The Star: September 26, 2019

tHE fORD
fOCUS
By ross KiDDie
When I look back over time I simply can’t
understand why I let two of my favourite cars go to
new owners, I made some very bad decisions.
They were both three-door Escorts, a Mk 1 and
Mk 2 Sport. Today I’m hankering to own an Escort
again, but prices are astronomical and they don’t
often come up for sale.
The Escort of eras gone by represented honesty
and sporty performance, depending on the model.
Over the years it morphed into various shapes and
designs, its concept retained in today’s Focus – the
natural successor to that incredibly successful
nameplate.
The Focus has just been transformed for 2019,
there are four models for New Zealand, three
hatchbacks and a wagon. The latter has a 2-litre
diesel engine, but all the others share a threecylinder
& petrol driveline. There are three levels of
G
specification, a Trend opens the series at $31,990,
ST-Line adds around $5000, while a Titanium
variant CHlists
at $41,990. This evaluation focuses on
the latter (pardon the pun). For interest’s sake, the
Trend wagon is listed at $37,990.
The Titanium is plush, it is very well specced and
a value choice. It is a compact car but it will easily
cater for four, or even five when necessary. Each
occupant gets a respectable amount of head and
leg room, even in the rear. Load space is also on a
par with what you would expect from a mid-size
hatchback, but those interested in more cargo
carrying ability could well be interested in the
entry-level wagon, it would be my choice in the on the evaluation car was mostly listing around
series.
7.6l/100km (37mpg) with tempting 4.6l/100km
Under the bonnet sits the delightful three-cylinder, (61mpg) available instantaneously at 100km/h, the
1.5-litre engine. It must be said that three-potters engine turning over leisurely at 1600rpm.
are different in the way they sound and react, not Like its predecessors, the Focus has quality
that that is a problem, but there are harmonics handling. I’ve long admired the way European
which the occupants can pick up. I’m a big threecylinder
engine fan, they develop strong low steers with precision and accuracy. The Titanium-
Fords tackle tight and twisty terrain, the Focus
down torque, and that is what you want in any spec Focus does sit a little firm on the road and that
engine, and if you add in turbocharged boost then has a lot to do with the low profile tyres (235/40 x
the Focus feels feisty and decisive when asked to 18in), however, the ride isn’t compromised greatly,
perform.
there is compliance within the suspension.
Ford claims a very impressive 134kW (6000rpm) Ford of New Zealand, and the dealerships,
and 240Nm power outputs from the twin-camshaft must still be happy with their position in the
unit. The torque output is delivered low in the marketplace. Ranger is still the number one seller
rev band at 1600rpm with a long, broad stretch nationwide, and the rest of the Ford line-up is
to 4500rpm and that contributes to the feeling ticking over consistently. The Focus is there to
of willingness and urgency. Sure, a standstill to tempt the small-to-mid hatchback (or wagon)
100km/h time of 8.9sec isn’t earth-shattering, but buyer and it is very capable in all conditions. And
the Focus in this form does have punch through
with petrol sitting at around $2.30 a litre, that wee
FOCUS TREND
the mid-range and that’s what is important, it will
engine is a
HATCH
real money-saver.
$
easily make a 5sec 80km/h to 120km/h overtaking
Price – ford focus titanium, $41,990
manoeuvre.
Drive is channelled
99
through an eight-speed
Dimensions – Length, 4378mm; width,
automatic transmission and it harnesses the
1823mm; height, 1454mm
available power beautifully, the proximity of ratios
Configuration – three-cylinder, frontwheel-drive,
1497cc, 134kW, 240Nm,
means the engine never goes off song and the
correct gear is always selected for each moment.
eight-speed automatic.
The gearing is such that it also makes economic
Performance – 0-100km/h, 8.9sec
use of fuel. Ford claims a 6.1l/100km (46mpg)
combined cycle average. The fuel usage readout
fuel usage – 6.1l/100km
11
living
life
Motoring
per week
1
+ 10% DEPOSIT
Total payable $33,941, based on RRP $31,990
BOOK A TEST DRIVE
term, with 10% deposit and 25.95% balloon payment (to be paid at the end of the loan) on a purchase price of $31,990. The RRP of
road cost and include a PPSR fee of $10.35, UDC loan fee of $100 and Dealer origination fee of up to $350. Advertised weekly price is based
e loan is provided by UDC Finance Limited (and UDC Finance Limited’s standard terms and conditions and lending and credit criteria apply).
GUARANTEED QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM AN AWARD-WINNING DEALERSHIP
Avon City Ford
Cnr Main South Rd and Epsom Rd, Sockburn | CHRISTCHURCH | 03 348 4129 or 0800 655 551
Rangiora Service Centre | 78 Ivory St | 03 313 7059 | avoncityford.co.nz
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