WHITEFIELD, New Hampshire — Inspired by – or swiped from – Aston Martin‘s stylebook, Ford‘s familial grill looks great. And now it’s finally found its way onto their popular small car, the Focus.
Thanks mostly to explosive demand in China, the Focus has been the world’s top-selling car for two years running. Available in 140 markets, there have been 12 million Focus compacts sold since its introduction, or one every 90 seconds. Needless to say, any changes to such a prodigious cash cow are to be undertaken with extreme prudence, so it stands to reason that many of 2015’s upgrades were in response to customer feedback.
The 2015 Ford Focus.
Lesley Wimbush, Driving
Despite the comparatively reasonable price of fuel at the pumps recently, buyers still rank fuel economy high on their list of considerations. There are a number of efficiency improvements to the Focus, but the biggest one is the introduction of the 1.0-litre, three-cylinder EcoBoost that first debuted with the Fiesta. Available only with a six-speed manual transmission, this powertrain, with the help of active grill shutters, start/stop technology and underbody cladding, helps the Focus achieve a fuel economy rating of 8.1 litres/100 km in the city and 5.9 on the highway. Here in Canada, the three-cylinder EcoBoost is available only in the sedan.
In addition to the Aston Martin-esque snout, the Focus gets a restyled, more aerodynamic hood, optional signature LEDs for headlamps and taillamps, a restyled trunk lid for sedan models and new rear tail light clusters. It’s basically a refresh instead of an overhaul, but overall it’s a crisp and more stylish look for the Focus.
The 2015 Ford Focus.
Handout, Ford
The new Focus’s cabin also looks more mature than it has in the past and a lot of this is due to a more ergonomically-friendly environment. The Focus has been tech-laden since 2007, when Ford used it to debut the new SYNC system and underline its intent to make technology attainable to the masses. As a result, the interior was busy, cluttered with a confusing array of buttons. The streamlined centre stack features traditional climate knobs and a more intuitive interface.
Other changes seem small, but again reflect customer feedback. Lock switches previously mounted on the centre console are now more intuitively located on the doors. Cup holders are also adjustable and reworked to create additional storage for smartphones, sunglasses, etc. There’s a more comfortable armrest and the seat heaters are grouped with climate control instead of the roller buttons.
The 2015 Ford Focus.
Handout, Ford
Backup cameras are now standard across the trim levels, with a 4.2-inch screen, or optional 8-inch in MyFordTouch-equipped vehicles.
We spent most of our time in an SE five-door hatch. It was a tight fit, but we managed to cram two suitcases, two camera bags and a knapsack in the rear boot before setting out in the cut-and-thrust chaos of Montreal.
The Focus has always been one of those small cars that feels instantly comfortable. There’s a reassurance in driving a car that goes exactly where you put it, and is happy doing so. Ford boasts of the European handling of this global platform, and it is indeed crisp and lively.
The 2015 Ford Focus.
Lesley Wimbush, Driving
The SE is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine putting out 160 horsepower, which is paired to a reworked six-speed dual clutch automatic transmission with snappy shifts. It’s a powertrain that’s well-suited to the car’s character. Enthusiasts needing more can always opt for the hot-hatch Focus ST and its 252 turbocharged horses.
Our 300-kilometre drive route through Quebec’s eastern township and down through the White Mountains region of New Hampshire served up plenty of road surface variety. As the roads grew harsh in the foothills, the cabin stayed pleasantly quiet, and extra sound deadening, acoustic side window glass and improved door seals help create a sense of refinement.
The 2015 Ford Focus.
Handout, Ford
We only had a brief stint behind the wheel of the 1.0L EcoBoost SE Sedan. The tiny three-cylinder moves the Focus along smartly, thanks mainly to its 148 pound-feet of torque that kicks in at 1,400 rpm. While not exactly lethargic, the tiny engine lacks the sparkling character of either of the other two powertrains. The six-speed gearbox is easy to use, but the majority of mainstream, fuel-conscientious buyers are going to wonder why there isn’t yet an automatic available with this engine.
In addition to the standard rear view camera and electronic stability control, the Focus will now offer available lane-keeping assist, blind spot information system, and active park assist.
The 2015 Focus is in Canadian dealerships now. Prices start at $16,799 to $26,249 for the regular Focus, $30,499 for the ST model and $35,449 for the electric version.
The 2015 Ford Focus.
Lesley Wimbush, Driving
