Road Test: 2012 Ford Focus Hatchback SEL

Story and photos by John LeBlanc The whingers and whiners; the moaners and groaners; the grumblers and complainers—you know who you are. You’re the greasy wheels who’ve been squawking that automakers here in Canada don’t sell the type of small hatchbacks those lucky bastards in Europe can buy. Sure. Volkswagen keeps flogging its German-built Golf. But after that, it’s a sea of Asian hatches, cars that Canadian Euro-hatch fans say don’t carry the correct foreign papers to appeal to your sophisticated aesthetics and sensibilities. If you’re a Euro-hatch fan, the company that American Henry Ford built wants you to please, shut-the-bleep-up. Unlike the previous-generation model (and just like the sub-compact Fiesta, the new-this-year Escape cute-ute and Fusion family sedan) the all-new 2012 compact Focus is a pillar in the American automaker's One Ford global strategy, a plan that involves developing one car to be sold around the world. Which means the Canadian-market, five-passenger, front-wheel-drive Focus may be built in Michigan. But it’s fundamentally as European as countries in economic crisis and women who don’t shave their legs. In addition to targeting Euro-hatch fans, in four-door hatchback form (there’s a four-door sedan, too), as tested here, the Focus also shares “premium” pricing with the Golf. While a base Focus four-door with manual transmission starts at $14,869, the Focus hatchback starts at $18,520 for the SE, rising to $27,510 for the new-this-year Golf GTI-chasing Focus ST sports compact. My mid-range 2012 Focus SEL hatch starts at $22,399, with $5,450 worth of automatic transmission and interior comfort and convenience items the total runs to $27,849. Some features — like Ford’s Sync hands-free infotainment system, navigation, a rear-view camera, push-button start, and self-parallel parking—can’t be found on a similarly equipped $27,425 2012 VW Golf Sportline. Despite the luxury-car features, I found the interior design and finish wanting in my Focus SEL. Fit and finish is not as tight and bank vault-like as in the Golf. But, then, nothing in this class or price range is. And the less said about Ford’s unintuitive Sync system the better. Overall, the VW’s cabin is roomier, too; especially the legroom for back seaters. At least the Ford’s driving position is excellent, and the front seats offer descent support and comfort. Interior comfort and big-car features are nice-to-haves. But Euro-hatch fan demands a car that delivers a nice blend of tight handling, communicative steering, and a firm-yet-comfortable ride. Qualities hard to come by in, say, a Toyota Matrix. So how does the Focus SEL hatch stand up to the Golf from the driver’s seat? Except for the forthcoming Focus Battery Electric Vehicle, and the 252 hp turbocharged ST, all Focus models come with a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre gasoline four-cylinder. Rated at 160 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque (respectively, 10 hp and 31 lb-ft below the Golf Sport’s the 2.5 L five-cylinder), power isn’t overwhelming. A five-speed manual is standard in the Ford, while a $1,450 dual-clutch automatic is optional. Too bad my Focus tester didn’t come with the standard five-speed manual. Compared to the smoother and more decisive actions from the VW’s $1,400 single-clutch six-speed automatic, the Ford’s $1,450 dual-clutch automatic was a sore spot in what was otherwise an excellent road car. The idea behind a second clutch is to deliver faster gear changes, like a manual ‘box. Trouble is, Ford tweaked its autobox’s shift patterns in favour of scoring favourable fuel economy ratings (7.3L/100 km city and 5.2 highway, versus 9.1 and 6.5 in the Golf.) But Euro-hatch fan won’t be happy. Upshifts happen too early. And during both back-road boogies and around-town toodling, the Focus’s auto never feels like it's in the right gear. Thankfully, once up to speed, there's little to complain about in terms of ride and handling with the Focus SEL. The first thing that impresses is the refinement. Ford of Europe developed its fully-independent multi-link rear suspension, and the engineers blessed its with that elusive balance of comfort and quietness Euro-hatch fans will appreciate. And when driven aggressively, the chassis won't let you down — it has excellent control, and few vibrations are passed through to the cabin. Drivers will enjoy how the Focus nips into corners with a quick and linear action despite the use of pure electric power steering. In conjunction with an electronic torque-vectoring front differential (similar to the VW GTI's XDS system), the Focus arcs through curves under full throttle where rivals would simply wash wide in understeer. With the new 2012 Ford Focus, the whining should stop for Canadian Euro-hatch fans who have only had a car with a VW badge to choose from. If you can manage a clutch pedal, the new Focus hatch is a definite alternative. Its road manners are at least the equal to the Golf, and it offers comfort and convenience features not usually found in his class. 2012 Ford Focus Hatchback SEL Type of vehicle Front-wheel-drive compact hatchback Engine 2.0L DOHC four-cylinder Power 160 hp @ 6,500 rpm; 146 lb-ft of torque @ 4,450 rpm Transmission Six-speed dual-clutch automatic Brakes Four-wheel disc with ABS Tires P205/50R16 Price: base/as tested $22,399/$27,849 Destination charge $1,550 Transport Canada fuel economy L/100 km 7.3 city, 5.2 hwy, 7.4 as-tested Standard features: 16-inch steel wheels/covers; air-conditioning; anti-lock brakes/brake assist;  electronic stability control; remote keyless entry; fog lamps; AM/FM/CD/MP3/audio input jack; steering wheel audio controls; rear wiper; rear spoiler; five-speed manual transmission; (additional SEL features) 16-inch aluminum wheels; cruise control; dual-zone auto climate control; heated front seats and mirrors; leather-wrapped steering wheel; Sync Elements/USB.

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