Test drive Ford Focus sedan since 2010 sedan

All Stars

Volkswagen Golf v
In the summer of 2003, the fifth generation of the three- and five-door hatchback debuted (ZR, 2003, No. 12).
It is equipped with gasoline engines of 1.4 and 1.6 liters or FSI series units with direct injection into cylinders 1.4; 1.6; 2.0 l. There are also turbodiesels of 1.9 and 2.0 liters. Mechanical gearboxes five- or six-speed or six-speed automatic Testronics and DSG.
So far, in Russia they sell cars with a regular 1.6 liter engine and both diesel ones. Prices in standard trim levels from $ 18,433 per three-door golf 1.4 liter Trendline up to $ 30,674 for five doors, Comfort-line, 2.0 TDI, automatic.

Peugeot 307
He made his debut in 2001 with bodies of three- and five-door hatchback. Later, the family was replenished with a station wagon (ZR, 2002, No. 9), a Cabiolet compartment (ZR, 2004, No. 3), and now a sedan.
Equipped with gasoline engines 1.4; 1.6; 2.0 liters, as well as turbodiesels 1.4; 1.6; 2.0 l (90, 107 and 136 h. Gearboxes are a five -speed mechanical or four -speed machine.
The price range in Russia from 13,200 euros for a three -door machine in the XR configuration with a 1.4 liter engine to 21,700 euros for a couple of additional doors, the XSI equipment and a 2.0 liter motor.

Renault Megane II
The second -generation's debut took place in the fall of 2002. It is produced with the bodies of the three- and five-door hatchback (ZR, 2003, No. 1), sedan and station wagon (ZR, 2003, No. 11), Cave-Cabiolet (ZR, 2004, No. 3).
Equipped with gasoline engines 1.1; 1.4; 1.6 and 2.0 liters or turbodiesels 1.5; 1.9 l. The gearboxes are five- and six-speed mechanical or four-speed automatic.
In Russia, a 1.4 or 1.6 -liter sedan is certified by a five -door hatchback of 1.6 liters. Prices of the latter from 13,900 to 16 950 euros the lower limit corresponds to the test car in the Authentic configuration.

Ford Focus
The debut took place in 1998, from the fall of 2001 it was produced in Vsevolozhsk (ZR, 2003, No. 3).
In Russia, a five -door hatchback, sedan and station wagon are produced. Power units: gasoline engines 1.6 and 1.8 liters with a five -speed manual gearbox or 2.0 liters with a four -speed automatic.
Hatchback prices from 10,620 euros for the Ambiente and 1.6 liters to 15 690 for GHIA 2.0 liters with an automaton.
The European market also presents a three -door hatchback, gasoline engines 1.4; 1.6 and 2.0 liters, as well as two turbodiesels 1.8 liters (75-115 l.

Who is new?
In early spring, folkwagen golf fifth generation appeared in the salons of Russian dealers. To the car that gave the name to the most popular class, the attitude of the special 30-year golf history and the circulation of 22 million made it a kind of beacon and an eternal stimulus for competitors. However, there is no shortage of loud ranks and with rivals: Peugeot 307 and Renault Megan II holders of titles car of the year-2002 and a car of the year-2003, respectively. The fourth in this company is a bestseller of the domestic market Ford Focus. For comparison, they took five -door hatchbacks with gasoline engines of 1.6 liters.
Very conditional units
Previously, everything was just reading at. e., we understand the dollar. Now in the price list of dealers is complete confusion: someone gives prices in attractive bucks, someone in expensive euros, sometimes setting their own, lower course. The third one has completely conditional, let's say 30 rubles apiece at all without reference to a specific currency. Maybe it's time to switch to rubles and do not fool customers with their heads? However, we will not run ahead of the steam locomotive: for comparison, we will still transfer prices to dollars.
Volkswagen-golf. Firm dealers recently returned from euro to dollar. However, at least in the parrots, consider the folk car, the most expensive in our company, the minimum equipment of trendline will cost $ 20 430: ABS, four airbags, a steering wheel with eight (!) Feedback presets, front electric windows and something else. Testyard set of comfortline is two and a half thousand more expensive: alloy wheels, cruise control, rain sensor, mirror with automatic darling. After installing fog, separate climate control, music, winter package, the price increased to $ 27 050.
Peugeot-307. Also not cheap, but the bells and whistles do not increase it so noticeably. The basic equipment of the XR costs $ 17,800: ABS, two airbags, electric drives of mirrors and front windows, steering wheel amplifier. $ 1100 more expensive is the XS option with six pillows and a radio. Add climate control, a winter package (headlight washer, heated front seats), rear electric windows we get $ 20 800. Unfortunately, we found only a machine with a machine gun (more than $ 1200), but a similar car with mechanics was already in our tests, and for Correction we will give its characteristics.
Renault-Magan. Even in the minimum configuration, an authentic for $ 16 960 is ready to offer ABS, four airbags, an on -board computer, front electric windows and a key starting system without a key. In terms of equipping the first pair of machines, the EXPRESION set (express) for $ 18,200: fog headlights, headlight washer, electric forces of mirrors and rear windows, rain and light sensors.
FORD FOCUS. Only a year and a half ago, prices began with an incredible $ 10,900. Now the number remains almost unchanged, but the unit of measurement is now euro, and this is already $ 13,000. However, just during the test, the Ford dealers conducted the action, setting their euro for four rubles Below the official minimum price bar fell to $ 11,450. The Amploster equipment is very modest: immobilizer, one airbag, steering wheel amplifier, audio training. A little richer Comfort for $ 14,400 ($ 12,700 with discounts): central lock, air conditioning, electric drives of mirrors and front windows. The color of metallic and winter package (electric heating of windshield and front seats) increased the price to $ 15,140 ($ 13,400 with discounts). For a long time, it was not such a focus for a long time that has been living in the editor for a year and a half.
Stands
Volkswagen-golf. Even with a superficial acquaintance, excellent manufacturing quality begins to justify the high price: neatly fitted panels, even gap threads, no rowan on the mirror of varnish. Only a fairly high effort to closing the doors and narrow rear openings are added to a small dissonance.
Peugeot-307. A short hood and highly tilted windshield is similar to a single crew. The least convincing quality fitting body elements. The impression of a mass car enhances the acute unreversible corner of the front door located at chest level.
Renault-Magan. Invariably attracts attention with an unusual stern. Very tight door handles, when landing forward, you have to protect your head from hard ceiling handrails, the rear opening is pursed by a wheel arch.
FORD FOCUS. The new line became embarrassed and no longer cuts the eye. The sharp angle of the front door resembles Peugeot, but the accuracy of the fitting of body elements is not inferior to Megan. Something you need to get used to the key here not only the gas tank hatch opens, but also the hood.
I was sitting there
Volkswagen-golf. A carefully assembled salon is tightly arranged around the driver. In all boxes without exception, soft polyurethane inserts so that the contents do not rattle when moving. The interior was created without discounts on the possible flaws of technology, which is why you notice even minimal discrepancies, for example, a slightly western glove compartment cover.
Golf's seats are quite hard and hold the body tightly. The giant ranges of the driver's seat are respected: almost a quarter meter longitudinal and 100 mm vertical Any Verzil from the NBA will fit! True, he will have to sit down in the knee pads a low -located hard casing of the steering column even strives to put a bruise. At the back, now you do not have to hug your front back with your feet, about 110 mm remains before them. And overhead is more than 80 mm more than enough.
Peugeot-307. The feeling of space is created by the concave front panel, which is leaving somewhere in the distance and a high ceiling to it 150 mm. Peugeot, perhaps, has the most convenient seats in moderation soft and comfortable. The front are equipped with heating, but the button with indication is not easy to see at the base of the chair. Like golf, the glove box is cooled by air conditioning, and a pair of pallets are hidden under the front seats. A little unusual, but the climate control panel is quite understandable. Features of visibility are invisible hood and tiny external mirrors shifted back.
Renault-Magan. The only machine is minimal configuration, so the most modest interior and an uncertain rear seat. But the flimsy lever of vertical adjustment of the driver's seat clinging to the chair, the fuzzy operation of the steering column lock, the backlash of the steering wheel switches do not have excuses. Chairs with good lateral support are installed quite highly, from only 20 to 70 mm above the head, a hard handrail looms at the temple.
FORD FOCUS. Original design, good performance. Of course, there are signs of budgets: the absence of head restraints of the second row of seats, adjusting the driver's seat in height. And the longitudinal adjustment is the shortest. However, even a rather tall driver will easily find a convenient position, and about 90 mm will remain to the ceiling. There is very little space for trifles: a small glove box, a recess in a dashboard and a couple of dummies. A good steering wheel with thickening in the main grip and corrugation on the back.
Machine to drive!
A front -wheel drive layout with a transverse power unit almost canon in small classes. With equal working volumes of sixteen -valve engines of the French, a little more powerful and provide the best dynamics for about a second of winnings in acceleration to hundreds and 10 km/h higher maximum speed. The outsider in dynamic exercises Ford focus with the least powerful eight -clap and the longest gears. Yes, and brakes and only his drum is weaker than others.
Volkswagen and Ford are played out onto the perfection of the chassis from behind, they have complex multi -link pendants with the effect of steering. Cars are very stable on the trajectory, reliable and predictable, they are kept to the last in turn, and if the driver was too faded at a speed slowly slide out. Peugeot is similar to them with soft reactions, but Renault Megan is the exact opposite. Turned, sharp in responses, he falls into a deep skid at the first oversight of the driver. Adds adrenaline and very easy control of the pedal and steering wheel. But at Golf, the amplifier sometimes does not keep up with the sharp movement of the steering wheel to this car more like the highway than serpentines. In addition, the response to the accelerator pedal is somewhat slowed. Incidentally, all cars have reinforced pendants with increased road clearance, although in almost domestic Ford we measured only 130 mm under a powerful protection of the crankcase.
I would buy some
And which one is better? If you summarize the impressions, it is more solid and richer than other Volkswagen Golf, the price tags do not lie. If you are used to luxury, albeit moderate, and you can afford you can only envy. The French couple stands out with a stylish design, while the Peugeot 307 is noticeably more functional, but Renault Megan pleases with a liveliness of a character, sometimes bordering on sharpness. Ford Focus can offer no less than the French, but has the strongest trump card in a minimum configuration. A good option for those who have money on the cut, but I want to look no worse than others.

SUMMARY
Volkswagen Golf solid car in a compact body, the quality corresponds to the price.
+ Excellent manufacturing quality, rich equipment, an extensive list of options, huge seats adjustment ranges, calm predicted reactions.
- limited speed of the steering wheel amplifier, slightly viscous control, high price, narrowed rear openings, a small trunk.

SUMMARY
Peugeot 307 Stylish appearance and interior, spacious practical machine.
+ Large doorways, a spacious high salon, comfortable seats, roomy trunk, comfortable suspension.
- The average quality of the body, limited speed of the steering wheel amplifier, invisible hood, small external mirrors.

SUMMARY
Renault Megan Practicality is partly sacrificed to appearance, most convenient in the metropolis.
+ The best dynamics, excellent brakes, convenient landing, good smoothness, original appearance.
- Small efforts on controls, instability on the trajectory, wide front racks, a small trunk with uncomfortable access.

SUMMARY
Ford Focus Popularity is not accidental, a good car for moderate money.
+ Attractive price, energy -intensive suspension, stability on the trajectory, accurate predicted reactions, convenient controls, wide prevalence of the model.
- Small road clearance, well -auditable tire noise, moderate dynamics, weak near light, ineffective lateral support of the seats, unusual opening of the hood.
 
 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 
 

Yuri Nechetov. Photo: George Sadkov

Source: The magazine "Driving"