a younger audience to the bestseller, which, in most cases, does not care about pragmatic values. True, not a word was said about the fact that with such an approach the new Focus could scare away the target audience of the previous, practical-conservative generation.
The very next morning, looking at the performance plates on the windshields of parked Focuses, I stumble upon the cherished number 2.0 in the “Engine” section. And the inscription "manual transmission" finally stops my choice on a bright red hatchback.
This choice was not made by chance. Firstly, no matter how paradoxical it may sound, I’m tired of “automatic machines”: over the past six months, of all the cars we have tested, with a manual transmission, we can remember, at best, two. Charging the idle right hand and left leg obviously does not hurt. Secondly, in a passenger car weighing 1310 kg, the combination of “mechanics” with a two-liter atmospheric gasoline engine with a capacity of 150 horsepower promised a lot of positive emotions, especially after the frankly “vegetable” 125-horsepower Ford Focus III with a 1.6 engine.
However, the first kilometers covered by the Focus III 2.0 GDI along the sun-drenched cozy streets of the resort of Gelendzhik left a double impression. It seems that the Focus accelerates well, and it seems to pull nothing, but it seemed that the signal from pressing the gas pedal wandered for a long time in the bowels of the engine compartment before finding the throttle. Painfully smoothly the car reacted to the fuel supply, and even with a second delay. Maybe on the highway a two-liter engine will reveal its potential by inhaling clean mountain air?
Having got out of the town into the expanses of the serpentine of the Markoth Range, I could not deny myself the pleasure of testing the Ford Focus III to the fullest. Fortunately, there are still pleasant memories of the perfectly tuned chassis and steering of the "third" Focus, which was on our test in July this year.
We went through the first ten turns, as they say, in the warm-up mode. Brought here from Moscow, the fiery red hatchback greedily devoured the whirlwinds of the mountain road, as if realizing that the next time it would not get to such a track soon, but most likely never.
The increase in speed does not affect Ford's behavior: the Focus sticking to the road clearly follows a given trajectory, passing bundles of mountain turns in one breath, without the slightest hint of rolls. The electric amplifier settings can be recognized as one of the best in the class. The steering wheel, filled with elastic weight, with a clear zero, made it possible to control the angle of rotation of the wheels up to a degree when entering the next bend.
Only a frank provocation could knock the third generation of the bestseller off course: I really wanted to feel the limit of the chassis' capabilities. Under the "open" gas, I enter another gentle turn, which behind the rock turns into ... a 180-degree turn. Without releasing the gas, I sharply twist the steering wheel to the right. Under the squeal of rubber and the chirp of ESP, which instantly dropped the engine speed, Focus, having time to strike the front left mudguard on the asphalt, screwed into the turn, only slightly leaving the lane. Bravo!
But the two-liter gasoline engine did not deserve our praise. Resisting with all its four cylinders each pressing on the gas pedal, the engine roared powerfully and beautifully, throwing the tachometer needle into the red zone, but refused to go to its 150 forces. Even a manual and mountain air could not turn the Ford Focus III 2.0 GDI into a lighter. All hopes remained on another Focus, also a two-liter, only running on heavy fuel. And he did not disappoint!
A dark gray Ford Focus III with a 2.0 TDCi Duratorq diesel engine with 140 horsepower, we had to literally beg from colleagues. So they did not want to part with the car. And after driving another two hundred kilometers in the opposite direction, we understood why.
Losing 10 horsepower to its gasoline opponent, the two-liter diesel engine was almost one and a half times superior to it in torque. Yes, and the ecological "noose" on a solar engine is not felt that way. Even mated to a preselective PowerShift transmission with a pair of dry clutches, the engine responded almost instantly to orders from the right foot. Although formally the spurt up to 100 km / h Ford Focus III 2.0 TDCi loses to a car with a gasoline "two-liter", in the zone of medium speeds and revolutions, diesel Focus can only compete with Ford's gasoline engines of the EcoBoost family.
Moreover, the diesel Focus was rather pleased with the technological unity in which all the components of the car worked: engine, gearbox, chassis and steering. Each of these elements made an equal contribution, closing in a single chain of driver's pleasure. Unfortunately, there was a weak link, which was expected to come from the finance department: the price of a diesel Focus quickly made any desire to win such a talented car evaporate, even with the number of newfangled electronic systems available for order.
For example, I use both hands for the electronic "eye" that monitors the "dead" zones. The main thing is to have time to pay attention to the flashing small light in the outside rear-view mirrors in time. I also like the excellent animation and informativeness of the two displays of auxiliary systems, which we noted before.
Fans of electronic "bells and whistles" will definitely like the automatic parking system. True, we managed to drive into a conditional place between two other Foci from the seventh time, when there would have been more than enough parking space for a Ford Mondeo, and any driver with a good sense of dimensions would have parked twice as fast.
The apogee of Ford automotive computer technology will be an interactive Sync system that can recognize the driver's voice commands and act as a Wi-Fi router to connect to the World Wide Web. Although English-language voice control is already available as an option, a full-fledged Sync system should appear on the Focuses of the Russian assembly later, but immediately in Russified form.
But we will not have a system for monitoring road markings, as well as an automatic braking system when the distance is reduced. They say that there is no guarantee that these miracles of technological thought will work properly in our realities. Markings on our roads are not found everywhere and not always, and a laser distance meter can go blind if it does not see a clear reflective surface in the form of clean license plates driving in front of the car.
Well, the reorientation to the "advanced" youth was successful. Stylish, fashionable and computerized Ford Focus III, having turned into a gadget car, definitely keeps up with the times, responding to all the latest trends and introducing them to the masses. The main thing is that the Ford concern should not completely forget that a car is needed not only for accessing the Internet.
One of the sources describing the Trojan horse says that 50 elite Spartan warriors were hiding in it. Having bought the same number of third-generation Ford Focus station wagons, one of the taxi companies could share the fate of the fallen Troy.
At one time, this company, which has its own fleet and service, actively used the second generation Focus, which has proven itself as a taxi. The number of cars reached one and a half thousand, and some of them are still in service. When updating the fleet in favor of Focus 3, the good reputation of its predecessor played - it was planned to order 700 cars. But things did not go beyond a test purchase of fifty copies.
42 cars remained in the company's Moscow fleet - the remaining eight were sent to St. Petersburg. All cars - with a 1.6 liter engine (105 hp) and a manual transmission (traditional option for taxi companies). Typically, cars are operated for three years without a mileage limit. New "tricks" are less than three years old, and so far the most nimble of them has managed to roll 160,000 km.
Cars are serviced according to the manufacturer's regulations. During the warranty period - only in dealer services. Then, if it is not possible to agree on favorable conditions, - in your technical center. The third Focus also lives in the ZR park (2011, No. 4, 10, 11; 2012, No. 6; 2013, No. 11). He has already managed to collect a sufficient number of sores, but not all of them appeared on taxi cars.
ON THE LEVEL
The biggest problem is the bodywork, starting with the layout of the cabin and ending with the location of various components under the hood.
Most customers complain about the cramped interior, and when ordering a taxi, they ask to send any other car.
The cost of restoring the front of the car after an accident has increased significantly compared to its predecessor: more elements suffer, in addition, spare parts have become more expensive. In many cases, insurance companies write off cars because repairs are not worth it. The trunk lid has also become more expensive - due to the large plastic lining on it.
No paint quality issues so far. Potentially vulnerable thresholds are covered with plastic overlays.
The engine control unit is located very unsuccessfully - behind the front left wing, practically on the inside of the fender liner (as on the Mondeo). It costs about 35,000 rubles and suffers even with minor accidents. Yes, you do need to wash your car. In the taxi depot, "bath procedures" are carried out twice a day - and water somehow gets inside. As a result, corrosion affects the connectors not only on the block itself, but also on the wiring harness, which costs the same money. Adds fuel to the fire and deformation of the fender liner due to temperature differences: for this reason, water and reagents penetrate even more actively.
A sandwich of engine and air conditioner radiators is located very close to the front of the car. Easy road accident - and knots under replacement.
Clearance is noticeably less than the second "Focus". When reversing off the curb, even a light bumper bump is enough to crack the radiators. At the same time, the air conditioner tube laid under them is also damaged. These three ill-fated nodes have already been changed on 35 machines!
Insufficient clearance (120 mm) is a headache for drivers who have to drive for clients to summer cottages.
APPLE FROM APPLE TREE
The motor remained as reliable as the previous Focus. The only drawback is the small resource of the attachment belt.
On two cars there were problems with gearboxes: both jammed in the second one (the same trouble happened to our editorial "Focus"). The dealer replaced the boxes under warranty, but did not want to disclose the details of the defect. The clutch was changed on five cars with a run of about 40,000 km. But here the reason is rather in not very careful operation. Oddly enough, none of the machines have leaked the right gearbox oil seal, although this is a fairly common phenomenon.
The weak point in the suspension was the front wheel bearings and rear shock absorbers. Their resource is very low. Shock absorbers do not tolerate a full load of the car: they were changed on 32 cars after 25,000 km of run. The resource of new spare parts is about the same. The front support bearings turned out to be twice as survivable as those of the editorial "Focus": they are enough for 80,000 km. The front shock absorbers were changed only on two cars after 70,000 km.
The electric rail is working flawlessly so far. It turned out to be more reliable than the previous hydraulic one, which was changed due to knocks on all machines even before 160,000 km of run.
Driver's windows are often fooled: in automatic mode, they work every other time. There were no other problems with the cabin electrics.
Heated windshields are very delicate and constantly crack from temperature changes.
On the third "Focus" much less often than on its predecessor, the bulbs in the headlights burn out. And the engineers also got rid of water getting into the trunk lid lock mechanism (it often jammed on Focus 2).
SORRY, GOODBYE
The taxi company has been actively working with Ford since 2005. Much of it was built specifically for "tricks". The decision to refuse further cooperation was very difficult, but it had to be made: Focus 3 turned out to be ill-suited for working in a taxi and constantly brings losses.
As a result, the taxi company preferred the new Octavia. Its advantages have already been appreciated at the local technical center and on public roads, and it was also possible to quickly establish cooperation with the manufacturer. But if Focus 2 were still in production, the company's fleet would be predominantly made up of them.
OPINIONS
mechanics: "Focus 3" remained the same maintainable as its predecessor. Something has become easier (for example, replacing the cabin filter), and something more difficult - in particular, changing the front wheel bearing. But in general, the architecture of the car has not fundamentally changed.
The steering is sharp - 2.5 turns from lock to lock. The car responds to the movements of the driver's hands quickly, but not abruptly. In the previous Focus, the steering wheel is not as sharp (2.9 turns), but it is better in terms of information content. The fact is that in the new model the hydraulic booster was replaced with an electric one and the feedback became somewhat artificial. However, if you do not bring the matter to slips, the steering works fine. The only thing that I do not understand is why the turning circle has increased compared to its predecessor from 10.4 to 11 m. For a car of the “C” size class, this is an unforgivable lot.
The smoothness of the station wagon, in my opinion, is great. The roads of Serbia at times are no better than ours - there are potholes with cracks, and carelessly stuck patches, and humps with failures. The Focus Wagon suspension softly and resiliently fulfills almost the entire range of local irregularities and at the same time does not allow the body to sway. In the rear seats, bumps are felt a little stronger, but even here it is quite comfortable. Compared to its predecessor, the chassis feels stiffer and more composed, but it does noticeably better “round off” bumps. In addition, the new generation model is quieter. The rumble from the tires is still present, especially in the rear seats, but it has become less intrusive. However, it all depends on the choice of tires. But at high speed, the wind whistles quite quietly and the noise picture as a whole is quite comfortable.
When tuning the chassis of a car, designers are always forced to compromise, balancing between handling and smoothness. If you make the chassis more comfortable, the handling will worsen, and if you improve the handling, the ride will suffer. But Ford's suspension tuners don't get paid for nothing. The new Focus, regardless of body type, combines a smooth ride with excellent handling.
The car pleases with "rail" stability on a straight line - even at high speed and on rough roads. The steering wheel becomes heavier as the pace increases, allowing the driver to relax. The predecessor could not boast of such exchange rate stability - at high speed it began to sway and scour on bumps. And in turns, the station wagon behaves perfectly, willingly directing its nose where the driver orders. In tight corners, you feel the rear suspension steer, “pushing” the car in the right direction. The new Focus rides more recklessly than the reference Volkswagen Golf in this class, and is practically not inferior to it in terms of driving reliability.
In terms of driving behavior, the station wagon version is no different from the sedan and hatchback. Slightly stiffer rear suspension settings are practically not felt. At the same time, the station wagon is much more spacious and practical. Europe has already tried this body type for a long time, and in Russia things have moved off the ground. With more and more buyers choosing station wagons, the new Ford Focus Wagon is one of the best deals in this segment.
Options and prices
The new Focus station wagon is already being sold in Russian car dealerships with might and main. The simplest modification with a 1.6-liter gasoline engine with 85 hp. it is offered only with a 5-speed “mechanics” and costs 634,000 rubles, which is 25,000 rubles more expensive than a similar sedan version and 35,000 rubles more expensive than a hatchback version. The cheapest option with a 1.6-liter 105-horsepower engine and a manual transmission is sold for 646,000 rubles. Complete set with “automatic” PowerShift increases the price by 35,000 rubles. A modification with a 125-horsepower version of the same engine costs 670,000 rubles with “mechanics” and 705,000 rubles with PowerShift. The next option is equipped with a 2-liter gasoline unit with a capacity of 150 hp. It is sold at a price of 713,000 rubles with a manual transmission and from 748,000 rubles with an “automatic”. And the most expensive modification in the model line at the moment with a 140-horsepower turbodiesel will cost the buyer no less than 872,500 rubles. Turbodiesels are expensive these days.
COMPARE FOR YOURSELF
Today we would like to present to your attention the updated Ford Focus 3 station wagon, in the maximum configuration. Consider all the pros and cons and answer the main question - is it worth buying or not? The car received many interesting functions under its control: enhanced sound insulation, automatic parallel and perpendicular parking, etc. Let's get to know him a little closer.
Video review
Ford Focus 3 station wagon
Every self-respecting family man dreams of acquiring a large, luxurious and at the same time fast car. Modern station wagons have long moved away from their old traditions and turned into something really new and versatile. The updated third-generation Ford Focus station wagon received all the above qualities of the car. It should be noted that this model, in the maximum possible configuration, was provided to us by Ford Sollers.Perhaps we should start with the most important thing - the price. Given the unrest in the foreign exchange market, the cost of a car in this configuration is unlikely to please anyone, 1,300,000 kopecks, that's how much money you have to pay for this miracle. Of course, you can remove some options and the price will drop to one million, but still, it cannot be said that the new Ford Focus 3 is worth the money. It is the price that is the main disadvantage of this car, but it is unlikely to frighten off true connoisseurs of Ford cars, because there are only more of them on the roads.
Indeed, we must agree that Ford has made a strong leap forward in recent years. Armed with cutting-edge technology, superior design and excellent adaptation to Russian conditions, Ford has managed to create the Focus 3 station wagon. Now let's talk about the exterior of the car.
Exterior
The restyled Focus 3 station wagon model has surpassed all expectations, because the car has really changed and you can immediately notice this by looking at its front end. A powerful chrome grille, brand new adaptive bi-xenon headlights, which managed to give the car some seriousness. If in the previous model the car looked more like a smiling "guy", now the Focus 3 has become a serious competitor for many. But there is one thing, in front of the car, if you look at it with an unaided eye, sometimes it starts to look like an enlarged Ford Fiesta.
Externally, the side of the car has not received much changes and is similar to its predecessor. However, the changes affected sound insulation. The updated Ford Focus 3 has additional noise-absorbing panels in the doors and the sound insulation of the floor panels has been strengthened, but more on that later.
The rear of the car also remained virtually unchanged. Slightly different headlights, a large spoiler appeared in the top-end configuration, plus a chrome insert in the exhaust system.
Generally speaking, outwardly the third Focus has become very pleasant and due to the increased ground clearance, it can practically be added to the list of off-road station wagons, but for this it remains only to add four-wheel drive and, ideally, raise the car a little more.
Interior
Let's start with the luggage compartment. The trunk volume is 490 liters, but if you fold the rear seats, the figure increases by almost 3 times - 1502 liters. Many different compartments for various little things, they didn’t even forget about a 12 V socket. In other words, the trunk on this car is large and practical.
There is enough space for rear passengers, however, provided that there are two of them. Three adult men are unlikely to fit there, but children will fit comfortably there. I would still like to see climate control here, but, unfortunately, this is not here, although given the price, they could have been installed. With a height of 1.80 m, the passenger will feel more than comfortable, high ceilings, knees do not rest on the front seat.
The front panel of the car is more than informative. Among the changes, it should be noted the new SYNC multimedia system, which has also become completely different. If before that we could see the same front panel in all models, then in the updated Focus 3 everything is a little different.
The rich and informative dashboard remained unchanged, all in bright colors, at night you feel like a Christmas tree. Ford has always loved to create a pleasant and at the same time rich atmosphere in the cabin.
A leather three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, a soft front panel, a convenient climate control system and many other pleasant jumpers, all this cannot but please.
It should also be noted the average torpedo of the car, under the automatic transmission lever there is a fairly large compartment for small things, which is closed with a stylish curtain. In addition to all this, it should be noted the presence of a secret compartment.
The presence of the armrest is very pleasing, it is adjusted according to the flight, plus it got a small space for various little things, there is also a 12V socket and a slot for a memory card (GPS).
In principle, there is nothing supernatural here, the only good news is that Ford still managed to transform the interior of the car, when compared with its predecessors.
Engine
Ford finally abandoned the 2 liter engine and decided to put a turbocharged solution. In our case, the car received a turbocharged engine (Eco Boost) 1.5 l, with a capacity of 150 hp. (240 N/m available from 1600 rpm). A very interesting engine that picks up from the very bottom and, most interestingly, it feels much better than a 2 liter solution. Accelerates very quickly, and if you turn on the Sport mode, then you start to think that you are driving a sports car. The engine works in tandem with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
But everything has its drawbacks. The build quality is disappointing. It is immediately clear that our Russian “masters” assembled it with the help of electrical tape, which they wound, well, certainly not in the right place. Some wires are not insulated at all, which means that over time, car owners will face a wiring problem when they start to rot.
The second problem that may arise is, of course, the resource of the engine. Yes, the engine produces incredibly high power, there is a turbine that gives extra power. However, the motor will be very stressed, and various problems will begin from here over time, and as everyone knows, it’s not so easy to dig somewhere in Ford cars just like that. Most likely, this is just a marketing ploy, because it is not profitable to create and sell cars that will last a long time. But only one thing can be said, the top-end 1.5-liter engine with 150 hp. delivers incredibly fast acceleration. By comparison, our Focus 3 is only half a hull behind the diesel BMV X3.
Fuel consumption
According to the developers, the average fuel consumption of a car reaches a little more than 6 liters. However, no matter how hard we tried, we could not achieve such indicators. The only good thing is that the car can be safely refueled with AI-92. The result is the following:- Urban cycle - 8.5 liters per 100 km (AI-95)
- Highway - 7.2 liters per 100 km (AI-95)
Suspension
Ford cars, at least the ones we've tested, have never had any running problems. In Focus 3+, everything seems to have become even more interesting, the suspension is soft and at the same time quite stiff, that is, it cannot be explained in ordinary words. Ford found some ideal middle ground and eventually got perfect performance. The front is Macferson independent suspension, which has proven itself on our roads, and the rear is already multi-link. In other words, we did not have any questions about the suspension.City
The car is ideal for the urban cycle. Relatively low consumption, excellent sound insulation in the cabin, spacious interior, huge trunk, sporty character, what else is needed for happiness?
The restyling focus undoubtedly attracts attention, especially if you are the lucky owner of a top model. The car is literally crammed with a host of features that help you in city traffic, especially the blind spot sensors and the warning system when leaving the parking lot. Well, we should not forget that the car has an automatic parking function, which we have already talked about more than once.
Generally speaking, the car is literally created for active city dwellers who move not only on asphalt, but also in the countryside and often go to the track. Plus, to all this, you should add an automatic braking system that will be able to save you from an accident. But more on these features later.
track
On the track, the car feels in its environment. A powerful engine allows you to make quick maneuvers when overtaking, and a well-balanced suspension perfectly swallows almost all the pits and you don’t really notice them. As for soundproofing, to our surprise, only the sound of the engine and a few wheels get into the cabin on the highway. You can communicate with passengers without raising your tone of voice and this cannot but please. The noise here is just perfect.The car does not roll much on corners and fits perfectly into any of them. The car moves smoothly at cruising speeds and at the same time you are completely sure that you are in complete safety. If you go far, cruise control saves.
Countryside
A ground clearance of 160 cm allows you to conquer not only paved sections of the road, but also to safely leave the countryside, to the country house or even go to the forest for mushrooms. Of course, you won’t be able to sweep the dirt on this car, but you will be able to go on vacation. But there is one misfortune, the numerous sensors that the car is literally stuffed with are unlikely to stop beeping if you drive into, for example, a field.Technologies
Now let's talk a little more about the capabilities and technologies of the Ford Focus 3+ station wagon. To be honest, there are so many features here that you definitely won’t use half of them, especially if you are already an experienced driver. Let's get acquainted with the main bonuses.Let's start, perhaps, with the Sync multimedia system, which received a very interesting performance. Of course, when purchasing this system, do not forget to buy a memory card with a GPS system, which shows itself very well, if we consider it from the side of informativeness, but in terms of building a route, everything is sad. It takes a very long time to enter the destination address, the sensor reacts very hard, you have to press hard on the screen. From here you can also adjust the climate in the cabin, make calls, and do it with the help of voice commands.
The car has a rear-view camera, from which, in unclear weather, there is no point, because it is constantly in the mud. In this connection, if there is such an opportunity, it is better to refuse it, parking sensors will be enough. Plus, to all this, you should add the function of automatic parking. The beauty is that now the car can independently park not only in parallel, but also perpendicularly, it seems that such a solution is perfect for the beautiful half of humanity.
As we have already said, a blind spot monitoring system is installed in the car. The alert is located on the side mirrors where the orange lights come on. A very convenient and practical feature that allows you not to be afraid to change lanes in city traffic.
In addition, the updated Focus 3 received Cross Traffic Allert technology, that is, a warning system when leaving the parking lot. This function allows you to keep track of all the cars that you might not notice with a limited view of the road. A very handy solution, especially when you're backing out.
An equally nice feature is the adaptive bi-xenon headlights, which adapt to the current traffic situation. The headlights automatically turn when you change the trajectory of movement. In other words, a very useful solution that any car owner will like.
Ford installed an automatic braking system in this car, called the Active City Stop. This is a very useful feature, especially if you are not yet an experienced driver. The meaning of its work is that the brakes are automatically activated in case of interference in front of the car. But keep in mind that your speed should not exceed 50 km / h. That is, for reckless drivers, this technology is simply meaningless.
It will probably be very strange, but we simply could not ignore this moment - this is a socket in the center of the top panel near the glass. Something, but we definitely didn’t see this, the Ford company made sure that you ran the wires through the interior trim and did not spoil anything there. At first, you even begin to think that this is some kind of button for ejection or turning on some function, but everything turns out to be much simpler. Thank you Ford for your ingenuity.
