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Weekend roadtest : Ford Focus ECOnetic
publication date: Apr 10, 2010
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author/source: Robin Roberts
| | It’s one of the biggest selling cars in Britain, but
the newest Ford Focus now gives you less – lower fuel bills and running
costs thanks to its ECOnetic technology.
Using
state of art electronics to cut off fuel when it’s not really needed
and recharging the system to reduce the strain of frequent restating as
well as beefed up mechanicals to withstand intensive use, the Focus
ECOnetic is designed from the outset to maximise economy without a light
footed approach from the driver. |  | If you take an ordinary Ford Focus and drive it in a
deliberate way to extend economy you may well match or exceed the figure
obtained without any direct driver input behind the wheel of the
ECOnetic, but it is much easier to let the clever new car do the work.
As
it is, the Focus ECOnetic is a very easy to drive model with good
starting system, reasonable pull and very relaxed cruising ability. The
engine is smooth and quiet, the clutch pedal light and the gearchange
direct and effortless. | Underfoot, the brakes needed light effort to affect
strong and progressive deceleration and the parking brake securely held
it on a test slope while the steering had a good turning circle for ease
of town use and did not suffer from vibration at speed but I would have
liked greater feel on open roads.
The secondary controls were all neatly grouped around the
wheel and column, operated with a satisfying precision and were clearly
visible.
Instruments are comparatively simple and clearly displayed
backed by the usual warning lights.
Heating and ventilation is similarly
straightforward, works well and has good direction and output.
For
families, the Focus has plenty of oddments room in the cabin either in
the front or back seats and it has a particularly deep rear parcel shelf
and big seat and door pockets as well as a range of recesses on the
central console. |  | Access for users is good with wide opening doors and
low hip height to the seats and if you need to use the boot it opens
from bumper level, reveals a low sill and is sensibly shaped to take big
items. You can reach things from the side doors as well and the seats
easily fold down to gradually raise the capacity from 385 litres to 1247
litres.
The comfort and support of the seats is very good for a
family car, the front pair have a really useful adjustment range for
tall to short drivers and even in the back the room is reasonable. | Ride quality is generally good, some bad bumps are felt
however when taken slowly, but it usually soaks up irregularities at
speed without complaint.
The Focus handling is really very good for
what is a family car and better than many sports cars of a decade ago
and it is safe and sure footed with no real vices displayed at normal
speed.
You can precisely place the Focus thanks to the good
visibility it has and at night or in rain the lights and wipers are very
good at their job. |  | So, coming around to the performance which is the reason
the ECOnetic was created, the acceleration is acceptable for traffic
conditions but come to a halt and the sophisticated fuel management
system shuts it off and stops the engine until you touch the throttle or
dip the clutch to restart, hence the stop-start name.
You have to
use the gears a lot to fully exploit the engine’s power band, but it
rewards drivers with remarkable economy without trying to extend their
abilities too much.
In normal driving it will comfortably return
over 50mpg and that is very good for a modern well equipped, comfortable
and versatile family car and it comes with low emissions and tax bands
as well as reasonable insurance rates.
It does carry a premium over a
comparable non-ECOnetic Focus but the cost of ownership and residual
values will reflect the longer term savings which are possible.
©Robin Roberts |
FAST FACTS Ford Focus ECOnetic 1.6TDCI DPF 5dr
Start-stop |
| Price: £20,427 | Max speed: 119mph | CO2 emissions: 99gkm | | Insurance group: 15 | 0-62mph: 11.8sec | BIK rating: 13pc | | Mechanical: 109ps 1560cc 4cyl, 5sp | Combined mpg: 51mpg | Warranty: 3yrs/ 60K |
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