Sweat every last detail and give buyers more than they could possibly expect from a compact car; that was the design principle behind the all-new 2012 Ford Focus. The result is a model line that outdoes the competition at every turn, offering segment-pacing value and fuel efficiency along with segment-first features you simply won’t find in other vehicles in this class.

 

Ford applied its renowned “Kinetic” design language to the new Focus, giving it an aggressive front fascia, a sleek profile and the hunkered stance of a sprinter coiled at the starting-line blocks. That sleek skin speaks of a heightened level of craftsmanship – both inside and out – that buyers would normally expect from midsize sedans that cost much more. Add in the surprising bounty of standard and available features you’ll find in the completely redesigned 2012 Ford Focus, and it’s no surprise that a review in Edmunds.com pronounced it “the segment’s new benchmark.” 

 

Ford sells the new Focus in seven guises: The S sedan (MSRP $16,500), the sporty SE sedan and SE 5-Door, the high-content SEL sedan and SEL 5-Door, the Titanium sedan and the Titanium 5-Door (MSRP $22,700).

 

Regardless of which model you choose, under the hood you’ll find an all-new 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine that uses class-exclusive Gas Direct Injection (GDI) and twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) to help deliver 160 hp (20 more than last year’s four-cylinder) and 146 lb/ft of torque.  

 

On Focus S and SE models, the new engine channels power to the front wheels via a standard five-speed manual transmission. The available six-speed PowerShift^™ automatic transmission (standard on SEL and Titanium trim levels) does away with the weight and complexity of a traditional torque converter in favor of a dual-clutch design. The result is seamless power delivery and better fuel economy. On high-end models, the six-speed automatic also features SelectShift^™, which lets the driver change gears manually at the touch of a button.

 

Speaking of superior fuel efficiency, the Focus delivers up to 36 mpg on the highway with the five-speed manual, and you can expect up to 37 highway mpg with the PowerShift automatic. For drivers looking to stretch the distance between fill-ups even farther, the SFE (Super Fuel Economy) Package, available on the SE sedan, includes enhancements such as aero wheel covers and low-rolling-resistance tires to help boost highway mileage to an impressive 40 mpg.

 

Whether you’re buzzing through city traffic, feathering the throttle on two-lane country switchbacks or simply letting the interstate miles ease on by, the Focus relies on a fully independent suspension and a slate of standard driver-assistance technology to help keep you worry-free behind the wheel. 

 

AdvanceTrac^® Electronic Stability Control leads a list that also includes antilock brakes, electric power-assisted steering and Torque Vectoring Control, a system that reduces understeer and improves traction in hard cornering by deftly applying the front brakes to help balance torque distribution to the drive wheels. You also get Hill Start Assist, which prevents rollback when you’re pulling away from a standstill on an incline.

 

Citing the car’s array of standard passive and active restraints (including six airbags), as well as the extensive use of high-strength, yet lightweight Boron steel in its body shell, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the new Focus a “Top Safety Pick” rating, making it the latest of 12 Ford vehicles to receive top safety honors.

 

Along with keeping you and your family secure, the Focus does an amazing job of accommodating everyone’s gear. Sedan models offer 13.2 cubic feet of trunk space while five-door hatchbacks boast 44.8 cubic feet of cargo volume with the 60/40 rear seatback folded down.

 

Further bolstering its reputation for exceeding buyers’ expectations, the Focus easily outclasses the competition when it comes to standard content and available features. The entry S model comes standard with such must-haves as air conditioning and an auxiliary audio jack for connecting an iPod.

 

Choosing the sporty SE trim level adds to the tally with standard foglamps with chrome surrounds, automatic quad-beam halogen headlamps, a rear spoiler (hatchback only) and the MyKey^™ owner controls system, which encourages safe driving habits in younger family members by, among other features, allowing parents to restrict the vehicle’s top speed, limit volume on the audio system and set a chime to sound until safety belts are engaged.

 

The available SE Sport Package offers a leather-wrapped steering wheel, sport cloth seats, a special piano-black grille, rear disc brakes, a rear spoiler (sedan only), 16-inch alloy wheels and metallic interior finish trim.

 

Choosing the SEL nets you additional standards such as dual-zone climate control, the SYNC^® voice-activated communications and entertainment system and MyFord Driver Connect technology.

 

The top-of-the-line Titanium model gathers all these standards and adds such highlights as Intelligent Access with Pushbutton Start, a 355-watt Sony sound system with 10 speakers, HD Radio^™ with iTunes tagging, SIRIUS Satellite Radio with a free six-month introductory subscription and segment-exclusive MyFord Touch^™, which features an eight-inch touchscreen, voice activation and steering-wheel mounted controls.

 

Leading the tally of segment-busting convenience options is the class-exclusive Active Park Assist system, which uses ultrasonic sensors to identify an open space, calculate the precise parking trajectory and control steering to park the vehicle three times faster than competitive systems. All the driver needs to do is work the throttle and brake pedals.

 

Additional highline options include voice-activated navigation with SIRIUS Traffic and Travel Link, leather-trimmed front bucket seats with a six-way power driver’s seat, 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, heated front seats and a Rear-view Camera.

 

“People are downsizing vehicles, but not their expectations,” so says Jim Hughes, Chief Engineer for the Focus in North America. In the all-new 2012 Ford Focus model line, Hughes and his team clearly exceeded buyer expectations of a compact car by miles. Come see for yourself by contacting us to schedule a test drive.