2016 Ford Focus rs | Ford Focus 2016 RS AWD USA REVIEW - Ford calls focus the popular plate within the world. There’s associate degree asterix and a trifle
of a disclaimer to travel therewith, however nobody within the UK will deny that
the Blue Oval’s family hatch has achieved ubiquitousness.
Whether within the semblance of a first-generation model bought for peanuts or associate degree example of this, the sixth iteration (counting major and minor revisions), focus is as common
a sight on the typical journey as traffic lights or roundabouts.
2016 Ford Focus rs | Ford Focus 2016 RS AWD USA REVIEW
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| 2016 Ford Focus rs | Ford Focus 2016 RS AWD USA REVIEW |
That it's achieved this type of ubiquity has one thing to try and do with Ford’s traditionally sturdy position within the UK and a command of the thought which will be copied back to the origins of the motor automotive itself.
However, abundant credit is owed to
focus itself. Its standout feature, a minimum of for this magazine, has been its handling – a feelsome, responsive mixture of comfort and vigour not bettered anyplace till the arrival of the foremost recent feast.
Recent versions of focus haven’t excelled during this regard quite just like the initial few, however Ford’s attention has been redirected because it seeks to satisfy the challenge of a replacement breed of upmarket alternatives.
This facelift Focus continues that effort. As before, the C-car international platform underpins the model, however its vogue doesn’t supply any further cabin area.
Instead, this update is regarding consolidating the Focus’s lead position, therefore driver help, property, in-car school and interior style square measure revised, and a replacement engine line-up of 4 core powerplants – the 1.0 and 1.5-litre Ecoboost gasolene motors and new 1.5 and 2.0-litre diesels – in numerous outputs, introduced.
2016 Ford Focus rs | Ford Focus 2016 RS AWD USA REVIEW design and styling
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| 2016 Ford Focus rs | Ford Focus 2016 RS AWD USA REVIEW |
The Focus has affected in and out of good looks, generation by generation. luckily, this model has found the Twister dial of style in an exceedingly superiority.
The car’s chiselled previous nose makes a welcome come back, for the most part due to the incorporation of the most recent ‘face of Ford’, that introduces slimmer headlights aboard elongated foglights and a widened grille.
Beneath the sharpening of the styling, Ford’s engineers have taken the same perspective. in step with the manufacturer, the stiffness of the Focus’s frontal structure has been increased by the utilization of a stronger arc fastening technique and a few thicker brackets within the engine bay.
The fine-tuning continues on variety of chassis elements, with the suspension pure mathematics, management arm bush stiffness and dampers all fettled for a more robust sense of connectedness with the road.
Engineers have conjointly involved themselves with what happens at the limit of that association. Ford claims a automotive trade initial with the introduction of what it calls its increased shift Stability system. this is often claimed to be ready to predict once a skid may occur and apply the brakes severally to counteract the condition before the worst can occur.
The metering of the electrical power-assisted steering is crucial to the present method and this, too, has been retuned to administer what Ford calls a “more spontaneous reaction”.
Improvements beneath the bonnet square measure a lot of simply quantitative, with associate degree engine vary that's claimed to be up to fifteen a lot of economical than before. This truth is helped on without stopping by the introduction of the new 1.5-litre EcoBoost gasolene and 1.5-litre diesel engines to focus line-up.
The former, out there in 148bhp and 180bhp variants to enhance the returning 1.0-litre three-pot, replaces the previous 1.6-litre powerplant and options the now-familiar combination of turbocharging, direct mechanical system and variable shaft temporal order that comes with the EcoBoost badge.
Its diesel equivalent, sold-out in 94bhp and 118bhp variants, conjointly replaces a rather larger engine and includes what Ford calls the “most fuel-efficient combustion method to date” from one in every of its oil-burners, due to associate degree optimised piston bowl, liberal internal coatings of friction-reducing diamond-like carbon, a revised turbocharger and therefore the latest generation of diesel injectors.
Both the 1.5 and 2.0-litre diesel engines conjointly get associate degree after-treatment Nox lure to go with monetary unit half-dozen emissions standards. The diesels share a variable-nozzle blower, whereas the 2.0 TDCi gets a modest power boost to travel with vital economy gains.
2016 Ford Focus rs | Ford Focus 2016 RS AWD USA REVIEW interior
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| 2016 Ford Focus rs | Ford Focus 2016 RS AWD USA REVIEW interior |
Ford’s aim wasn't solely to bring the Focus’s interior up so far with this revision however conjointly to change it considerably. Its success is best judged on acquaintance with the dashboard’s centre stack. wherever once were found 2 banks of fussy, 1990 mobile phone-like systems buttons, there's currently largely gray plastic and a far smaller and a lot of discreet nest of audio controls.
Underneath, there square measure likewise smaller and a lot of modern-looking heating and ventilation controls, whereas on top of is that the star of Ford’s interior makeover: the 8.0in Sync2 touchscreen transmission set-up fitted as commonplace to Ti and Ti X - specification automotives and as a £500 choice to our Zetec -spec take a look at car. The system may be a huge improvement over what was enclosed before. it is not the foremost responsive system on sale, nor the simplest laid-out, however it's massive and daring.
All models get AC and a USB socket as commonplace, whereas the Zetec trim level adds a 4.2in color screen, Bluetooth, DAB radio, heated windshield and alloy wheels. The range-topping Ti X trim comes loaded with many kit, as well as a rear-view camera, control, keyless begin and bi-xenon headlights.
The connective tissue appearance neater, cleaner and a lot of up to date as a results of the decluttering however not unquestionably classier. The tactile quality of the dashboard plastics isn’t outstanding, therefore populating less of their extent with switchgear, while not upgrading the canvas behind, doesn’t do an excellent deal for cabin atmosphere. a number of the systems square measure easier to work currently, whereas others square measure slightly tougher via the touchscreen.
The four-spoke wheel has been replaced by a smaller three-spoke item with a lot of enticing switchgear and therefore the possibility of shift paddles if you select a Powershift dual-clutch automatic gear case. The new wheel appearance good, however somehow the previous one stricken North American country as a more robust acceptable the car’s flashy character.
Credit to Ford is due for releasing up additional cabin storage midway through a full model generation. now previous the gearlever there’s a room sized to just accept a smartphone or iPod, whereas additional aft on the centre console the cupholders are created larger and therefore the centre-cubby deeper.
Boot area with seats up remains at 316 litres that, compared with key rivals like the Volkswagen Golf's and Kia Cee'd's 380 litres, is insulation behind. associate degree estate version of focus is additionally offered, with boot area being a decent 490 litres with the seats up and 1502 litres with the seats plicate flat. the world is wider than the estate versions of the Golf and Vauxhall Astra, however not as long.
Overall, though, you’d say the Focus’s cockpit has taken 2 growth, solely to require one step back. Progress has been created here, however this remains a spacious, practical driving setting instead of a very pleasant or tempting one.
2016 Ford Focus rs | Ford Focus 2016 RS AWD USA REVIEW performance
The most notable revision with this facelifted Focus is within the powertrains. The 1.6-litre turbo, in each gasolene and diesel flavours, has become a 1.5-litre turbo, with 148bhp and 180bhp in Ecoboost gasolene forms, and 94bhp and 119bhp in diesel semblance. The 1.0-litre Ecoboost with 123bhp remains identical.
In the latter kind, focus has 3bhp a lot of and force of 148lb linear unit, identical because the Volkswagen Golf's one.4 TSI 120bhp gasolene motor. abundant of the Ford's initial driving pleasure comes from the three-cylinder note. It oozes enthusiasm and encourages you to figure it arduous. However, this engine within the Focus will sometimes desire it is the massive turbo actuation you on in an exceedingly larger, heavier automotive.
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2016 Ford Focus rs | Ford Focus 2016 RS AWD USA REVIEW interior performance
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The Focus’s ‘new’ 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel doesn’t strike you because the most progressive downsized motor – and it isn’t. Rather, this can be a Book of the previous 1.6 with slightly less sweptwing volume, some updated internal elements and new induction and exhaust systems.
This isn’t associate degree inherently quiet unit, however Ford has gone to pains to place refinement into the automotive by alternative suggests that, with thicker carpets and facet glass and a lot of insulation between the engine bay and therefore the cabin. The automotive is competitive with most, if not all, of the hatchback class’s smoothest operators on cruising manners, keeping vibration out of the cabin in the slightest degree however terribly low crank speeds, however it gets somewhat coarse at high revs.
While good, it isn’t quite an match for the easiest little diesels on flexibility or fuel economy. The 58.5mpg real-world average come back recorded by our True MPG testers may be a smart 100 percent poorer than we tend to achieved from the Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC, and hardly pips Seat’s 57mpg Leon 1.6 TDI. It’s entirely acceptable from a automotive that doesn’t feel in any means compromised for the sake of economy, however it shouldn’t be a relative point.
On outright actuation power, the Ford feels fairly sturdy and performs quite well against the clock. There’s enough urge here to execute B-road overtakes with some confidence, and throttle pedal response is respectable. That said, a rather sticky-feeling accelerator in our 1.5-litre diesel 119bhp take a look at automotive created it arduous to apportion power precisely as supposed and hampered swish thruway progress.
The ratios of the six-speed gear case square measure well chosen, and its action is solid and well outlined – quite weighty and mechanical-feeling. However, speeding a amendment through the gate once cold will generally result in a refusal to interact, unless you’re steady and deliberate with the lever.
Even on commonplace 16in wheels the Focus’s braking performance is nice, with a well-tuned pedal that's each simply modulated associate degreed comforting in an emergency.
2016 Ford Focus rs | Ford Focus 2016 RS AWD USA REVIEW interior performance Ride and Handling
The noted handling dynamism of focus could are in relative decline since the car's exceptional initial generation, however til now it's invariably been potential to add up its distinctive and enduring point quite simply: this can be the best-handling hatchback on the road.
At least it absolutely was. sadly, today, this assertion will now not be created.
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| 2016 Ford Focus rs | Ford Focus 2016 RS AWD USA REVIEW interior performance Ride and Handling |
Not fully, at any rate. focus remains a responsive, grippy and agile automotive to drive, as you’d expect it to be – and additional expertise of it in richer trim, and with completely different wheel and tyre sizes, can persuade you that its bequest isn’t at risk.
However, if our take a look at automotive is representative of focus in its biggest-selling specification, we’d argue that the majority homeowners can realize a like-for-like Mazda three a a lot of partaking automotive from behind the wheel, and a Seat Leon a minimum of equally therefore.
Its fall from grace may be explained primarily by the new power-assisted steering and suspension damping systems Ford has fitted to the automotive. These each fail to boost on what they replace and, in trying to drag the automotive in opposing directions at identical time, unfold its sporting character somewhat too thinly.
The Focus’s electro-mechanical power-assisted steering is weighted a lot of gently than before, notably at low speeds. It provides some feedback from the front tyres’ contact patches, however it filters that communication through some apparent friction at the straight-ahead and a rather unerect and unhelpful gathering of help off-centre. In therefore doing, it makes your primary interface with the automotive feel simply somewhat woolly on some occasions, and elastic at alternative times.
Its body management is nice for the foremost half, however gone is its ability to soak up bumps little and enormous with equal fluency and poise. The automotive rides quietly and with smart wheel management, however its vertical body management is a lot of digital and fewer progressive than it absolutely was.
The Focus fusses slightly over little, sharp intrusions, as firmly suspended cars tend to try and do, on the other hand permits some ungoverned initial body movement before addressing it quite stanchly, usually inflicting the automotive to pitch or rebound over it might if the dampers responded a lot of quickly and with mounting resistance.
MPG and Running cost
It’s arduous to fault focus on price for cash. two trim levels below our Zetec take a look at automotive provides an inexpensive entry purpose for personal patrons on a budget.
The entry-level, £13,995 Studio version is obtainable solely with associate degree 84bhp 1.6-litre gasolene engine associate degreed in an unoptionable specification that has air-con, a basic AM/FM radio, psychic phenomena and central protection. they're doubtless to be a rare sight.
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| 2016 Ford Focus rs | Ford Focus 2016 RS AWD USA REVIEW interior performance Ride and Handling |
Upgrading from Zetec to Zetec S gets you sports suspension and 17in alloy wheels, which might be worthwhile on each counts, we reckon. However, experiment with the eight.0in touchscreen system before hard currency thereon as associate degree optional additional on Zetec trim, though.
Predicted residuals could also be second to the premium brands and something designed by the Volkswagen cluster, however they're a cut on top of the Mazda three, Nisan neutron star, Toyota Auris and Vauxhall Astra.
Lease rates look competitive, too, whereas Ford’s success in obtaining fleet corporations to just accept that cars with sat-nav are going to be value a lot of at selling adds additional price. CO2 emissions square measure competitive for each the 1.5 TDCi and therefore the a lot of powerful 2.0 TDCi – and for manual and Powershift automatic cars. The 95bhp 1.5-litre TDCi variant sneaks in beneath the 100g/km greenhouse gas barrier - at 98g/km, which is able to be a well-liked alternative with company automotive drivers.
Ford claims a combined fuel economy figure of seventy 4.3mpg for our 1.5-litre TDCi 119bhp take a look at automotive. However, our True MPG testers recorded a real-world average come back of 58.5mpg, that still simply pips the Seat Leon 1.6 TDI's 57mpg.
verdict
Good
- Front-end styling
- Value for money
- Strong, economical engine
Bad
- Plain cabin
- Watered-down dynamics
- Counter-intuitive transmission
Sales success has return to focus for over one reason. Enthusiasts can think about sharp steering and deft body management, however a good vary of engines, fine utility, placing appearance and a characteristic worth square measure a lot of doubtless to possess endeared the automotive to the bulk.
Those latter aspects – combined with a wiser cabin, a lot of economical engines and new gadgets – can stand this re-creation in higher lieu than ever for many.
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| 2016 Ford Focus rs | Ford Focus 2016 RS AWD USA REVIEW interior performance Ride and Handling |
However, the slow decline of the Focus’s handling dynamism has brought it back to the battle royal of mid-class competition once it wont to be head and shoulders clear. focus handles terribly tidily, and higher than most of its peers, however not with the uncanny polish and vigour that set its forebears apart.
The reinvigorated Focus is improved all told ways that bar one. It's still a awfully appealing, complete automotive. However, associate degree insignificant drive suggests that it now not excels dynamically.
Sportier flavours of the automotive square measure still to return and should however prove superior. except for currently, we tend to should welcome focus with the qualified clapping that its drive conjures up. 2016 Ford Focus rs | Ford Focus 2016 RS AWD USA REVIEW interior performance Ride and Handling
