One of the first Ford ‘world car’ models to do well here in the United States, when the Ford Focus was initially introduced, it was heralded as a revelation in compact cars. That first Focus was fun to drive, got great fuel economy, demonstrated good build quality, and was affordable. Of course, success breeds imitators, so before long the Focus found itself outclassed. For the 2012 model year, Ford completely reworked the model and this contemporary version is without question one of the best iterations of the Focus offered. Offered in both sedan and hatchback body styles, power comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, developing 160 horsepower and 146 ft-lbs of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is the base offering for the front-drive powertrain while a six-speed dual clutch gearbox is the optional offering. There is also an electric version of the car. Available equipment includes automatic headlights, Bluetooth, a touchscreen interface for secondary functions; voice activation for the phone, audio, and navigation systems; and full power accessories. Safety gear included automatic crash notification, a rear view camera, stability control, traction control, and anti-lock brakes. NHTSA awarded the Ford Focus four of five starts in overall crash protection while the IIHS says the Focus earned its highest rating (“Good”) in frontal-offset, side impact, and roof strength testing.
