Ford Focus 3 cramped interior. Ford Focus III: test of the Russian road. The oval ventilation deflectors, the rounded visor of the instrument scale, which had become boring to many, disappeared from the dashboard

For many years, Ford Focus has been one of the best-selling foreign cars on the Russian market. Over its 16-year history, more than 750 thousand Focus vehicles of three generations have been sold in our country. But with all the prevalence of the model, potential buyers of Focus 3 are interested to know what kind of car it is, how does it drive and behave on the road? Let's try to figure it out ...

Appearance when choosing a car for many plays a primary role, and with this, the Ford Focus is all right: it is beautiful, elegant, sporty and fit both in the sedan body and in the hatchback body. But there are no comrades for the taste and color, so you do not need to get hung up on the exterior, but go straight to the interior of the car.

The salon of the "third Focus" is not made without grace, and the obvious redundancy in it of all kinds of buttons and levers per unit area does not cause rejection. And the quality of plastics and assembly is excellent.

You can only find fault with the blue-violet displays and button illumination. Despite the fact that its brightness was muted, all the same, this "cyanosis" is not entirely pleasing to the eye. The good news is that the instrument scales have white backlighting, which is softer and better perceived.

During operation, you may get the impression that a good part of the buttons and inscriptions on them are made too small. Indeed, it is so, and with its diversity and dense layout, the center console resembles an aircraft cockpit. When you first get into the "third Focus", you get a little confused, overshooting in search of the desired function. However, you get used to everything quickly, and it is worth noting that the main controls on the car do not suffer from a dwarf disease.

A Sony audio system with a 5-inch LCD display, six speakers, USB and AUX ports, Bluetooth support, voice control, and multi-steering wheel control is available for the Ford Focus. In addition, a 4.2-inch color display is located on the dashboard, which shows the readings of the on-board computer. The music sounds decent and of high quality, its control is quite clear and simple. But reading navigation readings is not very convenient, and all because of the too small screen.

The front seats in the Ford Focus, regardless of body type, are suitable for people of almost any body size - they are simply comfortable.
But in the back seat it is more comfortable to sit in a hatchback, since the sedan has a more sloping roof, which takes away a certain amount of space above your head.

The engine range of the sedan and the hatchback is slightly different: the base of the "five-door" is a 1.6-liter unit, producing 85 horsepower and 141 Nm of torque, which is paired with a 5-speed "mechanics". Here we can only say one thing: if you can still move around the city more or less confidently in such a car, then it is better not to meddle on the track, since it accelerates sluggishly and uncertainly, and the lack of power will be especially acute on busy highways.

With a 1.6-liter 105-horsepower engine, you can combine both "mechanics" and the 6-band PowerShift "robot" with two clutches. But even this Ford Focus has mediocre dynamics. If it is still enough for a quiet ride in the urban cycle, then the track and overtaking are not quite his element. In general, turning the engine is useless: at high speeds there will be much more noise than the dynamics. And again, it is better to combine a 105-horsepower unit with a manual gearbox, since the robotic transmission does not allow its full (and so small) potential to be unleashed. Its purpose is to calmly deliver you from point A to point B, and it will suit, perhaps, only an openly phlegmatic driver.

Another 1.6-liter engine produces 125 horsepower and 159 Nm of torque. In civilian modes, it is quite quiet and economical, but if you twist it well, then it shows good activity. But again, he is able to fully reveal his talents with a five-speed manual transmission. With the robotic PowerShift box, the Ford Focus 3 will satisfy only a calm person without driver's ambitions. The responses to the accelerator are damped, and the "sport mode" does not seriously change the picture.

A two-liter engine with 150 "horses" and 202 Nm of peak torque is the best option for those who like dynamic driving. And to fully realize the potential of a perfectly tuned chassis (more on that later) allows, again, the manual gearbox, moreover, the appetite is moderate, and the noise level is low.
The tandem of a 150-horsepower unit with the "mechanics" turns the "Focus" into a driver's car, allowing you to start briskly from a standstill, as well as confidently accelerate from medium speeds, which makes it a pleasure to overtake on the track. Yes, and chasing from traffic light to traffic light and at the same time not falling into the mud with your face on a two-liter car will definitely work.
But in this case, there are some questions to the "robot". In the city cycle, PowerShift copes with its work perfectly, even in traffic jams it changes gears clearly and smoothly. The trouble with the robotic box lies elsewhere - acceleration from medium speeds. For example, moving at a constant speed of 70 km / h, the box turns on the sixth gear for the sake of economy, and if you need to accelerate (for example, for overtaking), then the fourth gear turns on, but the thrust turns out to be completely insufficient - the two-liter unit reaches its peak characteristics by high "revolutions". In addition, it is inherent in the "robot" to think a little before sticking the necessary gear. When overtaking, this behavior certainly does not add positive emotions. In general, with any active action, PowerShift is reluctant to go down. Again, “sport mode” doesn't help much with this motor either. There is even some impression that the company did not adapt the gearbox control program to a 150-horsepower aspirated engine.

Well, in terms of behavior on the road, the "third" Ford Focus is a gambling responsive car, which becomes much more interesting to drive when there are many turns on the way. Excellent feedback is provided by the steering system, which, as speed increases, pours heavier on the steering wheel in proportion to the increase in speed. The car bites into the asphalt to the last, therefore, in order to introduce it into the demolition or skid, you need to try hard.
The suspension of the Ford Focus is comfortable: there is a slight buildup on the waves, hard bumps are overcome elastically, and small pits and potholes are dampened by 16-inch tires of 215/55 dimension. A car with a 150-horsepower engine is equipped with 17-inch wheels (215/50), although the smoothness of the ride suffers from this a little, but the Focus does not turn into a stool. In general, a certain rigidity of the car's suspension is justified, and its energy consumption is at a height.

The hatchback is slightly lighter than the sedan, which affects the behavior. It is more reckless, and because of its dynamic appearance, it is perceived as a more sports car. On the Ford Focus III hatchback, you just want to submerge the gas, take a turn as quickly as possible, or just arrange a high-speed drive from traffic lights to traffic lights. But at the same time, do not forget which engine and type of gearbox are installed on the car. On the sedan, you want to drive calmly and measuredly.

In all trim levels, the "third" Ford Focus is equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with an emergency braking assistance system. Electronic Stability Program (ESP) is available for all versions except the basic one, but somewhere as an option, but somewhere standard. She constantly monitors the parameters of the movement of the machine and, when necessary, makes effective adjustments. It is worth noting that you cannot turn it off completely, but you can use the "limited help" mode.
It would not be superfluous to mention the innovative technology of automatic braking called Active City Stop, installed on expensive versions of the "Focus", which, when driving at speeds up to 30 km / h, helps to avoid collisions with other cars. When the system detects a collision hazard, it automatically applies the brakes (see the crash test page for details). It also deserves attention because it won the EuroNCAP Advanced Reward for security.

The steering is sharp - 2.5 turns from lock to lock. The car responds to the driver's hand movements quickly, but not abruptly. The steering wheel of the previous Focus is not so sharp (2.9 turns), but it is better in terms of information content. The fact is that in the new model, the hydraulic amplifier was replaced with an electric one and the feedback became somewhat artificial. Aside from slipping, the steering works great, though. The only thing that I do not understand is why the turning circle has increased compared to its predecessor from 10.4 to 11 m. For a car of the “C” size class, this is unforgivable.

The smoothness of the station wagon, in my opinion, is excellent. The roads of Serbia are at times no better than ours - there are potholes with cracks, and sloppily stuck patches, and humps with dips. Suspension Focus Wagon softly and resiliently fulfills almost the entire range of local irregularities and at the same time does not allow the body to sway. In the rear seats, the bumps are felt a little stronger, but here, too, it is quite comfortable. Compared to its predecessor, the chassis seems stiffer and more assembled, but at the same time it “rounds out” bumps noticeably better. In addition, the new generation model is quieter. The rumble from the tires, as before, is present, especially in the rear seats, but it has become less annoying. However, it all depends on the choice of tires. But at high speed the wind whistles quite quietly and the noise picture as a whole turns out to be quite comfortable.

Tuning the chassis of a car, designers are always forced to compromise, balancing between handling and smoothness. If you make the chassis more comfortable, the handling will deteriorate, and if you improve the handling, the ride quality will suffer. But the suspension tuners at Ford don't get paid for nothing. Regardless of body type, the new Focus combines a smooth ride with excellent handling.

The car pleases with "rail" stability on a straight line - even at high speed and on uneven roads. The steering wheel becomes heavier with increasing tempo, allowing the driver to relax. The predecessor could not boast of such directional stability - at high speed it began to sway and prowl over bumps. And in turns, the station wagon behaves perfectly, willingly directing the nose wherever the driver orders. In tight corners, you can feel how the rear suspension steers, "pushing" the car in the right direction. The new Focus rides more recklessly than the reference Volkswagen Golf in this class, and practically does not yield to it in terms of control reliability.

In terms of driving behavior, the station wagon version is no different from the sedan and hatchback. Slightly tighter rear suspension settings are practically not felt in practice. At the same time, the station wagon is much more spacious and practical. Europe has already tried this type of body for a long time, and in Russia the matter has moved off the ground. More and more buyers are choosing station wagons, and the new Ford Focus Wagon is one of the best deals in this segment.

Options and prices
The new Focus station wagon is already on sale in Russian car dealerships. The simplest modification with a 1.6-liter petrol engine with 85 hp. it is offered only with a 5-speed "mechanics" and costs 634,000 rubles, which is 25,000 rubles more than a similar version with a sedan body and 35,000 rubles more than a version with a hatchback body. The cheapest option with a 1.6-liter 105-horsepower engine and a manual transmission is sold for 646,000 rubles. The complete set with “automatic” PowerShift increases the price by 35,000 rubles. A modification with a 125-horsepower version of the same engine costs 670,000 rubles with “mechanics” and 705,000 rubles with PowerShift. The next variant is equipped with a 2-liter petrol unit with a capacity of 150 hp. It is sold at a price of 713,000 rubles with a manual transmission and from 748,000 rubles with an automatic transmission. And the most expensive modification in the model line at the moment with a 140-horsepower turbodiesel will cost the buyer no less than 872,500 rubles. Turbo diesels are expensive these days.

COMPARE YOURSELF

25.11.2016

Ford Focus 3 (Ford Focus) it is difficult to call a simple and unpretentious car, this car is not only beautiful from the outside, but also has a modern exterior and equipment. Despite this, the third generation Focus, unlike the previous version, did not become a bestseller, however, the number of used Ford Focus 3 in the secondary market is huge, therefore, we had no right to ignore this car. Today we'll talk about the most common drawbacks of Focus 3, and what you should look for when buying this used car.

A bit of history:
In 1998, the Escort model was replaced by the first Ford Focus, its debut took place at the Geneva auto show, where the novelty made a splash. The second generation Focus made its debut in September 2004 in Paris. In 2005, the production of a car was launched in Russia, at a plant in Vsevolozhsk. became a real bestseller of the brand and was one of the ten best-selling cars in the world. In the CIS, in order to get this car, many had to wait for their turn for 6 months.
Ford Focus 3 (Mk 3) was first demonstrated in early 2010 at the Detroit International Auto Show. Despite this, the official sales of the novelty in the CIS started only in 2012. The car was created on the platform “ C1”And was offered in three body styles - a five-door hatchback, a sedan and a station wagon. Unlike previous versions, the novelty is equipped with a large number of electronic systems that were previously unavailable for most Ford models. Four configurations were available for our market - Ambiente, Trend, Trend Sport and Titanium, there is also a charged version of the "ST". The third generation Ford Focus was produced until 2015.

Weaknesses Ford Focus 3 with mileage

The paintwork of this car, frankly, is weak, scratches appear even from minor contacts with bushes and brushes at car washes. Despite this, corrosion on the body of a car is quite rare. When inspecting the car, be sure to pay attention to the condition of the bumpers, since according to statistics, on every second copy, the standard front bumper mounts are broken off.

Power units

Ford Focus 3 was equipped with gasoline and diesel power units of varying degrees of boost: gasoline 1.6 (85, 105 and 125 hp), 2.0 (150 and 250 hp); diesel 1 .6 (95, 115 hp), 2.0 (115, 140 and 163 hp). Complaints about the reliability of Ford engines are rare, and the third generation Focus is no exception. The engines of this car are quite reliable, and if any problems arise with them, then, as a rule, they are insignificant. One of the features of gasoline power units is their noisy operation, especially of an unheated engine. For example, when starting a cold 1.6 engine, you can hear a "clatter" or tapping from under the hood (a feature of the injectors), after warming up, as a rule, annoying sounds disappear. Motor 2.0 also has an unpleasant feature - a loud knock when starting a cold engine (a feature of the high-pressure fuel pump).

On cars produced from 2011 to 2012, there was an unstable operation of the engine "tripping" and loss of traction, the reason was a failure in the firmware of the power unit control unit, later, the manufacturer eliminated this problem by replacing the software. The engine control unit is located near the front bumper, and if there is even a minor blow to the front of the car, it needs to be replaced (the unit costs about $ 1,500). If you constantly drive at high speeds, then oil consumption increases, up to 300 grams per 1000 km. The weak point of diesel engines is its sensitive fuel system, if the car was filled with low-quality fuel, expensive repairs cannot be avoided.

Transmission

The Ford Focus 3 was equipped with a five-speed manual gearbox and a PowerShift robotic transmission with two dry clutches. Unfortunately, the automatic transmission has both technical and operational disadvantages. So, in particular, the owners often refer to jerks, jolts and metallic grinding when changing gears, as well as jerking the car when driving in a traffic jam. If the car was used most of the time in a metropolis, then an expensive repair of this transmission will be needed after 50-60 thousand km (clutch replacement is required).

As for the mechanics, it is quite reliable, but it still has minor drawbacks - leakage of the axle shaft oil seals and acidification of the gear shift cables. To prolong the life of the shift cables, they need to be lubricated every 50,000 km. The clutch lives here for a long time - 120-150 thousand km.

Suspension reliability Ford Focus 3

As a front suspension on Ford Focus 3, MacPherson strut is traditionally used, in the back there is a multi-link independent suspension. The braking system is represented by disc brakes, the steering is equipped with an electro-hydraulic booster. The owners of this car model often complain about the creaking of the suspension in cold weather, dealers do not consider this a breakdown, and call this drawback "a feature of the car." If we talk about the reliability of the suspension, then it is quite tenacious, and coastal operation, on average, will last 70-90 thousand km.

For most modern cars, stabilizer struts live no more than 50,000 km. Shock absorbers, after 70,000 km, as a rule, begin to leak, and closer to 100,000 km they will need to be replaced, at the same time the thrust bearings will have to be replaced. Ball joints, wheel bearings and silent blocks, on average, run about 80,000 km. The breakup levers of the rear suspension fail at a run of 60-70 thousand km. The steering rack is considered the most problematic place in the chassis, and can knock very early (up to 60,000 km). Due to the fact that this unit is not collapsible and changes together with the amplifier, its replacement is not cheap.

Salon

Salon Ford Focus 3 has an original design, but as for this model, the quality of finishing materials and build quality fail, as a result, crickets appear in the cabin in the first year of the car's life. Despite the large number of electrical equipment in the cabin, complaints about their work are extremely rare.

Outcome:

In general, it is a fairly reliable and inexpensive car to maintain (if we do not consider cars with a robotic gearbox), yes, there are certain nuances, but other cars in this price segment also have them.

If you are the owner of this car model, please describe the problems that you had to face during the operation of the car. Perhaps it is your feedback that will help the readers of our site when choosing a car.

Best regards, editors AvtoAvenu

"Za rulem.RF" and "Buy a car" have already written about the car, but none of the 1.6-liter versions were shown on tests in Spain. Well, let's see ...

It seems like it could be easier than grabbing a Focus III wheel with zero on the odometer, pushing on the accelerator, and starting the kilometer count. But the momentary impulse is stopped by intuition, which is also supported by the whisper of the mechanic Petrovich in his back: "There are big doubts about how he will go with this motor ...". An interesting alignment comes out. With such a charismatic physiognomy in the maximum configuration "Titanium", and even with special stages (I will tell about all these joys a little later) Focus III must not only drive well, but also start with the art of a venerable entertainer: the stage will come out ... ". After all, a 5-speed "knob" and a 125-horsepower engine are a fighting tandem, but only today the volume of the engine has decreased from 1.8 liters to 1.6 liters.

The Russian versions of the Focus III have not yet received turbocharged engines. Of the chips - only the variable valve timing system. I'll make a reservation that I have in my hands a version from a series collected in Germany for Russian showrooms. True, it is identical to what will be produced in Vsevolozhsk and sold here.

The first kilometers in Moscow show that the behavior of a Euro 5 subcompact engine is quite expected - it “dulls” at the bottom, especially with climate control turned on, and consumes 12 liters per hundred in traffic jams. But, hopefully, it will roll in. By the way, the new Opel Astra with 115-horsepower engine behaved in about the same way. By the way, jeans made of real denim fit your figure only after washing!

Seven miles is not a detour, and therefore he risked to wave to Yekaterinburg through Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Kirov, Perm. Of course, it is possible through Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan and Chelyabinsk, but well-groomed, by our standards, federal highways pass through them, moreover, insanely loaded. And the northern path is wild, unpredictable in coverage, and ... not much longer than the beaten southern one.

Morning even Yaroslavka pleases with almost complete freedom towards the region. The hastily outflanked Focus III, barely rustling with the 16-inch "Bridgestone", gets used to the "Do what they tell you" driving style, and I, accordingly, to his feedback on the commands. Without being puzzled by overtaking on a multi-lane, I learn the intricacies of the interaction of the engine and the manual gearbox. Gradually, the car comes to life, the engine gains strength.

The springy pedal engages the clutch almost in the center of its stroke, the first one stuck in, as expected, easily and clearly, but without light biting, as was the case in the Focus II. If on it the car starts to decently accelerate from two thousand, then on the second one, for the proper effect, gas must be added. On the speedometer 40, 60, 80, finally, 100 km / h and 6400 rpm on the tachometer! This has been stretched: where can we find the dynamics in the lower end ... The third, by the way, is also longer than that of the Focus II, and is still effective from about 3500 rpm, and at four thousand, all 125 horses feel awake.

In the same range, the fourth one is also good - the "fast" overtaking of the truck near Pereslavl-Zalessky went "with a bang", and then, before turning to Kostroma, the fifth gear dominates. Naturally, in the middle rev range, acceleration on it turns out only very smoothly, but this is enough to vary the speed between 100 and 120 km / h - so far, given the vigilant traffic cops, more is not required. But in the car - like in a rest house: the silence is such that even on the phone I speak in an undertone. Oh yes, and the average consumption was 7.8 liters per hundred - progress!

Back five hundred, forward five hundred ...

Noise isolation really came out great. The Focus II has always had raised tones, and this one whispers at any speed and at almost any engine speed. Listening to his insinuating voice, I do not hear a hint of the singing of the windshield struts, I do not distinguish between the fierce skirmish of the front and rear wheels with the asphalt. But before, Focus, to be honest, could not stand it, but brought noise into the hut. A couple of Kostroma gayts, who stopped us for the sake of curiosity, were interested in the "Shumka". "Eh, we will definitely save on it," one lamented. - "But Focus III" I will definitely buy myself - beautiful! Will you show me the trunk? " - Mr. Inspector got excited.

From what he saw, his face took on a sour look. Almost the entire space of the 277-liter hold was occupied by the second, taken by every fireman, a spare wheel, near which a backpack sits. "Then a sedan!" - summed up the guardian.

Alas, Russia has countless troubles. People come across some of them, their other cars, and someone makes money on it. The road beyond Kostroma towards Kirov is indeed akin to the direction. No, it seems to be asphalt, but it’s a hundred years old at lunchtime, as well as the lopsided houses thrown along this sad road. The road is pitted with small but deep potholes. It seems, goodbye suspension ... About what it is, I did not speak deliberately, so as not to jinx it.

On a flat road, by our standards, the Focus III went smoothly, with a slight side swing, inherent in a large and imposing car. He easily leveled the rough profile of the asphalt and was even completely insensitive to the rut filled in here and there. Released leather steering wheel with flattened tides under the fingers and stood at the zero point: the car did not try to scour. But now, having dropped the speed to 40 km / h, I am convinced that it is better to go faster. Maneuvering, even in spite of the precise and rather rigid steering with electric power steering, is almost impossible - a hole in a hole, into which you fly in one way or another. The impacts on the wheels are furious, and it seems that the tires, disks and shock absorbers, despite the absence of breakdowns, have very little time to live. But the front levers are also made of aluminum, and, as you know, there are no spare levers with you ...

So, at 70 km / h, pushing off from the undamaged asphalt, the Focus went as if on a low level flight, flying through almost all the holes. After several kilometers of a nightmare, it's time to light a candle. Only to whom and what - that is the question. At first impressions - not for me. And also thanks to the chair. It is very comfortable, medium firm and with massive grips. Holds great, and dampens shaking well. It's a pity that the pillow is not adjustable in tilt angle: with an increase of 185 and a straight fit, the hips are slightly suspended, but with my legs slightly apart, I found quite a comfortable position.

And yet, the main merit in the passed test is the energy-intensive suspension. It was slightly reconfigured, in comparison with the Focus II - it is tougher in it, but what an effect on the gullies! A couple of years ago, on my own second Focus, in a couple of hours of driving on a similar road, I was left without two front struts. Today, shaking the car by the fenders, I am convinced that the shock absorbers are intact. On the bumpy road, "crickets" quickly crawl out in the cabin. But that doesn't seem to be the case for the Focus III. All the time I was tensely waiting for something to creak? Imagine nothing.

Almost 600 versts of the way have already been covered, to Kirov, where another 350 is waiting for the night. The road is far from ideal - it is covered with asphalt and patches, but the obstacle course seems to be over. Focus III is no longer annoying with its slowness, quite willingly submitting to the selected gear shifting algorithm when selecting the rpm almost to the maximum: from 3rd to 5th or from 2nd to 4th. So it goes faster, despite the small torque of 159 N.m. Fortunately, summer is outside the windows and the long-awaited Kirov, where he arrived in 12 hours.

Focus III attracts a lot of admiring glances, but they fade away, only the conversation turns to the price. Even 500 thousand rubles for the basic equipment is huge money by local standards, available only to a few residents.

It's much warmer to the east. Morning road to the Urals - the same two narrow lanes, minimal flow and almost complete desertion. I deliberately refuel the 95 on unknown dispensers, but the engine does not show the slightest dissatisfaction. Of the large settlements, only Omutninsk, on one of the bumps of which the suspension "pierced", and I finally heard the sound of the bump stop, and Glazov, who passed by.

Perm meets with tropical rain. Streams of water paralyze traffic on the multi-lane bridge across the Kama, but we are still moving. The daytime LED light has automatically changed to a xenon near beam - great! Windshield wiper blades that work in the opposite direction to each other famously cope with water, and 10 km / h on the speedometer is already happiness. But the instantly misted wind turbine required the intervention of the air conditioner. Power, I must say, she has incredible: a few seconds - and no condensation.

The first 130 km after Perm is another test for the suspension. Why turn to the anomalous zone "Molebka", where the pointer leads? All the anomalies are here, under their feet, and aliens are not their fault ... True, here and there mobile brigades of road workers meet. The last kilometers to the capital of the Urals, Focus III sold out in full. He rolled to Russian roads, I - to him. I practically stopped noticing the speed gain, its acceleration - 11.0 s to a hundred now seems to be true, and I slow down every now and then. Well, everything, like I got there.

Ask the doctor

With a shudder I wait while the Yekaterinburg specialists drag the car onto the lift. Imagination draws a stoned underbody, shrunken rubber-metal bushings and knocked out levers. However, in practice, everything is as good as new. Even the native crankcase, which is made soft, looks pretty decent. The oil in the engine is light, the brake has not gone away, the muffler shines, and the right CV joint oil seal is only slightly sweaty. Nothing critical. But, indeed, a beautiful Ford car came out! To tell the truth, at first her appearance, and even the interior, interested me insofar as. If the car is not driving, then all this is secondary and hardly important. But now, stroking his warm body, I get sincere pleasure and worry about every chip.

“Ai, the radiator has a lot of pebbles ... And a fine mesh is clearly asking for the slit air intake. Little things will be finalized, but the fact that Focus III will take root not only in licked megacities is, consider, a proven fact. "

The way home is already familiar, and with the rapture of a youngster I will try all the tricks and gadgets that the Focus has supplied. Of course, in the basic version there are almost none, but no one takes the car in the database. For example, in Yekaterinburg, most buyers order "Titanium" - the same one that I have.

The Sony audio system caresses the ears with jazz of Felix Slovacek, read from a USB flash drive, through all the cool 9 speakers, only occasionally interrupting for incoming calls. In less than a minute, I crossed my cell phone with a Bluetooth hands-free system and answered by pressing a button under the right steering wheel spoke. Under the left - there are a few more: a speed limiter, which I cut in in settlements, and cruise control with smooth adjustment for kilometers. It seems that on the MCP this feature is an overkill, but when you know the road and it is free, why not give yourself a rest? By the way, it was in this mode that the instantaneous fuel consumption approached the passport 4.8 per hundred. But as soon as the road went up the hill, the numbers on the on-board computer display instantly grew.

It is, by the way, really cool, like the additional one on the massive center console trimmed with gray plastic under the metal. In blue tones, to match the arrows of the speedometer and tachometer, and, most importantly, with the simultaneous display of the main indicators of movement. Instantaneous gas mileage, average, remaining fuel mileage and odometer.

Exit to the additional menu - using the cursor keys on the left on the steering wheel. The keys on the right spoke are responsible for the music. More precisely, for the transition between the ranges of the receiver or wandering through the tracks of a CD or MP3. There are no icons on the buttons, and we had to find out the purpose by typing. But those that scroll through the stations and adjust the sound - with traditional, understandable symbols. Comfort is felt in everything from the soft, profiled door panels with fabric insert to the armrest between the seats. He, although without adjustment in the longitudinal direction, but with a deep box inside. Good depth and the glove box, in which a bunch of little things traveled with me. In general, the Focus III did not skimp on convenience.

What is the secret of the attractiveness of the Ford Focus to women? Our test pilot Eva Motornaya found this out by getting acquainted with the top-end configuration of a restyled hatchback, equipped with a productive gasoline turbo engine and a 6-band "automatic"

The Ford Focus family came to Russia in 1999, and since that time more than half a million hatchbacks, sedans and station wagons of three generations of this model have been produced and sold in our country. Who was more among the buyers - men or women? The statistics, which are in the public domain, are silent about this. However, according to personal observations, the fairer sex was especially favored by the extravagant and nimble hatchbacks of the first generation.

The model of the second generation had, in our opinion, already clearly masculine charisma. These cars were associated with the concepts of "solidity" and "utility" - qualities that men appreciate more in a car. But with the family of the third generation, everything returned to normal. Swift body lines, more avant-garde interior design and designer lures, one might say, returned the Focus to the status of a ladies' favorite. At least the restyled hatchback, which we delivered to Eve Motornaya for testing, is much more logical to call it a fashionable thing than a car of the previous generation.

Mix but do not shake

For Eva, it is important that the five-door Focus looks unusual and sporty. “The machine of the last generation reminded me of a burgher, ingrained in his conservatism. Now this is an athlete in a fitted suit. The grille a la Aston Martin, lean sides and biceps of the wings - this, it seems to me, is such an inadvertent reference to Bond. It is also nice that the external decorations are not excessive - the designers' sense of proportion did not disappoint. The necessary accents are made only on the LED strips in the headlights, a silver nozzle for the muffler and the eyeliner of the window line and the radiator grill. Well, since we are dealing with the "top" Titanium configuration, there are many spectacular and even status solutions. For example, when you unlock the locks, the car not only opens the mirrors, but also illuminates the space at the front doors - I have seen such a welcome illumination only in cars of a higher class, for example, in Jaguar and Lexus models, ”Motornaya shares her first impressions.

And what about the salon? “There are a lot of nice little things here,” says Eva. - The driver's seat seemed to be tailored specifically for me. The steering wheel, with a soft texture and heating, is equipped with many keys - you can receive phone calls, turn on cruise control, and flick through the tracks of the radio tape recorder. Or take the pictograms of the onboard computer. When I turn on the low beam, a car with headlights on appears on the screen. How can you not like this? Further - more: with a button on the ceiling lighting unit, you can select one of seven shades of illumination of door pockets, handles, pedal assembly and cup holders - if you want, choose the lighting for your clothes, if you want - according to your mood! "

Nissan Sentra
(sedan 4-door)

Hyundai elantra
(sedan 4-door)

Alfa romeo giulietta
(hatchback 5-door)

In the opinion of my test partner, one cannot fail to note such nice "chips" as a 12-volt socket, organized at the top of the front panel. You can connect a video recorder or a radar detector, and the wires will not lie in an untidy fringe on the selector lever. And, finally, the main character - the 8-inch central touchscreen display of "multimedia" - this is both convenient and status. The most frequently used functions - radio stations, navigation, climate control and the menu of a connected smartphone - are placed on the central menu, and they do not need to be dug out of its depths. Alternatively, you can use voice commands, for example, set the desired temperature for the climate control.

To the rhythm of the city

From a utilitarian point of view, - says Eva, - Focus perfectly correlates with the life algorithm of a city dweller. “Salon of the hatchback is not to say that it is very spacious, tall passengers in the back row will be cramped. But for me personally, the dimensions are suitable. And the sixth-grader son quickly settled down in the back row. It has a retractable armrest with a pair of cup holders, pockets in the backs of the front seats, a power outlet and a USB slot in the center armrest. The trunk is also not a record size, although for everyday needs, for example, trips to the supermarket, it fits perfectly, ”sums up Motornaya.

“At the same time,” she continues, “the compact size of the hatchback makes it easier to find a place in a tight parking lot. Backing up might not have been so easy because of the massive C-pillars. But there is a video camera and sensitive parking sensors that also track the lateral interval. In addition, the test car is equipped with a parallel and perpendicular parking assistant. True, I tested this system only as an experiment - I used to rely on my own strength. However, for novice motorists, this option is not at all superfluous. She also helps when leaving the parking lot crowded with transport. But I recommend the blind spot monitoring system to everyone - the indicators in the side mirrors work efficiently, but unobtrusively, ”Motornaya shares her experience. And then he recalls another know-how, introduced as if with an eye on women: “The convenience of a fuel tank without a screw cap (the system is called Ford EasyFuel) can hardly be overestimated. I can easily imagine that in winter I found myself at a gas station somewhere far from Moscow. With most other machines, you will most likely have to unscrew the plug yourself, at the risk of damaging your manicure. So, in this Focus, you do not need to unscrew anything. I put the refueling nozzle in the tank and that's it. "

What does our test pilot say about handling? This, she said, is another strong trump card in the hands of the hatchback. “Turning the steering wheel is very easy, which is important for me, and the popular phrase“ the car obeys the steering wheel perfectly ”is just about this model. Another plus is a responsive turbo engine (this is Eva about a 1.5-liter Ecoboost turbo unit equipped with direct fuel injection and independent variable valve timing systems). For my needs, the dynamics are enough for the eyes, overtook both in the city and on the Moscow Ring Road very confidently. "Automatic" also works smoothly and quickly. "

JONNYmsk ›Blog› Test drive Ford Focus III

Driver's seat: 5
Everything about the driver's seat deserves the highest praise. The front seats are excellent - comfortable, just right, lumbar support, good lateral support. The adjustment ranges are really huge. Both front seats are height adjustable. The steering wheel is a little pretentious, with tides for the correct grip, adjustable in two directions. The landing is generally lower than in the previous model, but this does not affect convenience, people of almost any height and build will comfortably accommodate here.

Front panel: 4
Let's leave aside the design considerations. In the new Focus, I remember one major miscalculation - the armrest is located too high and close to the gear lever, which makes it difficult to switch to even gears. Also, the center console is very wide and at the same time from below, as it were, runs into the front riders. This leads to the fact that the driver's right knee constantly touches it, and there is a joint between the soft upper and hard lower plastics ... The parking brake lever is generally a foreign object - some kind of club of incredible size, not pulled towards itself, but upwards - an unsuccessful copy from the Honda Civic ... They also made a difference with the audio system - I have not seen such a scattering of a couple of dozen small buttons for a long time. From the pros - the controls for light and climate are habitually located and the controls are intuitive. In addition, as aptly noted in advertising brochures, the front panel seems to embrace the driver, it is cozy here.

Instrument cluster: 5
The devices are beautiful and informative. The font is somewhat playful, but this does not interfere with the reading of the instrument readings. A small display between the speedometer and tachometer simultaneously displays several indicators from the on-board computer. Great graphics and sharp images.

Climate: 5
For the weather in the cabin, the usual dual-zone climate control with intuitive controls is responsible for the second Focus. You can only complain about the smallish display font.

Visibility: 4
At first glance, visibility has become worse. The glass line is high, the windshield is small, and the low roof and narrowed rear pillars make it difficult to see back. But this impression is somewhat misleading. There are no problems in the movement. Side mirrors are comfortable, easy to maneuver in the stream. Only the backward review is slightly worse than on the old Focus.

Finish: 4
Despite the fact that the manufacturer promises a noticeable improvement in quality, in reality everything is not so good. Indeed, the top plastic is nice, soft, pliable, and pleasant. The lower one is harder, but it is not that important. The fit is also noticeably better than the previous model. You can criticize the overly massive center console made of glossy black plastic, slippery to the touch. Looks shabby and cheap. But that's not the point. The feeling of quality and reliability is gone. In the new car, the interior is flimsy and delicate. The central glossy panel is so thin and weak that it squeezes through at the slightest pressure. Do you know this pleasant feeling in solid German cars, when each button has a clear ON and OFF position? In Focus, this is not even close. The buttons on the steering wheel and radio are loose, and the four-position joysticks actually walk in all directions. Of course, there are also positive aspects. For example, the climate control unit is made of very high quality (however, it felt like it was simply transferred from the previous model), the control unit for power windows, mirrors, the engine start button - this is no problem.

Equipment: 5
The test car was almost top-of-the-range. Power mirrors, windows, dual-zone climate control, bi-xenon headlights, cruise control, Sony audio system with 5-inch color display and steering wheel controls, heated seats and windshield, fog lights, 16-inch alloy wheels. The price of such a car is approaching 780 thousand rubles, which, taking into account interesting options, makes it comparable or even somewhat cheaper than competitors.

Salon: 4
The car interior has become typical for its class. Space and space in all directions are a thing of the past. A powerful front console now runs into the front riders, the width of the cabin has decreased, there are no complaints about the height. At the rear, the interior has also become narrower, but now there is very little space in the knees. Sitting by myself, I barely touched the backs of the front seats. If we compare with the closest competitors, the Focus salon is now no more than in Toyota Corolla and Mazda 3. The new Astra is a little larger, and the Honda Civic is now the most spacious car - sitting back in my car, I seemed to be in the size D class. To be fair, I must say that the passenger seats are good and getting into the car is comfortable.

Trunk: 4
In appearance, the car has practically not changed in size, the official technical specifications indicate the preservation of the trunk volume. But in fact, it has noticeably decreased and is now too small. It has a regular rectangular shape, but a high threshold and low height, there are really no side niches. In general, nothing special compared to other hatchbacks. Sedan unfortunately could not be seen.

Comfort: 5
Fortunately, there were no unpleasant surprises here. The focus on 16-inch drives made an extremely positive impression. Acoustic comfort has grown on the head. At 60 kilometers per hour, there is silence in the cabin. The car gently goes through medium bumps and imperceptibly swallows speed bumps. A trifle is not transferred to the salon at all. At the same time, the suspension is tight and collected, I did not notice the buildup, the rolls are small. Well done engineers! Now you need your Civic to reduce the comfort rating by half a point 🙂

Engine: 5
Now the Focus is equipped with a modern 1.6 liter engine with 125 horsepower. The car drives well at low revs, and after about two thousand, the engine pulls well on a difficult car. But according to the sensations, the dynamics still do not fully correspond to the declared power. The difference with my Civic is only 15 horses, but after the Ford Honda rides much faster.

Acceleration: 4.5
The 1.6-liter engine is sufficient for dynamic city driving. The motor will allow you to confidently stay ahead of the stream and, if necessary, joke. Feels like it will be enough on the track, but the power reserve is small. Once again, I will repeat that the feeling that not all horses are working at full strength did not leave me.

Gearbox: 5
The mechanics are the same as on the previous model. Comfortable lever, fairly precise shifting, well-matched gear ratios. Of the shortcomings - the lever moves could be smaller.

Steering: 4
At low city speeds, steering responses are too smooth, even sluggish. You can quickly shake the steering wheel left and right and the car will continue to move straight. There is not enough information content, and zero is practically not expressed. But if you go faster, a good feedback will appear, the effort will increase slightly, and the connection with the car will be established. I like this Focus much more, because it is even better than the previous one. Only here he pleased much more often and in almost all modes of movement.

Brakes: 5
The brake pedal is light, sensitive, the stroke is small. Dosing effort is easy, the brakes are very precise. They even reminded me of BMW's and I liked them more than those of Civic. With powerful decelerations, the pedal does not go into the floor. The old Focus with brakes also had order, but in the new one the information content became even better.

On the road: 4.5
Several turns I went quickly to the limit and was very pleased. Firstly, in such modes, the steering manifests itself from the best side, and secondly, the rolls are minimal. Everything seems to be fine, but the car still falls short of the top five. And that's why. Not every time we drive to the limit, the car should be well controlled even with a calm ride. And here too soft steering responses and lack of feedback. Light pedals and quietness in the cabin also do not add emotion, the ride is boring. Not bad overall, but I expect more to get the top mark. Returning behind the wheel of the Civic, I got the feeling of driving a sports car. The new Focus came out not as reckless as the previous one.

Fuel consumption: 4
On the test Focus, the average fuel consumption was over 10 liters. This is not surprising, since for a small test drive, people usually try to test a car in all driving modes 🙂

Outcome:
Unfortunately, Ford Focus 3 has lost its main advantage - balance. There is a significant increase in ride comfort, the design has noticeably freshened up, but the car has lost some qualities in ergonomics, handling, and has become cramped. And most importantly, he stopped standing out among his classmates. And if earlier the low price, spacious interior and handling were serious arguments, now I do not see such significant advantages over competitors.

Test drive Ford Focus 3

chervyakov86 ›Blog› Ford Focus III. Opinion after the test drive.

The appearance of the cars is dictated by the flagship of the brand. In Russia, Ford's flagship is Mndeo, which was recently updated, and following it, Foсus was also updated. The updated Focus will appear on review only by the fall. And it will differ from the "old" only externally, and then only by the muzzle ... well, the changes will affect the interior, very insignificantly.

A lot of hopes were pinned on the 3rd Focus, and the manufacturer tried as much as possible to move away from the “credit scrubber” stamp, which the car had earned in our country by the 1st and 2nd generations. It was made, so to speak, a little what is called "Laksheri", having drawn the design more carefully. Whether it worked out or not, opinions were divided, and the car came out so to speak for an amateur. In general, the design of the car looks quite harmonious, the only thing you can find fault with is the optics of the head light. The headlights look impersonal and faded, like zombie eyes from popular films. I think it would be possible to put lenses in the headlights and xenon at least at maximum trim levels, if you ask for such a price for a car ...
We look further salon. Sitting in the car and closing the door behind you, immediately there is an unpleasant tactile sensation from the door handle. It is too thin, and if you close the door with effort, then you feel how it bends, and has sharp edges that dig into the palm, which also does not add to the overall comfort. The salon will be cramped if you are taller than 180 cm.

You feel quite comfortable behind the wheel (if you forget about the B-pillar, and this is the only thing that you will see if your height is more than 180 cm), the seat has such an average lousy lateral support, does not throw around the cabin in turns, and that's enough. The steering wheel, in my opinion, has a small range of settings for the departure. The bagel itself is of a convenient size and convenient thickness. It became incomprehensible to me the decision to place the music control keys and the BC, on the part of the steering wheel that you need to press when using the horn. The seat heating is switched on by a roller, and has 5 modes of intensity ... 2011 ... why it was not possible to put the button? The shape and location of the parking brake poker is somewhat incomprehensible, although this is more a matter of habit and aesthetics, and not an ergonomic drawback, just like the pedal hanging from the top, and not the floor one, is a matter of habit. The panel has massive shapes, and probably from this, together with the cramped interior, I had a feeling of discomfort throughout the trip.
Vsevolozhsk car assembly, and of course there are sores. Such as the gaps between the door and the door card, and the rattling interior.

The atmospheric engine with a volume of 2000 cm³ produces 150 forces and 202 N ∙ m at 4000 rpm. I can't say that the car has hurricane dynamics, and the impression is that the engine pulls only from the bottom up to 4000 rpm, there is no sense in turning it until the cutoff. A simple example: during a very active test, on the way to the airport, I grabbed onto a Kia Ceed and could not catch up. DANGERSURGUT assumed she was on mechanics, but the fact remains. By itself, the engine is quite reliable, and I do not know of a single fact that 2 liters caused problems to their owners. The bulk of complaints about 1.6 PowerShift.

PowerShift. This is the weak link in this car. Robotic automatic transmission with two clutches. In essence, the 6DCT250 box is an analogue of the 7DSG, it also works in a dry environment, and just like the first generation DSG has problems. Let's start from simple to complex, which a car owner may face with such a robot:

Vibration at starts.
- Jerking when switching from 1st gear to 2nd.
- Leaking oil seal of the input shaft.
- Rapid wear of the clutch discs.
- Failure of the gearbox control module.
- Broken gear shifting forks.

Replacing the clutch turns into a big problem for the owner, even if the car is under warranty, and work will be done on it, since the dealer does not have such spare parts available, everything needs to be ordered. Delivery times can be up to 2 months. Doing your own clutch repair can be expensive. Since the degree of wear of the clutch discs depends solely on the operation, it is not uncommon for owners to go to the adaptation several times a year to adjust the clearances. And all would be fine if all this did not occur on cars that have not yet skated 40-50 thousand km. It is believed that flashing the robot solves these problems, but again, not always, and only God knows what it all depends on.
I want to note that on the new Mondeo, Ford abandoned robotic gearboxes and returned to classic torque converters. On Restyling Focus, there will still be PowerShift, and I think it will remain unchanged, the maximum they will do is change the firmware on the control unit. Wait and see.

Such a combination of internal combustion engine and gearbox accelerates a car weighing 1337 kg to 100 km / h in 9.3 seconds. And the maximum speed is 200 km / h, which is more than enough for a "budget" C-class hatchback.
In terms of suspension, this car has a classic layout for an urban European hatchback: in the front - McPherson, in the back - a multi-link. The car stands very confidently on its wheels in tight tight corners, and practically does not heel during dynamic rearrangements in the stream. No hints of drift or skid, even on winter studded tires. With all this, the suspension is not rigid, the balance between good handling, comfort and energy intensity is observed. Among C class hatches, in terms of suspension, I would put this car in 4th place in my personal rating, after Volkswagen Golf, Skoda Octavia, and Mercedes Benz A-Class. And the opponents are not the most simple ones, so the result is very good.

Summing up this car is very difficult, on the one hand, the car is not bad enough, which, like other cars, has its own list of pluses and minuses. Personally, this car does not cause absolutely any emotions in me. And the thing is that being a lover of nemchura, everything else goes against my understanding of the car. I have a lot of questions about the ergonomics and spaciousness of the cabin, appearance, quality of finishing materials ...

In general, this is a solid, safe car that does not drive badly, does not look bad, if only they solve the problem with the robot, or return to the classic automatic transmission.
EURO NCAP results - 5 stars.

Test drive Ford Focus III: four liters for two

On the serpentine of the Black Sea coast, the Kolesa.ru portal enjoys the excellent controllability of the new Focuses, simultaneously noting the big difference in the two engines of the same volume.

Collecting several dozen Ford Focus III and twice as many journalists on the Black Sea coast is not an easy task. Moreover, at the end of October. But the organizers coped with it; right in the parking lot of the airport of the city of Gelendzhik, the press was waiting for as many as five ranks of "third" Focuses of all stripes - with the engines already running.

Since the Focus hatchback has already been on our test, the eye immediately fell on the sedan. Moreover, the organized event, in general, is timed to coincide with the start of production of this type of body in Russia. Although, to be honest, I was hoping to see a station wagon, but the premiere of the "car", and at the same time the "charged" version of the ST, in Russia will take place only next year.

Externally, the three-volume Focus III is - neither give nor take - a scaled-down Mondeo. "Matryoshka" design concept of models from the "premium" segment is slowly reaching mass brands. Although the designers managed to preserve the sportiness of the five-door version in the exterior of the more solid body: the lean stern with a small spoiler molded on the trunk lid makes the sedan more impetuous.

Having opened the trunk lid of the Focus sedan, I immediately understand that having taken a flat business travel bag instead of a travel suitcase on a three-day trip, I made the right choice. As in the case of the hatchback, practicality has become a victim of stylish design: the opening of the cargo compartment is narrow, and the volume of the trunk under the onslaught of a full-size "spare wheel" has been reduced from 467 liters in the previous generation to 372 liters in the current one. The difference of almost 100 liters is clearly not in favor of summer residents!

This was confirmed by the top managers of Ford at an evening press conference organized in the concert hall of the Kempinski hotel. The new style of the third generation of Ford Focus is intended to draw a younger audience to the bestseller, which, in most cases, does not care about pragmatic values. True, not a word was said about the fact that with such an approach the new Focus could scare away the target audience of the previous, practical-conservative generation.

The very next morning, looking at the characteristics plates on the windshields of the parked Focuses, I come across the coveted figure 2.0 in the "Engine" section. And the inscription "manual transmission" finally stops my choice on a bright red hatchback.

This choice was not made by chance. First, no matter how paradoxical it may sound, I'm tired of the "automatic": over the past six months, of all the cars we tested, with a manual transmission, one can remember, at best, two. Charging your lazy right arm and left leg clearly won't hurt. Secondly, on a passenger car weighing 1310 kg, the combination of "mechanics" with a two-liter atmospheric gasoline engine with a capacity of 150 horsepower promised a lot of positive emotions, especially after the frankly "vegetable" 125-horsepower Ford Focus III with 1.6 engine.

However, the first kilometers covered by the Focus III 2.0 GDI through the sun-drenched cozy streets of the resort Gelendzhik left a double impression. It seems that the Focus accelerates well, and pulls like nothing, but the impression was that the signal from pressing the gas pedal wandered for a long time in the bowels of the engine compartment before finding the throttle valve. Painfully smoothly, the car reacted to the fuel supply, and even with a second delay. Maybe on the highway, a two-liter engine will reveal its potential by breathing in clean mountain air?

Having got out of the town on the expanses of the serpentine Markotkh ridge, I could not deny myself the pleasure of experiencing the Ford Focus III to the fullest. Fortunately, there are still pleasant memories in my memory of the perfectly tuned chassis and steering of the "third" Focus, which was on our test in July this year.

We passed the first ten turns, as they say, in warm-up mode. Brought here from Moscow, the fiery red hatchback eagerly devoured the swirls of the mountain road, as if realizing that next time it would not get on a similar track soon, but most likely never.

The increase in speed on the behavior of Ford is not reflected: the Focus, stuck to the road, clearly follows the given trajectory, passing the bundles of mountain turns in one breath, without the slightest hint of bank. The settings of the electric amplifier can be considered one of the best in the class. The steering wheel filled with elastic gravity with a clear zero, allowed to control the angle of rotation of the wheels up to a degree when entering the next bend.

Only an outright provocation was able to knock the third generation of the bestseller off the set course: I really wanted to feel the limit of the chassis's capabilities. Under the "open" throttle, I enter another gentle bend, which turns into a 180-degree turn behind the rock. Without dumping the gas, I sharply turn the steering wheel to the right. Under the squeal of rubber and the chatter of ESP, which instantly dropped the engine speed, Focus, having time to strike the front left mudguard on the asphalt, screwed into the turn, only slightly leaving the lane. Bravo!

But the two-liter gasoline engine did not deserve our praise. Resisting every press of the gas pedal with all its four cylinders, the engine roared powerfully and beautifully, throwing the tachometer needle into the red zone, but refused to go to its 150 forces. Even a manual transmission and mountain air could not turn the Ford Focus III 2.0 GDI into a "lighter". All hopes remained on another Focus, also a two-liter, only running on heavy fuel. And he did not disappoint!

A dark gray Ford Focus III with a 140 horsepower 2.0 TDCi Duratorq diesel engine, we had to literally beg from our colleagues. So they did not want to part with the car. And after driving another two hundred kilometers in the opposite direction, we understood why.

Losing 10 horsepower to its petrol opponent, the two-liter diesel was almost one and a half times superior in torque. And the ecological "stranglehold" on a solar engine is not so felt. Even docked with a PowerShift preselective transmission with a pair of dry clutches, the engine responded almost instantly to orders from the right foot. Although formally spurt up to 100 km / h Ford Focus III 2.0 TDCi loses to a car with a gasoline "two-liter", in the zone of average speeds and revs, the diesel Focus can only compete with Ford's petrol engines of the EcoBoost family.

Moreover, the diesel Focus was pleased rather by the technological unity in which all components of the car worked: engine, gearbox, chassis and steering. Each of these elements made an equal contribution, closing in a single chain of driver's pleasure. Unfortunately, it was not without a weak link, which expectedly came from the finance department: the price of the diesel Focus quickly evaporated all desire to prevail with such a talented machine, despite the number of newfangled electronic systems available for ordering.

For example, I hold an electronic “eye” with both hands that monitors the “dead” zones. The main thing is to have time to pay attention to the flashing small light in the door mirrors in time. I also like the wonderful animation and information content of the two displays of the auxiliary systems, which we have noted before.

Fans of electronic "bells and whistles" will definitely like the automatic parking system. True, we managed to drive to a conditional place between two other Focuses from the seventh time, when there would be more than enough parking space for a Ford Mondeo, and any driver with a good sense of size would park twice as fast.

The apogee of Ford's computer-based automotive technology will be the interactive Sync system, capable of recognizing driver's voice commands and acting as a Wi-Fi router to communicate with the World Wide Web. Although an English-language voice control is already available as an option, a full-fledged Sync system should appear on the Foci of the Russian assembly later, but immediately in a Russified form.

But we will not have a system that monitors the road markings, as well as an automatic braking system when reducing the distance. They say that there is no guarantee that in our realities these wonders of technological thought will work properly. Markings on our roads are not found everywhere and not always, and a laser distance meter can go blind if it does not see a clear reflective surface in the form of clean license plates driving in front of a car.

Well, the reorientation towards the "advanced" youth was successful. Stylish, fashionable and computerized Ford Focus III, having turned into a car-gadget, definitely keeps up with the times, responding to all the latest trends and introducing them to the masses. The main thing is that Ford does not completely forget that a car is needed not only for accessing the Internet.