The previous version of this SUV was the third most favorite car in Britain and for good reason. It is proof that despite the rise of the crossovers, hatchbacks are still king. In the 2019 version, Ford improved on areas where the previous version was lagging behind its competitors. These include the rear legroom, interior, boot space, and the onboard tech.

Engine and Drive Performance

Performance & drive

In the entry-level 1-liter petrol engine, you will get 84bhp. However, if you want great performance, you should opt for the Ecoboost 125, which comes with a 1-liter engine and is capable of 123bhp. If you often carry many people or you simply want more of a punch, you should go for the 1.5-liter petrol engines.

For diesel fans, you will get 118bhp in the 1.5-liter Ecoblue 120. In the Ecoblue 150 2-liter diesel engine, you will 148bhp. There are two gearbox options this year. You can opt for the 6-speed manual transmission or the 8-speed auto transmission. However, the former is much fun to drive that it would be hard to justify spending extra for the auto.

Ride Comfort and Suspension

The Ford Focus is an SUV designed for fun driving, no matter which one you pick. It comes with a wide array of suspension options. In the lower-powered trims, the rear suspension is relatively simple but still delivers comfortable driving. In the higher-end trims, you will get a more refined setup that reduces any uncomfortable movements at high speeds, although marginally. On the top trim levels with powerful petrol engines, you can even get adaptive dampers.

Handling

No matter the suspension you pick, the Focus is an SUV guaranteed to offer superb handling. Combined with awesome steering, it is clear that a keen driver should consider the Ford Focus above any other SUV. The higher-powered cars have better composure over the mid-corner bumps but the ST-Line models with a stiffer suspension produce the least body lean during corners.

Vibrations and Noise

The three-cylinder petrol engine produces the most noise but never gets to annoying levels. The Ecoblue 120 1.5-liter diesel engine grumbles the most at low levels but is still smoother than other cars in its class. While you can expect some noise from the door mirrors on the motorway, the road noise is quite subdued.

The Interior

Ford promised a better interior design and it has kept its promise. The design is tighter, cleaner, and more logical. In the base models, you get either a 6.5 or 8-inch touchscreen and the latest Sync3 infotainment system from Ford. In the automatic, Ford has chosen to replace the handbrake lever with an electronic switch. There is also an optional heads up display in all trims. Thanks to the increased wheelbase, the legroom is now 700mm, which is larger than most of its competitors. It also comes with some great safety tech such as the AEB, which include lane keeping assistance and pedestrian detection. There are also parking sensors, post-impact braking system, and 180-degree rear view camera.

Summary

The Ford Focus 2019 is well  tuned with some fine engine options, great steering, and great cornering. It will be worth every penny you spend on it. Prices start at €22,805 for the Zetec model, build your new Ford focus at https://www.carquotes.ie/build/make:ford/model:all-new-focus-saloon