The Focus on Practicality

The Ford Focus has been all over the automotive news for the past several months. The reason for this coverage is a pair of power hungry models that are built for speed and performance. The Focus RS and the Focus ST have been the cause of some exciting reporting and are certainly a pair of hot hatches that can give you all you can ask for an then smile at you and give you more.

While the RS and the ST are both exciting, most of us who are considering the Ford Focus as a purchase aren’t looking at these two models. Whether you want a great car to give a graduate as a give when they’re ready to head off to college or you need a great hatchback for your own needs, the Focus with the 1.0-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder engine is a great choice and the one more of us will make. This engine produces 123 horsepower and 125 lb.-ft. of torque, neither is a number to get excited about, but they are plentiful for the enjoyment of driving this great little car. This engine is attached to a six-speed transmission that you can have in either automatic or manual and the fuel mileage is 35 mpg combined for the automatic while the manual will allow 32 mpg combined.

When your drive the Focus you will feel that it’s a responsive car which gives you the quickness you need to dart around traffic in town while also having the ability to keep up with highway speeds without any problem at all. Unfortunately if you do drive your Focus with some gusto you will lose some of the fuel economy that you would otherwise enjoy. This means you can either be aggressive with your Focus and pay for more gas or you can ride it smooth and easy and enjoy driving farther on a tank of gas, but not both.

Even if you commit to driving the car as efficiently as you can it may be easy to give the car an adrenaline rush every now and then especially considering the quickly responsive steering that’s included in this car. The Focus is easy to enjoy from behind the wheel with light steering and a balanced feel, making it a car you will have a hard time holding back from driving with some enthusiasm as you move this sub-3,000 pound car around the streets of your city.

One of the most impressive changes the Focus has enjoyed this year is the interior and exterior upgrades. The front receives a new bumper and LED daytime running lights while the inside has been improved with better materials than before along with the new SYNC 3 infotainment system and more USB ports so that you can keep your electronic devices charged and ready to use.

Depending upon the trim level chosen you can have items such as heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and upgraded appearance package, 16-inch aluminum wheels, rear disc brakes, a blacked out grill, fog lights and much more. There is even an upgraded engine to choose if you want more power which is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that is said to be able to achieve as much as 40 mpg combined while giving you more power.

As far as hatchbacks go the Focus is one that offers you the versatility you need to be able to fold down the seats and bring along some added cargo while also giving you the space to fit a few passengers in the backseat and still enjoy a small cargo area for your groceries. The Ford Focus is a car that fits a lot of needs and can give you a drive that’s a lot of fun even at the base model.

What’s your focus for the Focus? Is this going to be a great gift for a teen who is seeking higher education or a great car for you to drive on a daily basis? Either way this car is one that has great looks, drives with enthusiasm and gives you a comfortable and versatile cabin to fit your needs.