Picture Gallery: 2008 Ford Focus SES | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Discuss
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When this new Focus was revealed in Detroit a year ago, everyone was under the impression that Ford would, finally, bring the European-based Focus’ chassis to our shores. Unfortunately, this is not the case — apparently due to safety regulations — although I have a hard time swallowing that.
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Ford also surprised everyone by announcing a coupe model but no more wagon or hatch variants. That eliminated the two best selling versions of the Focus in Canada — very odd indeed. So what was the big hoopla about at the launch then? Microsoft Sync. Yes, that’s right: Ford and Microsoft have partnered to create a voice command system that uses Bluetooth in their cars — exclusively.
So fast forward a year and here I am, in a Focus SES with Microsoft Sync; ironically I moved myself from a Microsoft-powered world to an Apple-driven one during the past year, but I digress. What else is in the Focus SES, you ask? Actually, quite a lot of content for the base starting price of $19,999.
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Included as standard with the SES trim are such items as: a 2.0-litre engine that produces 140hp and 136lb-ft of torque; a 5-speed manual transmission; 16-inch alloy wheels; air conditioning; cruise control; auto-dimming rear view mirror; heated front seats; Microsoft Sync; ABS brakes; traction control and six airbags.
My tester has a few options to note: a four-speed automatic transmission for an extra $1,150; the luxury group, which adds moonroof and leather for a mere $1,000; as well as a block heater ($75) and smoker’s package ($35).
With a total price, including freight, of only $23,509 this car seems really well priced for this market.
2008 Ford Focus SES
MSRP as tested inc. destination & delivery: $23,509
For more information on Ford and the Focus visit Ford Canada
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Anyway, I’ll let Ford deal with the fallout of having no more hatches. Today is all about the interior of the new Focus. From the driver’s seat, a few items popped out to me almost immediately. The lack of telescopic steering was one of them, but the comfortable seats with 6-way adjustment nearly make up for it.
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So just remember to never look sideways and you’ll be happy. I should mention the Microsoft Sync system in my tester, as it is a prominent feature for Ford. Unfortunately, I don’t have a bluetooth-enabled phone or MP3 player so I cannot test Sync’s bluetooth capabilities. According to Ford, you can stream music right from a bluetooth device — that’s pretty nifty. I’m sure the phone system works like many other bluetooth handsfree systems as well.
I did plug in a USB stick with some MP3s on it and was able to play them with Sync’s music playback function. Some commands such as “play all songs” are similar to many other systems, but where the Sync system stands out is its ability to understand spoken words such as “play artist “Daft Punk”". I tried this and it immediately found a song by that artist on my device — cool! The system is also capable of finding “similar songs” using an algorithm that takes into account the genre of the music, etc.
Ford’s commercial — available on YouTube here — explains it fairly well. It would be great, though, if the system would also let you switch between FM and satellite radio and USB mode; I spent about five minutes yelling “satellite radio” at it before I realized the voice activation system can’t switch between those modes; you must use the buttons on the dash.
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The front seats are fairly comfortable, although a little more support for cornering would be appreciated, especially with the leather surfaces in my tester. I find the rear seating a little cramped but not out of the ordinary for this class of vehicle; the backs of the front seats are curved to allow for extra leg room in the rear.
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There is no doubt that the Focus is also a very fun-to-drive vehicle! It feels light and nimble on its feet, and is a joy to toss into a corner, and it feels very sure-footed. Steering feedback is good — it goes where you tell it to.
I have also been playing around with the stereo a little more, and my only real complaint is that there just isn’t enough insulation in the car for it to sound proper. The speakers themselves sound reasonably good, but the interior rattles quite at bit at the volume levels required to “rock out.”
Unfortunately, as good as the Focus is to drive, I can’t help but notice little cost-cutting details, like the rattling door panels and having an on board computer that provides fuel consumption data, but only to the nearest whole number The saving grace is that, so far, that number is still fluctuating between 8L/100km and 9L/100km.
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Even with a few missing features, like no ashtray in a vehicle with the “smokers package” and no trunk release inside the cabin (or at least none that I nor a co-worker could easily find), the features that are included — ABS, cruise control, heated seats and air conditioning — can’t be ignored in a reasonably-priced vehicle.
I averaged between 8L/100km and 9L/100km during my week with the Focus. Unfortunately, I did not put many kilometres on it due to bad weather; a few days of heavy snowfall and freezing rain had me leaving the Focus at home and choosing a vehicle equipped with winter tires instead.
If you can overlook my very minor complaints about this car, you too may find it to be a bargain. With Sync as the icing on the cake, you may even take one home.
*Rating out of 5:
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*Rating based on vehicle’s classification
2008 Ford Focus SES
MSRP as tested inc. destination & delivery: $23,509
For more information on Ford and the Focus visit Ford Canada
February 01, 2008, 08:25:39 pm
Yes, similar to the idiots that run Honda, Toyota, and Nissan where they don't make wagon or hatch models of the Civic, Corolla, or Sentra. Now, Ford is late to the party in that they don't yet have a competitor to the Fit, Yaris, or Versa hatchbacks. In
NorthAmerica, hatchback=entry level economy car. That's why the above companies do not produce hatchbacks except on their cheapest entry level cars.February 01, 2008, 10:24:32 pm January U.S. Focus sales were up 33% over last year. It'll be interesting to see the Canadian numbers.
February 01, 2008, 10:44:14 pm
The Matrix is a Corolla hatch. You're right as to Honda and Nissan though. It's interesting that nobody screams bloody murder that we don't get the Honda Stream (Civic wagon in Japan) or the Megane (the new Sentra platform-shares with the Renault Megane, which comes in three- and five-door formats).
February 01, 2008, 11:05:46 pm
Considering that these numbers represent a shiny new model vs. one that had been on the market for 7-8 years the year over year sales increase isn't all that surprising.
February 02, 2008, 11:57:47 am
I don't like tiny fuel gauges in cars. Thats what bug me most about the Chevy Cobalt. I think it should be bigger. You could almost accuse them of stealing the gages. They are almost Identical.
I also have a hard time understanding 8 AVG L/100 gauge at a glance. Why not put Kilometers per gallon. It would be a lot easier to read at a glance.
I'm doing 40 KPG. thats lot better to understand. Than say doing a load of maths to convert.
February 02, 2008, 12:08:33 pm
Different name, different body, different interior, different rear suspension on XRS, .... sounds almost like a different car.
February 02, 2008, 12:12:01 pm The Versa is not all that close to the Megane, its based on a different platform called the Tiida elsewhere. I thought it was a Megane as well...
February 02, 2008, 12:14:52 pm
Considering that these numbers represent a shiny new model vs. one that had been on the market for 7-8 years the year over year sales increase isn't all that surprising.
Man, some of you are defensive. It's almost like any little fact that might be construed as a positive for this car must be squashed. Sheesh.
February 02, 2008, 01:46:26 pm
The Versa isn't close to the Megane. It was the Sentra that I mentioned, which does platform-share with the Megane.
February 02, 2008, 05:40:40 pm
Considering that these numbers represent a shiny new model vs. one that had been on the market for 7-8 years the year over year sales increase isn't all that surprising.
Man, some of you are defensive. It's almost like any little fact that might to construed as a positive for this car must be squashed. Sheesh.
February 03, 2008, 01:23:13 am
IMO the previous Focus hatch was always good looking, and the 4 door was fine as long as it had a trunk spoiler. The problem was it hadn't changed much in 7 years, and the slight redesign it got actually took it backwards, especially with the interior.
With the new Focus someone needs to have a word with the web page designers for the build and price section, they are not even trying to make it look appealing. Compare with the Mazda3 image.
Is it just me, or does the Focus in that pic look vaguely like a Chevy Vega? Sorry...
February 03, 2008, 09:28:38 am
Considering that these numbers represent a shiny new model vs. one that had been on the market for 7-8 years the year over year sales increase isn't all that surprising.
Man, some of you are defensive. It's almost like any little fact that might to construed as a positive for this car must be squashed. Sheesh.
I agree, it's the same in the Corolla thread,all negative.If it doesn't look like a ferrari, have 400 hp it's crap.
February 04, 2008, 12:17:26 pm I am so very disappointed Ford discontinued the hatchback design and didn't bother bringing in the Euro-Focus platform to North America. Then again, after owning a 2000 Focus ZX3, I have no intention of ever buying another Ford product again!
February 06, 2008, 02:47:13 pm
The smoker's package consists of a lighter and ashcup. Somebody probably got rid of it previous to your use to discourage smoking in the car.
February 06, 2008, 02:50:20 pm There isn't even a place to put them!
February 06, 2008, 03:20:47 pm
I took this one out of the cupholder so you can see it clearly.
February 06, 2008, 03:56:46 pm Sorry ashcup, wow that's pretty useless, then you loose a cupholder. I'll agree someone may have removed it but it certainly is a cheap way out of designing the car. Look at a Mazda3 with a slot under the dash in the typical location of an ashtray....
February 06, 2008, 04:15:25 pm Can't say I have much interest one way or the other in terms of making cars better for smokers. As a non-smoker I don't see too much merit in having precious dash space taken up with an ashtry.
February 06, 2008, 08:34:06 pm I use the location for small things like coins / kleenex wires, phone etc
February 06, 2008, 11:15:49 pm
Ya...smokers don't seem to use their ashtrays anyway. Constantly, I see people just chuck the ashes and butts out the window. They wouldn't want to stink up their own cars would they?
February 07, 2008, 07:28:50 am
I took this one out of the cupholder so you can see it clearly.
Good thing it comes with a lid. Otherwise all you have in the cupholder would be an ASHHOLE.
February 07, 2008, 10:54:52 am I'm starting to see these around a lot. They're FAR more inoffensive-looking in person, though I wouldn't call them attractive. Still, they're aesthetically nicer than the new Civic, in my opinion.
February 08, 2008, 06:19:33 am
I took this one out of the cupholder so you can see it clearly.
Good thing it comes with a lid. Otherwise all you have in the cupholder would be an ASHHOLE.
HAhahahahahahahaahahahahahahah.
February 08, 2008, 01:55:42 pm CR's impressions,
First impressions. Some of the handling agility and good ride remain, but the revamped Focus seems to have lost the supple yet tied-down driving feel that made the original Focus seem so sophisticated. The driving dynamics are now rather ordinary with reduced agility in corners and less refinement than newer designs such as the Honda Civic and Mazda3.
Interior fit and finish have gained very little refinement, but access remains easy front and rear. It’s clear that a good portion of this partial redesign amounted to little more than reducing cost by eliminating features. The assist grips above the doors are gone, and the seats are flatter with less lateral support. There is no more telescoping steering column, and the wiper controls are now crowded onto the turn-signal lever. Instead you get a new dedicated button that changes the color of the light in the foot wells and inside the cup holders—a paltry compensation for what was taken away.
Standard side-curtain airbags are a welcome addition, but rear head restraints won’t arrive until next year, at which time electronic stability control will also finally become available
CR’s take. We are not convinced that this revamp did much to bring the Focus up to date. (A major redesign isn’t due until around 2011.) We will see how this Focus ranks among such peers as the redesigned Subaru Impreza and Toyota Corolla when we complete a full road-test report, for the June issue of CR, available online in May.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/news/2008/02/2008-ford-focus-first-look-2-08/overview/ford-focus-first-look-ov.htm
February 08, 2008, 03:35:25 pm Revised suspension settings further refine the Focus driving experience
Since its North American introduction in 1999, Focus has been hailed for being an affordable car that handles and drives like a car twice its price. For 2008, the suspension has been redesigned and retuned to further improve overall driving dynamics.
The Focus gets its great driving dynamics from a suspension setup that features MacPherson struts up front and an independent multilink design in the rear. The spring rates, dampers, stabilizer bars, and bushings are all new for 2008. Generally speaking, the spring rates were dropped and improvements to steering and handling were accomplished by careful tuning and increasing the size of the front stabilizer bar.
Engineers also derived unique tuning packages for vehicles equipped with 15- or 16-inch wheels and tires. Models with 15-inch wheels and low-rolling resistance Hankook tires use a front stabilizer bar only. Models with 16-inch wheels and sporty, responsive Pirelli tires use front and rear stabilizer bars.
The revised chassis settings help improve steering feel and responsiveness over the previous Focus. Changes in body structure also help improve handling. The cross-car beam located beneath the instrument panel has been significantly stiffened for 2008. The steering column is mounted to this beam, which means minimal vibration in the steering wheel as Focus is driven over rough and uneven roads
http://media.ford.com/products/presskit_display.cfm?vehicle_id=1532&press_subsection_id=421&make_id=92