Test drive Ford Focus sedan since 2010 sedan

Does the old horse not spoil the furrow? Skoda Octavia against Ford Focus

The idea of \u200b\u200bthis comparison was suddenly born Skoda Octavia on our long test, and only then we took her a couple of Ford Focus. I wanted to find out whether Octavia really warms up with the 1.4 TSI engine in winter, and in the case of the focus, we decided to fill out the gap version with the sedan body and the PowerShift robot had not yet felt. The first impressions have already been published, and since both cars belong to the same class, have similar gearboxes and are in good demand, then why not find out which one is better?

We admit both cars are not perfect at once, but good enough to justify the love of Russian buyers. According to the results of the half -year, Ford Focus entered the fourth place among all the models in our market, bypassing even Lada Granta! And Skoda Octavia, even though she went forward to the Chevrolet Cruze, which had a five-door modification, still holds on the 16th line of the protocol. And this despite the age of Octavia has been 8 years old! Amazing longevity by modern standards.

At the same time, the tongue will hardly turn to call it old -fashioned yes, the appearance is modest, the forms are classic, but many people like such simplicity. There is also a salon, the good that on the ergonomics of Skoda will still give odds to most golf-class cars. After all, this is, in fact, Volkswagen Golf, covered with other body panels and with other interior details. The design is largely similar to the titled German hatchback. But it is hardly young drivers to turn their eyes to Octavia for many of them other values.

Here Focus is another matter! A dynamic appearance with a spectacular window sill line, 17-inch wheels and huge triangular fangs of fake sections in the front bumper. Almost the last Focus RS! There is something to boast of friends. And friends can show the color lighting of the cabin, and the shades can be changed. And to arrange a disco that you need an audio system of Sony. Ford is able to stand up for yourself and on the road. Under the hood, a two-liter 150-horsepower atmospheric with direct injection and PowerShift robot.

Focus starts briskly. Unlike turbocharged mondeo or diesel Kuga, the box is otherwise set up otherwise, it is not necessary for her to zealously protect an odd clutch, since the torque is not so great (202 N ∙ m). Therefore, the silver sedan starts from the place immediately. Of course, it is better to convert in advance the PowerShift lever to the S. is not at all grandmother's character and Octavia, for nothing that the 1.4 TSI engine develops only 122 horses. The thrust is almost the same (200 N ∙ m), and even smeared in the range of 1,500-4000 rpm.

But when accelerating from the scene, Skoda is slightly lagging behind. We look at the characteristics: 9.4 seconds to hundreds of the focus, 9.7 in Skoda. Well, such a dependence is. However, formally with a two -liter Ford, it is necessary to compare Octavia 1.8 TSI (152 hp). Moreover, such a modification ... only 10 thousand rubles more than 1.4 TSI! It's all about the gearbox with a 152-horsepower engine now not a DSG robot works, but a regular six-band automatic machine. Why? Official reason: Lack of DSG due to great demand. Understy, judging by the forums of the owners: problems with the reliability of DSG, because 1.8 TSI gives 250 N ∙ m, namely, for such a maximum torque and a seven -speed robot with dry clutches is designed.

This is not to say that the Ford salon is inconvenient, just get used to the riot of forms and the buttons scattered along the panel will have to have more than one day. Skoda has everything at hand exactly where you wait
So the replacement of DSG with a six -band classic automatic machine with a hydrotransformer looks justified yes, dynamic characteristics and fuel efficiency are slightly worsened, but in the pluses, reliability and comfort. Especially in traffic jams. Because dry dsg does not really like them. However, this is more likely to set up. It is worth setting off, as the box immediately goes to the second step, leaving the engine at too small speeds. In addition, constant races back and forth lead to a gradual clutch heating, so in deaf neds the DSG begins to work with small jerks. The way to defeat the ailment is this sports regime. But then get ready to handle the gas pedal jewelry.

The seats are good for both Octavia and Focus. True, drivers in the body can be uncomfortable in focus due to the shape of the front panel that it is closer in Ford in front, but this is just a feeling. But most of all was surprised by the fact that there is no less space behind in the focus than in Octavia! I drove our giant Kabyshev three times three times, but each time he fit without problems on the back sofa in Ford (the wheelbase is 7 cm more). Places for the knees are approximately the same here, but in the focus, high passengers will support the ceiling with their heads. And by the convenience of the entrance-output Octavia is better
 
PowerShift works better in traffic jams, but he has a different trouble acceleration from medium speeds. For example, you are moving at a constant speed of 70 km/h, the box uses the sixth level to save fuel, and suddenly you need to sharply accelerate (in particular, for overtaking). PowerShift throws up on the fourth, but the traction is not enough peak characteristics at high speeds. Second confusion, and finally, the robot encloses the desired transmission. So do not get gray ...

Departments for all sorts of small items are enough in both machines, but Octavia boasts a comfortable closing box in the center of the front panel
 
Of course, DSG also suffers with such behavior, which climbs to the seventh step as much as 60 km/h. But there the situation is better thanks to the painful turbo engine. And the DSG mode also works better than Powershift in the sports algorithm too zealously switches down during braking, forcing the tachometer to dance somewhere around 5-6 thousand under the engine howl. In our opinion, the software of the PowerShift box clearly needs to be finalized for a two -liter focus atmosphere. In the meantime, in the usual mode is empty, and in the sports is too thick.

Give the command to switch down or up at PowerShift (in the photo on the right) at any time by pressing the double -fly key on the lever itself. A controversial solution. Or again, a matter of habit? But the traditional algorithm, as in Skoda, we like more
In the Octavia salon, on the contrary, a minimum of noise, and another 1.4 TSI, of course, is more economical. If in the focus in nimble modes we reached the average consumption of up to 11 l/100 km, then on Skoda it did not exceed 9.5 l/100 km. With normal driving in the city cycle without dead traffic jams, Focus fits 9.5-10 l/100 km, and Skoda consumes about 8.2-8.6 liters of combustibles per hundred kilometers.
 
But where both cars will delight drivers is on winding roads! What is the focus, that Octavia has excellent chassis. As soon as Focus was reached in summer tires, he literally transformed. The steering wheel has become more saturated (although it is still not enough informativeness), and the wide low -profile tires of Michelin allow you to very boldly pass high -speed arcs. Focus does not graze in steep turns, and the rolls are small. At the same time, Focus does not annoy the stool, the smoothness of the course is not bad for such controllability.

This is where the devil breaks the leg is in managing music and all sorts of secondary functions in the focus. Do not even try to figure out this heap of buttons with a joystick on the go, it is better to devote 5-10 minutes and configure everything in advance. The emergency button is frankly small
The central console of Octavia is exemplary in terms of convenience.
There were no complaints about the work of climatic attitudes, but the rotating handles caused complaints. In Octavia, they are too exhausted, you can easily scroll a couple of degrees further, and at the focus they are small and too smooth, devoid of any friction notches
Octavia is noticeably softer and is better practicing small irregularities apparently due to fat tires (195/65 R15). However, the wheels are not a hindrance, the dot and the rolls do not prevent her from following the trajectory. The maximum speed of turning the turn is a little higher in the focus, but we liked Octavia more because of a natural, more informative steering wheel. And Skoda is more exciting throws the rear axle. By the way, both Ford and Skoda are equipped with stabilization systems, but they are not completely disconnected. And does a family car need it?

Skoda will definitely cope with this role better. Octavia replays Focus a little in sound insulation and smoothness and is much preferable to Ford in terms of the luggage compartment. Therefore, if a trunk is important to you, but like Focus, then you should turn your gaze ... No, not to the hatchback (he has a modest hold), but to the station wagon. However, there is one nuance of Focus Wagon more than relatives. A two -liter Focus Wagon with a robot starts with 759,500 rubles, this is 24 thousand more than for a similar sedan.

As for our wards, Octavia Ambition 1.4 TSI (from 779,000 rubles) with an additional fixed option of options costs 818,900 rubles. This includes frontal airbags, ESP, rain sensor, rear parking sensors, four electric windows, heating seats and lateral mirrors, a leather steering wheel and a gearbox, a two-zone climate control, a cruise and a CD/MP3-audio system with 8 speakers. Elegance execution with lateral eirbegs and other equipment for 80 thousand rubles more expensive. But we would have chosen Octavia 1.8 TSI with an automaton. Only 10 thousand on top, but such a car is faster and, probably, more reliable. Yes, and there will be no problems with the warmth in winter.

The trunk is what is the most distant in Octavia and focus from each other. How convenient and huge (585 liters!) The cave at the liftback Skoda is so stupid ford sedan's liftback. The opening is very narrow, the items there have to literally puff like a penalty garage, the volume will cause laughter even among the owners of ordinary hatchbacks of the segment C (372 l), and the lid is deprived of any handle! Yes, and folding the rear seats of meaning a slightly formed opening is very small. It’s good that the reserve is full -size (at Octavia too)
Ford Focus is cheaper than a two -liter modification with a robot starts at 734,500 rubles. But, it’s scary to even call, the test copy pulls on ... 981 400! However, this is the top execution of Titanium, and even with a bunch of additional options with combined seats with electric drive of the driver, bixenon headlights, 17-inch alloy disks, the BLIS dead zones system and even an automatic parking player. Plus coloring metallic and side curtains.

Skoda cannot boast of an analogue of BLIS, nor a carrier, or electric drive of the driver, still, age ... But despite this, Octavia still lets many classmates and replay most of them in comfort, ease of interior, controllability and,,,,,,,,,,,,, who, and,,,,, Especially the trunk. However, Focus is not a blunder and is not much inferior to Skoda. A worthy choice for lovers of active driving who do not want to put up with the classical appearance of Octavia. Washing the brains of the PowerShift box ...
 
Vadim Gagarin
Photo: Vitaly Kabyshev
 
What else?
 
There are plenty of competitors from Octavia and Focus, so we have chosen the most popular foreign cars C and several newcomers of the market. Immediately make a reservation that we will only indicate prices for those modifications that are approximately comparable in dynamics with a two -liter focus and skoda 1.4 TSI.
 
Chevrolet Cruze
It was worth the popular sedan to find the support of a five-door hatchback, the sales of the Cruze family rushed up the Korean from under St. Petersburg immediately walked around both Octavia and Astra. Prices for Cruze 1.8 (141 hp) and automatically begin with 729,700 rubles for hatchbacks in the LS configuration. The richer execution of LT will pull at 783,000. Cruze sedan will cost 10 thousand more.
 
Opel Astra
The German hatchback (also from under St. Petersburg), of course, is more expensive than Cruise. The five-door Astra with a 140-horsepower turbo engine of 1.4 liters and a six-speed automatic is estimated at at least 763,900 rubles performed by Enjoy. The more expensive version of Cosmo costs from 823 900 rubles.
 
Toyota Corolla
Corolla cannot boast of outstanding dynamics with atmospheric 1.6 (124 hp) only 11.9 seconds to hundreds. But it should be noted that it still falls into the top 20 best-selling models. Prices for a version with a machine start starting at 709 thousand rubles, and the most expensive execution of prestige will cost 865 thousand.
 
Kia Ceed
However, the new Kia Ceed is even more expensive! And if in the Comfort Comfort fitt-up with a 130-horsepower 1.6 (11.5 s to 100 km/h) it costs 719,900 rubles, then in the performance of Premium the price reaches 959,900 rubles. Although, it is worth noting that the equipment is the richest.
 
Hyundai i30
The closest relative of Sid in the top version was even ... cheaper. With the same power unit (though acceleration to 100 km/h, for some reason, it turned out to be worse than 11.9 s) prices vary in the range from 729 to 909 thousand rubles. But this becomes clear, it is worth looking at the equipment of the Hyundai car is devoid of xenon headlights, and a panoramic roof, and an automatic parking player.
 
Honda Civic
Civic sedan and hatchback, as in the last generation, are noticeably different from each other. The cheaper sedan, which is supplied from Turkey, with an automatic machine and 140-horsepower 1.8 (10.7 C to 100 km/h) costs from 829 to 949 thousand rubles, but even the best equipment cannot boast of good interior decoration. The hatchback salon is a head above, but for this you have to pay extra prices from 879,000 to 1,079,000 rubles.
 
Volkswagen Jetta
Against this background, Volkswagen Jetta looks with a pleasant surprise. A sedan with 122-horsepower 1.4 TSI and a DSG robot (9.8 C to 100 km/h) costs from 792 to 883 thousand rubles. And there is an even more nimble version of 1.4 TSI (150 hp, 8.6 s to 100 km/h) C DSG. And only 40 thousand more expensive! True, the 150-horsepower Jetta is offered only in Comfortline (866,000 rubles) and Highline (923,000 rubles). Do not forget about Volkswagen Golf. True, he is deprived of a more powerful modification of 150 horses and is estimated at 764 850/832 850 (Trendline and Highline without additional options).

A source: Auto.mail.ru