The Automobile Red Book Reviews the 2012 Ford Focus

Last week, The Automobile Red Book staff was given the opportunity to test drive the all-new 2012 Ford Focus before it went on sale to the public.  We drove it through some challenging mountain terrain, and were also able to sample a few competitive vehicles.  And without giving too much away in the first paragraph, we ended the day with an appreciation for Ford’s C-class cruiser that we’ve never had for any Focus before it.

The latest Focus is a complete departure from where this car has been in the past.  Gone are the days of the cheap, buzzy econobox.  The new Focus is refined, quiet, technologically advanced, and dare we say, fun to drive.

Ford has been experiencing a resurgence as of late.  Perceived quality is high.  Resale values are strong.  Ford has become the breakout darling of the American auto industry.  Part of this stems from their current “world car” approach to auto making.  Gone are the days of one car for the U.S. and another similar car for the rest of the world.  The new strategy has them building the best cars possible, and selling them in all markets. 

The 2011 Fiesta was one of the first cars to strictly follow this strategy, and this 2012 Focus continues that momentum.  European-spec versions of this car previously had a higher-quality, more rewarding and fun-to-drive feel than those sold in the U.S., but now the same Focus will be sold all over the world.

The 2012 Focus comes in many trim, price, and model ranges for a variety of customers.  Available in both a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback, the Focus features a long list of available options.  Among the most notable include Ford's SYNC system, which includes traffic, directions, and other information utilizing their exclusive MyFord or MyTouch technology; Sony HD Radio with iTunes tagging; voice-activated navigation; MyKey owner controls that basically let you operate everything on the car without taking the keys from your pocket; reverse sensors; active parking assist; and rain-sensing wipers.

All models will be powered by a 160-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.  A five-speed manual transmission is standard, while a state-of-the-art dual-clutch automatic is available.  Our test revealed a quiet, competent, and smooth drive train that handled significant altitude changes quite adequately.  And the 40-mpg/highway rating on optimally equipped versions was a nice bonus.

A stripped Focus will have an MSRP of around $17,000.  But start adding toppings from the tasty options menu, and you can push that price to more than $27,000 for a loaded Titanium model.

Ford believes that this higher price tag and all these high-tech features will have an impact on the average Focus customer.  Look for a higher-income, more tech-savvy, more discerning clientele than typically may have considered this nameplate in the past.  The theory is that Focus buyers will more often be looking for a nice, smaller vehicle with better fuel mileage, as opposed to a cheap, bare-bones commuter.  This is a car that people should want to own; not a car they settle for because it’s cheap.

When price is not an issue, the 2012 Ford Focus is clearly a better car than the one it replaces in nearly every measurable and subjective way.  Finally, the U.S. gets a small Ford that is on par with the cars people have been enjoying in other parts of the world.