Test drive Ford Focus 4 doors 2008 - 2010 sedan

New Focus - why do they take extra money?

We will not lie employees of the editorial office of [email protected] are afraid to make tests of such cars. Highly. But you can understand us, because it is one thing to test some supercars or, say, expensive premium sedans. Everything is clear there, the cars are cool, they drive perfectly, the prices are huge. And it’s a completely different matter to contact such a model as Ford Focus. Here you need to weigh all the nuances, pay attention to every little thing before taking out at least some verdict. Still, because we have the most popular foreign car in Russia, which has recently undergone serious modernization.
Very often, manufacturers try not to make serious changes to the design of their popular models when resting. Typically, the case is limited to slightly other bums, some kind of stupid chrome stripes on the radiator grille and in two microns with front headlights. But Ford decided to make sure that updated cars could be distinguished from the old not one meter, but from afar. And right! A modernized car has almost no old body part. Unless the roof remained unchanged. And everything else is different: headlights, hood, wings, bumper, mirrors. But only the hatchback. The sedan from behind practically does not differ from the old model except perhaps the bumper is slightly different. In addition, it can be noted that lateral moldings have disappeared. From an aesthetic point of view, this is good, but from the practical one is not very, because the doors and the bumper will scratch more often.
In Russia, the updated Focus with all types of bodies will be sold: sedan, 3- and 5-door hatchback, station wagon and a capricious coupe. Moreover, only a Cabiolet compartment will be imported to us from abroad. But all other versions will be released at the factory in Vsevolozhsk. Personally, we most like a more sports 3-door hatchback. And do not pretend that you agree with this! We know very well that on credit you will buy a sedan anyway, well, in extreme cases, a 5-door hatch (a sedan is already taken by 55% of Focus buyers).
According to the canons of writing such automobile tests, now you need to tell about the salon. But we will throw the templates to the side. We will only say that inside the restyled Focus has become a little better (about the insides a little later). Let's talk about the most important thing about prices. Or you really care about how a modernized car passes turns in a controlled skid at a speed of 200 km/h. Alas, Focus has risen in price after modernization again. True, if earlier buyers were rightly indignant that Ford began to take more for the same product, now everything is explainable. Ford officials assure that Focus can be bought for 346,000 rubles.
Forget about this price! Many dealers do not even write in price lists that there is a complete set called Ambiente (if you really want to buy such a car, then scandalt with sellers, and when they send you, call the Ford hotline and continue to scandal). But the sedan beloved by Russians with a 1.6 liter engine will cost at least 441,000 rubles. In general, according to the mind, you need to have 480,000-500,000 rubles to take a car in the Sport or GHIA configuration with a 1.8-liter engine and some bells and whistles. And this is by current standards about $ 20,000 21,000. The money is decent, but still Focus is cheaper than many competitors in similar trim levels!
Compare? Easy. For example, Mazda3 sedan in an average configuration with a 1.6-liter engine (105 hp) costs from 534,000 rubles, and for 2.0 liters (150 hp) and automatic transmission are already asking for 647,000 rubles. (Automatic Focus in a good version of GHIA with 2.0 liters and 145 horses is almost 100,000 rubles cheaper than 539,000 rubles). Now let's look at Mitsubishi Lancer. The Sedan with a 1.5-liter engine costs at least 482 132 rubles, and 2.0-liter cars with an automatic machine (or rather with the variator) will cost 630,000 rubles. For the Opel Astra sedan with a 1.6-liter engine, they ask for from 497,000 rubles, and a car with 1.8 liters (140 hp) and automatic transmission in a decent equipment will cost 622,000 rubles.
Although at the same time we will pay tribute to the rivals, as a rule, have the best equipment. For example, Opel Astra Cosmo with automatic transmission for 622,000 rubles has a climate control, alloy wheels, full-time music, ABS and an ashtray with a cigarette lighter. Ford dealers will require about 50,000 rubles for all this (thus, Focus 2.0 C with the automatic transmission with the above list of options will cost 588,000 rubles).
Now let's get back to the cabin. At first I was sure that the restyled Focus received a new two-zone climate control. But in fact, this is not a similar climate with temperature adjustment using round handles, not keys, they began to put on Focus since the middle of last year.
But on the other hand, a new dashboard appeared, which began to look much noble, another tanning rod of a mechanical gearbox (the automatic transmission handle remained the same). They began to put on Focus such a bill such as the central premium console (option for 4700 rubles. For Ambiente and Comfort, for the rest of the basic equipment). But in fact, the premium differs from a non -premium only by the presence of a promoting armrest. The thing, of course, is not bad, but you can do without it perfectly. But for the new plastic that trimmed the insides of Focus, I must say a separate thanks. Plastic was formally soft, but in fact it was closer to the hard. Now its softness coefficient has increased, and much. And now Focus, it seems, is generally the best plastic of the front panel among competitors! And this is very important sellers in car dealerships say that now many buyers, when choosing a car, they feel the salon with their fingers and evaluate the softness of plastics (the logic is simple: soft plastic, then cool, hard is not cool). Well, for hidden on electronic innovations, we can say that for a Focus fee now it can be equipped with a connector for connecting the USB devices, the engine turning on the button and even the radio control system and climate control using the voice. True, in Russian, Focus will not communicate with you, you see, he understands only English (besides, this option will be available a little later).
There is a minus. But it applies only to certain configurations of the finishing of the central console under the tree looks painfully funny and pretentious (although some like it, so we will not condemn the Ford). In my opinion, silver in this case is much better. In addition, there are complaints about the assembly quality on some machines, the overlays were not glued in the best way and went when pressing them with a finger.
Technically restyled Focus will not be different from the old model. The same engines, the same gearboxes, and the suspension remained unchanged. Another thing in Europe there Focus can be bought with a 2.0-liter diesel engine, which produces 136 hp. Moreover, what is most interesting, this power unit can be ordered along with the latest 6-speed robotic PowerShift robotic box with two primary shafts responsible for even and odd transfers and, accordingly, with two clutches. We will not load you with technical features now. We only note that the PowerShift transmission allows you to switch transmissions without squeezing the clutch pedal if you are going, say, at a third speed, then the 2- and 4th will already be included in advance. It will be enough for you to just translate the lever from position 3 to 4 and all. Or even rely on automation. But, we repeat once again, for us this PowerShift, together with a 2.0-liter diesel engine, is still not available, like a 1.6-liter economical diesel engine (109 l.S.). The Russians were limited by the well -known power units of the following volumes: miserable and completely unpopular 1.4 liters (80 hp), favorite 1.6 liters (100 hp or 115 hp, and the latest version is more expensive than 13 more expensive 000 rub), optimal 1.8 liters (125 hp) and 2.0 l (145 hp). As an exotic, a 1.8 liter diesel is preserved (115 hp).
If you have ever traveled to a second-generation Focus, then know the restyled car is going in the same way. That is, confidently, reliable, and with a 2.0-liter engine, the car allows you to cheer out well. After all, the European Ford branch is characterized in that it can do well-controlled cars. Moreover, Focus is also quite comfortable (of course, for its class). At least along the broken roads in the Leningrad Region, and it was there that the Russian presentation of the restyled Focus was held, the car rode calmly. Of course, when the large pothole, the car was shaking, but nothing more than was supposed in such cases. And, most importantly, it was not possible to break through the suspension, despite all the efforts. But the disadvantages were also preserved. For example, insufficient sound insulation. Especially from this passengers of the rear chair in the hatchback.
I would like to say separately about the 1.8-liter diesel (115 hp). The car rides perfectly, but only after 2000 rpm. Therefore, it is best to forget at the wheel of a diesel machine what kind of fuel is in the tank, and go as if under the hood of a gasoline motor the times of the good old diesel engines, which had excellent traction from the bottom, have long passed. But this is not a disadvantage of diesel. His minus is different. He is too expensive. Focus 1.8 TDCI costs more than the same machine with a 1.8-liter gasoline unit (125 hp) as much as 47,000 rubles. Rather, 37,000 rubles, the ABS system is included in the basic package of all diesel machines, and buyers of gasoline Focus, even in the GHIA configuration, are forced to pay extra.
Restyled Focus is in great demand. Fortunately, the queues for this model are now not 6-8 months, as it was a few years ago. In fact, cars in expensive trim levels are even available. The choice is not particularly large, but there are cars. And if you want to take a more or less simple Focus, you will have to wait three months.
So, is the restyled Focus worth the extra 11,000 - 20,000 rubles (it was the car that has risen so much)? I think yes. At least, the car began to look more interesting, and really good soft plastic and stylish devices appeared in the cabin. Although as if I wanted all the same, we would get without increasing the price. But while the Russian market is growing at this pace, and there are queues for cars, it is not worth counting on such generosity of automakers.
 
D. Smolyanov
 

 

A source: Auto.mail.ru