Pros
- Handling/roadholding
- Front seat comfort
Cons
- Gauges can be hard to read in certain lighting
- Available sunroof cuts into headroom
Acceleration
4/10
With the automatic transmission, Focus has just adequate power for highway merging or ascending long grades. The automatic provides timely downshifts. Manual-transmission models feel snappier, with better performance overall.
Fuel Economy
8/10
In Consumer Guide testing, Focus models with automatic transmission averaged 27.3-28.9 mpg in mostly highway driving. A manual-transmission sedan returned a frugal 31.2 mpg. Focus uses regular-grade gas.
Ride Quality
6/10
SES sedan's standard sport suspension and 16-inch tires give a firm but compliant ride. SES coupes have 17-inch wheels but are only slightly more firm. No opportunity to test models with 15-inch tires.
Steering/Handling/Braking
6/10
Sedans have communicative steering and decent grip in fast turns. At highway speeds, though, they are subject to gusty crosswind wander. SES coupes are sportier, with better grip and balance overall. Braking on all is stable, but pedal feel is average.
Quietness
4/10
Road rumble is marked, and the tires thump over expansion joints. The engine sounds coarse during acceleration but quiets down while cruising. The persistent road and engine noise drown out whatever tire thrum there might be.
Controls
6/10
Well-arranged dashboard has mostly intuitive and handy controls. The gauges, for the most part, are clear, but they can be hard to read in changing lighting conditions. Sync is a hit-or-miss affair. It works fairly well as a voice-controlled system for MP3 players. At times, though, it wouldn't recognize the voices of some of our testers. Sync's cell-phone integration isn't as easy to use as some rivals. While its voice command generally worked well, some of Sync's functions, such as pairing a phone to the system, were not very intuitive.
Details
3/10
Interior materials disappoint overall. The dashboard on the SES model is dominated by dull, silvery plastic trim, which suggests cost cutting. Even the available leather trim looks low grade. One test sedan suffered from several misaligned body panels and a poorly upholstered rear bench seat.
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (Front)
6/10
Legroom is quite good for the class, and headroom is outstanding in models that don't have the sunroof. Headroom is still good in Focuses that do have it. The seats are generally supportive, though some testers found them to be too flat for ideal long-distance comfort. Large door openings ease entry and exit.
Room/Comfort (Rear)
2/10
Headroom and legroom in the sedan are par for the compact-car class. The sunroof housing does cramp head space for taller riders. In the coupe, smaller adults will fit in the back for short trips. Entry and exit in 2-door models are difficult, as the front seats awkwardly slide forward.
Cargo Room
4/10
The trunk lid uses space-saving strut-type hinges. All models have low liftover, plus split-folding rear seat backs for added versatility. The cargo area is usefully shaped, but the subwoofer used by the optional audio system cuts into cargo room. Interior storage is merely OK. The glovebox is skimpy, as are the front-door map pockets. The center console storage bin is deep, but its opening is small.
Value Within Class
6/10
Focus feels dated and less refined compared with cars such as the Honda Civic and Nissan Versa. Still, front-seat room and comfort impress, and pricing is competitive. The top-end SES coupe adds some handling spice without sacrificing good ride control. Sync is a nice feature for the class, despite a few bugs that still need to be sorted. Overall, Focus is worth a look, but be sure to scout the competition as well.
Highlights
The 2010 Ford Focus lineup gains some newly standard safety features but is otherwise largely unchanged. Focus comes as a 4-door sedan in S, SE, SES, and SEL trim levels. A 2-door coupe is available as the SE and SES. The only engine is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that produces 140 horsepower in sedans and 143 horsepower in coupes. Both body styles offer a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags. Previously optional, the ABS, traction control, and antiskid system are now standard on all 2010 Focus models. Also available is Ford's Sync. Sync provides voice control of certain cell phone and MP3 player functions. Sync is standard on SES and SEL and available on SE. Other available features include leather upholstery, heated front seats, and remote engine start.
Competition
Consumer Guide Automotive places each vehicle into one of 18 classes based on size, price, and market position. Compact Cars comprise popularly priced sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons with wheelbases 99.4 inches or longer.
Our Best Buys include the Honda Civic, Mazda 3, Nissan Versa, and Volkswagen Jetta. Our Recommended pick is the Scion xB.
New or significantly redesigned models include the Honda Insight, Kia Forte, Mazda 3, Mitsubishi Lancer (Sportback), and Volkswagen Golf.