RoadTest: 2013 Focus 1.0L Ecoboost

[Cambo351]

As this model is not available in Australia, I thought you all might be interested in my own hands on experience with the new 2013 Focus 1.0L Ecoboost.

Here it is in all it's Fridge White glory!



The last time I drove a Focus I was pretty disappointed. Last year I had a 2012 1.6L Turbo Diesel "Econetic" manual wagon as a hire car, did 1200kms over a couple of weeks, a mix of peak-hour city traffic, German Autobahns, twisty backroads through the Black Forest. It was really awful. Gutless, loud (road noise), uncomfortable and frustrating.

When they handed me the keys I had a quick look at the Hertz tag & wondered "what's this 1.0 mean? surely that's not the size of the motor?" well sure enough this 5 door medium size hatchback has a 998cc motor with a turbo. My expectations were very low...

Styling

Well yeah, it's a Focus. I love the front end styling. It's just the right mix of cutting edge and sensible design.



The side profile is not bad, but the 16" alloys really let it down. The 18" from the ST are the ideal wheel from a styling point of view.



The rear end styling let's it down, in my eyes anyhow..



The apparently functional roof spoiler sucks all the dirt up onto the back window...



But overall the styling is very contemporary, the Focus is definitely a good looking hatchback.

Interior

For a rental-spec car, this one is very well equipped. A few highlights off the top of my head;

- Dual-zone climate
- Bluetooth phone
- Single-slot CD
- USB & AUX inputs
- Voice Control
- Power windows & mirrors (not powerfold)
- Heated windscreen

The steering wheel has about 30 controls on it. The dash is dominated by the media controls, with a little LCD screen at the top. Another LCD sits in between the speedo & tacho which will display just about anything.

The front seats are very supportive, borderline sporty with thick side bolsters, but not difficult to get in & out of. The cloth is, well, it's cloth...
Seats are manually adjusted. After a couple of minutes I could almost find a comfortable driving position (take note of almost).





What this one is missing is parking sensors, and a nice leather interior. Which i'm sure could be sorted by ticking the right boxes on the order sheet.

On the road

First of all, try to put the fact that it's a 1.0L engine out of your mind.
And then be pleasantly surpised at how normal this car is to drive. It's not slow, ok it's not a rocket either, but it holds it's own under normal driving conditions. You would never guess that's it's a 1.0L engine under there.

There is a little turbo lag, but certainly not the worst. Once underway the in gear accelleration is "good" so long as you keep it above 1800rpm. Which isn't that easy since there is a little light that tells you to shift up a gear in order to improve economy, I couldn't find anywhere to turn it off, so I chose to ignore it.

The stop-start function, as always, can be pretty annoying, especially in heavy traffic. I put this down to the manual transmission, but TBH i wouldn't want to have this car as an auto either.

Clutch is ok, maybe a little too long throw for my taste. The shifter reminds me exactly why I put a short-throw sports shifter in my old Mondeo ST, it's not that the throws are too long (they are "normal") it's that they are too long to just shift with your wrist while keeping your elbow on the center console. Actually changed my mind, they are too long...but that can be solved in the aftermarket.

Fuel consumption, as expected, is pretty low, I've averaged 6.8L/100km in a combined cycle over a few 100kms so far.

My verdict

If Ford brings this 1.0L model to Oz, and you are in the market for a 5-door hatch, then try it out. You will really be surprised. I certainly was.

If I was in the market for a manual 5-door hatch as a city runabout (which i'm currently not) then I would probably go for it. For my taste it would have to get leather seats, and i'd probably want electric adjustment on the seats too. Oh, and a set of ST wheels. And some way of permanently turning off the stop/start.

Have no doubt, that smaller engines with more efficient forced induction are the way of the future.

I am very impressed with this car.

[Nolz]

Thanks for the review! It would be very interesting indeed to see something like this in Australia (though I have my doubts about whether Ford Aust. will bring it to our shores). I am very curious to see how such a small engine feels/drives in our conditions. Especially coming from the 2L diesel that I currently own.

[DJM83]

I think this car would sell quite well here in OZ, but alas i cant see it coming here.

Nice write up.

[marg99]

It would come if it would sell. But aussies are not into very small displacement cars and Ford will make a commercial decision

[In Focus]

I believe the motor will be available in the small Fiesta-based SUV (Ecosport) that's coming, and possibly in the next Australian Fiesta. People moan about the 1.6 in the Focus, so yeah, that seems unlikely. There are stronger incentives to use less petrol and produce less emissions in Europe, hence why this option is available.

[kevino]

Six speed manual tick tick tick.

Why are Fiestas and Focuses sold here only sold with 5 speed manuals?

[RSgerry]

a nice and small motor putting out 123hp would go in the Anglia quite nicely.