Ford Focus 1.6

How do you update a modern classic? By sending it upmarket, if Ford's new Focus is anything to go by

What's New
Call it a sensible use of resources or platform-sharing gone wild, but the all-new Ford Focus has been here in one form or another for a while. It shares its major underpinnings with both the Mazda 3 and Volvo S40 (both companies are units of parent Ford Motor Company), after all.

Relative to the first Focus, however, this second-generation model is all-new, and the styling, mixed in with Mondeo cues as it is, hints strongly at the direction taken by Ford's reincarnated bestseller.

Everywhere you care to look, it's neater and has been given a visual nip/tuck. Tamer, the detailing might be, but the lines are far more tidily resolved, especially where the sedan is concerned. Its boot no longer resembles a tacked-on afterthought.

Inside the new Focus, there's been a clear step up in cabin ambience. The plastics ooze a Teutonic quality while the flamboyant slashes and edges have given way to a visual restraint that approaches sombreness.

Quite clearly, the Focus is all grown up now.

Presently, the only engine available is a 1.6-litre with 100bhp to its name. The Highway drove hatchback and sedan models in both auto and manual trim.

How it Performs
One the thing the old Focus was never accused of was being a dull drive. Its sharp steering and fierce front-end bite gave it an eager alertness that was always a reward to savour.

2005's version takes a less keen-edged approach to corners, however. The steering is still accurate and responsive, but it's down a notch in sharpness. Instead, there's hugely reassuring behaviour from the chassis, thanks to a neutral attitude to cornering combined with eye-opening levels of roadholding.

Backing up the amount of grip is an Electronic Stability Program or ESP that intervenes so smoothly that you'll be happy to leave it on, even when attacking your favourite collection of bends.

The engine powers the Focus with not much more than adequacy, but things are far livelier if you opt for the five-speed manual. The automatic does its shifting smoothly and decisively, but its four ratios give the engine plenty of work to do. If you're a keen driver, the three pedal version is for you.

As for your would-be passengers, they're bound to prefer Focus II to the original. Rear headroom is on the tight side, but elsewhere, there's more room than before.

How it Stacks Up
As far as small European cars go, the Focus exemplifies the breed. It handles well, is packed with safety equipment and is well put together.

Technical Specifications

MODEL Ford Focus 1.6 ENGINE Engine: 1,596cc 16-valve in-line four Max Power: 100bhp @ 5,500rpm Max Torque: 150Nm @ 4,000rpm TRANSMISSION 4-speed automatic TOP SPEED 172 kmh 0-100km/h 13.6s