It is restless in the traditional middle class. Volkswagen still builds a Golf as you expect it, but it does take steps in terms of interaction that not everyone can agree with. Peugeot throws one with the 308 upscalechic case that makes its predecessor look ten years older. Renault even made the Megane fully electric overnight.
And what about the Ford Focus? It is in the middle of the life cycle of its fourth generation and is therefore receiving a modest facelift. Nothing shocking, nothing crazy, and that’s nice sometimes. Ford’s faithful modal model will receive a fresh front with standard LED lighting, a new DCT automatic transmission and the brand new Sync 4 infotainment system.
It should be noted that our test sample is equipped with it, but the cars that the brand currently supplies to customers still receive Sync 3. This is due to delivery problems, such as those that currently affect the entire car industry. (Maybe old news by the time you read this, but be sure to check with your dealer.)
This Ford Focus Wagon Active still has an old-fashioned interior
If you step into the Focus when you just got out of the 308, for example, you go a bit back in time. The revolutionary dashboards we’ve been seeing lately were just a twinkle in the eyes of their designers when this Focus generation appeared in 2018.
And so here we see a large (13.2-inch) flat screen in an older-feeling interior. The system is the same as in the Mustang Mach-E, but in landscape rather than portrait form. It works smoothly enough and is clearly laid out, although it also has a few cumbersome features: selecting a driving mode is quite a hassle.
From the center console protrudes an old-fashioned, tree-long automatic poker with which you cannot switch yourself. Flippers behind the steering wheel are also missing (in this Active then; the ST-Line does have them). So you’ve got a new, modern dual-clutch transmission, but you can only drive it like your grandfather’s Orion.
The machine does not always work smoothly
Here on our test route in the hills of the Ardennes, that seems pretty clumsy, especially because the L-position of the automatic transmission sometimes does strange things (not downshifting or downshifting too far) when you roll downhill. A missed opportunity, despite being known at Ford for their dedication to driving pleasure.
Fortunately, the latter is also a must with this Ford Focus Wagon Active. For the big boy that he is, he steers wonderfully directly and is quite manoeuvrable. His chassis keeps the body in control in a natural way and can take a lot without giving the occupants a bad day – especially in this Active with its extra ground clearance. You can no longer get a four-cylinder in the Focus, unless you opt for the ST, but this strongest EcoBoost threesome gets it going with its mild hybrid help.
The Ford Focus Wagon Active is not the most modern you can buy in this segment. But add its beautiful appearance to its successful driving characteristics, spacious rear seat and now even more practical trunk space, then it is a well-justifiable choice. Just take an ST-Line with flippers, so you can drive it in a 2022-worthy way. Or just order the six-speed manual transmission; then you can just add a few points to this final score.
Specifications Ford Focus Wagon Active X 1.0 EcoBoost Hybrid 155 hp (2022)
engine
999 cc
three-cylinder turbo
155 hp @ 6,000 rpm
240 Nm @ 2,500 rpm
Drive
front wheels
7v automatic
Performance
0-100 km/h in 8.6 s
top 206 km/h
Consumption (average)
5.6 l/100 km
126 g/km CO2, A label
Dimensions
4,693 x 1,844 x 1,536 mm (lxwxh)
2,700mm (wheelbase)
1,451 kg
52 l (petrol)
635 / 1,653 l (luggage)
Prices
€ 38,650 (NL)
nb (B)
#Ford #Focus #Wagon #Active #modern #segment #bad