2016 Ford Focus

The Focus comes loaded with a lot of standard safety features along with some impressive scores in tests conducted by various authorities in terms of safety. It features three trims along with a similar engine but varying transmission setups. The cargo space available is also spacious along with foldable seats which are easy to fold. Starting at an MSRP of $17,225, it competes against the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, and Toyota Corolla.

The 2016 Ford Focus sedan is offered in total three trims named the S, SE, and the Titanium trim levels respectively. Powering the car is a 2.0 L naturally aspirated Inline-4 engine with a varying transmission setup in different trims. All the trims differ in terms of features offered, price starting from $17,225 the S trim which gets features like steering mounted controls, anti-theft alarm system, and much more. The SE trim is priced at $18,515 and gets all the features from the base list along with add-ups like Cruise Control, optional Heated Mirrors, 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps, and Ford's MyKey system. More details are mentioned below:

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The buyers of Ford Focus are offered three trims with pretty premium features in the highest-end trim but even the base trim comes along with a handsome feature list. Among these, Titanium is the one that caught our eye. The Titanium sees a steep rise in the price and sells at $23,225 but receives various premium features like Keyless ignition, rear parking aid, fog lamps, and so on, along with other features. It shines as a value for money deal. Under its hood, it receives a similar engine with a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

The 2016 Ford Focus has a standard 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine in all of its trims that produces an engine output of 160 hp and 146 lb-ft of net torque on a front-wheel-drive system. The engine is similar across the trims but the gearbox is different. The S and SE trim gets a 5-speed manual transmission while the top-end trim, the Titanium model, comes connected to a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

 The Ford focus gets taut suspensions along with quick steering providing a sporty ride without compromising the comfort of the vehicle. It is one of the most enjoyable cars in its category when it comes to driving pleasure. It also offers an optional 1.0 L three-cylinder engine that produces 123 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque. This is a more fuel-efficient engine. The Ford Focus sedan also comes with confident brakes and hence is a very enjoyable car.

Among the lot, the Ford Focus receives a larger engine as compared to its rivals, except the Honda Civic which is priced much higher in the segment and gets a 2.0 L Inline-4 engine as well. In terms of performance, the Ford Focus dominated the segment in terms of numbers leaving other rivals behind. The Civic is just behind it giving out a total power output of 158hp but despite better performance specs, the Ford loses to the Honda in the 0-60 dash and the quarter-mile specs. The Ford still managed to pull off a better top speed than the others.

The 2016 Ford Focus returns up to 27 mpg in the city, 40 mpg on highways, and 31 mpg on combined usage with its standard four-cylinder engine. It is among the better-performing cars in terms of fuel efficiency all thanks to its optional 6-speed automatic transmission and improved aerodynamics. On its 5-speed manual gearbox, the figures go down a bit. The Ford Focus gets a big 12.4-gallon fuel tank giving it a decent overall range.

The Ford Focus offers a pretty good EPA figure but here the Toyota Corolla shines as it carries an extra mile in the city for every gallon of fuel. The Corolla is also the one with the largest fuel tank; so coupled with its impressive efficiency it features the best overall range among the lot. Although the fuel efficiency and range of the Ford Focus are admirable, it is still just an average performer among its key competitors and due to its smaller fuel tank features the lowest overall range.

The interior of the 2016 Ford Focus features a well-built upscale cabin. The Focus can fit up to five people with comfort. The interior design looks classy and sophisticated and offers comfortable seats with adequate bolstering and cushioning. The available leather upholstery is quite fine along with other features like heated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat that offers a very comfortable drive.

The sound insulation of the cabin is well done and thus gets impressively low NVH levels inside the cabin. Talking about space, the Ford disappoints a little in the front, offering compromised knee space but can accommodate riders over six feet as headroom and legroom are decent. At the back, the legroom falls a little short but still feels pretty comfortable. The Ford Focus features 13.2 cubic feet of cargo space.

The 2016 Ford Focus doesn’t offer much space in the front row when compared to its rivals but the rear seats are better than most among the lot. For the front row, the Elantra dominates the segment with spacious head and legroom. The cargo capacity offered in Focus is not that impressive as it gets a smaller cargo space when compared to most of its rivals. The Honda Civic is the one with the most spacious cargo space which can accommodate a total of 15.1 cubic feet of cargo inside it. Major interior features include-

• 6-way Power Driver Seat
• Cargo Mat
• Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel
• Interior Air Filtration
• Heated Mirrors
• Steering Mounted Controls

How intuitive is the infotainment unit?

All the trims of the 2016 Ford Focus are available with an 8-inch touchscreen and 5-inch display screen which is connected to a rearview camera. The Focus comes standard with the SYNC 3 system replacing the previous MyFord touchscreen systems. The SYNC 3 system is extremely easy to figure out due to its user-friendly interface. It can be operated just like the way a smartphone is used. The SYNC3 system features a voice-control system that is very responsive to commands and the AppLink capability for the on-screen operation of various smartphone apps is useful. Among the basic specs, it gets AM/FM stereo, CD Player, and MP3 Player. Some of the other features include:

• Auxiliary Audio Input
• USB Connection
• Speed-Sensitive Volume Control
• Smart Device Integration
• Memory card slot (Titanium trim only)
• 4/6/10-speaker sound system

The exterior 2016 Ford Focus looks distinctive and appeals to a lot of buyers. The styling of Focus feels more upscale and stylish as compared to most of its rivals and in the Titanium model, the design is pushed to the best. At the front, the sedan gets a wide-mouth grille in the entire line-up, giving an impressive front fascia. Looking at the side profile, it features a 15-inch steel wheel with an option to upgrade 16/17-inch wheels. 

The sculpted crease on the sides gives it stunning looks and improved aerodynamic efficiency. The stylish taillights and rear spoiler give it a rather distinguishing character as well. Features like fog lamps, rear wing spoilers, and chrome door handle also make it much more appealing to buyers. The Titanium trim gets an Exterior Protection Package that includes a rear bumper protector and molded splash guards for front and rear bodyside graphics.

Talking about the external dimensions, all the rivals in the lot feature similar wheelbase dimensions while the Ford Focus gets the shortest wheelbase of 104.3 inches. The Ford Focus has the heaviest curb weight while in terms of length the Toyota Corolla is the longest with 182.6 inches in length. This is also reflected in how roomy the Corolla is on the inside. Some of the other exterior highlights include:

• Exterior Protection Package (optional)
• 15 -inch Wheels
• 16/17-inch Wheels(optional)
• Rear Spoiler (available with the Titanium trim only)
• Optional sunroof
• Fog lamps

The structure on which the Ford Focus is built is providing top safety performance in a wide range of crash tests done showing the brand’s intention in providing a safe vehicle. The Focus is a reliable vehicle offered along with a large range of safety features. In the crash tests done by authorities, the Ford Focus has done exceptionally well and earned a ‘Good’ rating from IIHS in the moderate overlap front, side-impact, rear crash protection, and roof-strength tests. 

Along with this it also earned the second-highest rating of ‘Acceptable’ in the small overlap front assessment.  In the tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it received five stars in the frontal and side crash tests and four stars in the rollover test. The Focus comes equipped with standard features like brake assist, traction control, and child safety locks. Along with the standard safety features the Titanium trim gets several optional safety features, which include a blind-spot monitor, lane-keeping assist, and lane departure warning. Some of the standard features include:

• Post-collision Safety System
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Anti-theft Alarm System
• Engine Immobilizer
• Child seat anchors
• Front and rear head airbags

The Ford Focus is a fun-to-drive sedan with several standard features and a long list of safety features with impressive safety scores. Even though it lacks a bit in terms of EPA figures and might not be the top pick for people looking for the best economy vehicle, it does provide excellent performance in the segment. The comfort level is very impressive along with a well-built and upscale cabin. The exterior styling is decent and attracts a lot of buyers. Although there are better options in the market like the 2016 Honda Civic that offer comparable performance specs and fuel economy, due to its higher price the Focus seems to be a better deal in comparison.