Ford would love it if you saw the Focus's new face as a smaller
rendition of the more prestigious Ford Five Hundred. Ford calls the
Focus's new exterior more "upscale and aspirational." You might notice
the larger headlamps with reshaped clear lenses, a larger grille with a
new crosshatch pattern ringed in chrome, and a new fascia that
incorporates a wide lower air intake and new round fog lamps. Then
again, you might not.
Two-tone interiors are nice, but the reason we loved the previous
Focus--even the non-SVT models--was the way they rode and drove. In that
regard, Ford hasn't messed with success. The rack-and-pinion steering
and a four-wheel independent suspension that uses MacPherson struts in
front and a multi-link "Control Blade" design are still here. Our ZXW
SES came with 16-inch alloy wheels and all wagons are fitted with 21
millimetre front and a 20 millimetre rear stabilizer bars. The rear
stabilizer bar also allows lower rear spring rates to be used, for
better ride quality.
Understeer is ultimately what you get when driving the Focus ZXW like
you stole it. However, the steering has tons of feel, and there's
enough feedback from the chassis to communicate the attitude of the
car's behaviour. It's not a MINI Cooper, but the rear of the car can be
coaxed into thinking its part of the fun. Compared to the more wooden
and woolly Jetta, ride and handling is where the Focus shines.
Especially over our rutted and bombed out roads. The Focus's ability to
ride with the road, as opposed to attempting to pound it into
submission, is what makes it unique in this class. As before, the Focus
approaches the level of ride and handling that BMW's are pined for. A
Jetta wagon may have better interior build quality and status, but
going down the road, the Focus wins.
Because our wagon was not an ST packaged sedan, like every other 2005
Focus, it came with the new 136 horsepower, 2.0 litre DOHC,
straight-four that supercedes the old 110 horsepower, 2.0 litre single
overhead cam and the optional 130 horsepower engines. This engine
betters the Jetta GLS's 115 horsepower 2.0 litre four by 21, but its
raucous manner fills the cabin easily with unwanted noise. When
equipped with slushboxes, both the Focus and Jetta acceleration
abilities are non-threatening to anyone with neck problems.
The 2005 Ford Focus wagon presents a compelling value equation.
If hauling is a priority, consider that the Focus still has more cargo
room than such pricey compact wagons as Audi's A4 Avant 1.8T Front
Track ($36,435), BMW's 325i Touring ($41,400), or even Volvo's V50 2.4i
($31,495).
Nonetheless, if you are comparing within its own price class, and
fun-to-drive is a priority, the 2005 Focus wagon is difficult to
ignore.
If you forsake the options that our ZXW SES model came with (such as
the automatic), the Focus is still well equipped, and thousands less
than a less powerful, lesser equipped Jetta wagon. And regardless of
its somewhat thrashy mill, and questionable seat comfort, the 2005 Ford
Focus ZXW SES easily beats out the similarly priced Toyota Matrix XR
($21,185)/Pontiac Vibe ($19,850) twins or Chevrolet Optra LS wagon
($18,650) as the compact wagon for those who love to drive.
- John LeBlanc, Publisher, straight-six.com