Key strengths: Decent handling, good mpg, comfy seats
Areas for improvement: Not thought out well, narrow interior, no better than older Focus
The engine is low tech and does not have things such as throttle by wire, direct injection, VTEC(or similar). While it can cruise at speeds of 80 mph, it feels like you are really having to push it to maintain the speed and feels out of its element. It does not feel as lively off the line as other Ford models I have driven with the same engine; perhaps gearing has something to do with it, It is rated at the obligatory 140hp, a standard it seems in the compact(not economy) market. It is no speed demon, but at the current price of $4.23 for a gallon of gas that has somehow lost all it's importance to me. How times change. Now I worry more about keeping my speed between 60-65 mph without being run over by all the other speed demons. As a side note, in about 85% highway driving I averaged 31 mpg. Not the 35 mpg they advertise so heavily, but I was driving a rental car so admittedly I was driving it harder and faster than I normally would.
No gripes about the suspension. It soaks up bumps without losing composure and has good high speed stability. The steering felt just right. Not to firm and not too loose. Neutral you could say. I did a fair amount of low speed cornering in this car coming back down the mountain from Yosemite and the car behaved well with only modest body roll. The grip was obviously limited by the tires, but still decent for a car in this class.
I almost did not mention the transmission or brakes, because they are so ordinary. Nothing good or bad to say. Performed just as you would expect in a lower priced car. 4 speed automatic and front disc/rear drum brake set up. My preference is the manual transmission, which is an option as a 5 speed.
The areas I feel the car lacking in are attention to detail. It's the little things that were not included or simply left out that really makes me disappointed. After giving this quite some thought I think their emphasis was on the "SYNC" system, which is their audio/verbal command system which is a join The running costs for Ford Focus Automatic are normal
Safety: 81
Equipment: 78
Reliability: 75
Driving: 76
Comfort: 75
Design: 88