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14-01-2011
Ford Focus 1.6 EcoBoost review
Ford’s all-new 180bhp EcoBoost petrol engine debuts in the Focus – and
we take to road to see if it’s the perfect partner to family hatch...
We’ve tried Ford’s latest direct-injection EcoBoost turbo engines in the
C-MAX, Mondeo and S-MAX – but this is our first taste of the new 180bhp
1.6-litre, which debuts in the Focus and goes on sale in November.
On paper, it’s impressive: as well as the headline power output, there’s
240Nm of torque, which peaks at 270Nm during full-throttle overtaking
moves. All that translates to a 0-62mph time of only 7.9 seconds and a
top speed of 138mph – performance figures most hot hatchbacks wouldn’t
be ashamed of.
Read our review of the top-spec Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi diesel
Amazingly, while this flagship petrol model isn’t billed as a hot hatch,
it’s faster and more powerful than the MkI Focus ST170. Yet that
scorching pace doesn’t come at the expense of efficiency. Ford claims
47.1mpg economy and 139g/km emissions, for £110-a-year road tax.
On the move, the engine is a real peach. It’s super smooth, linear in
its delivery and hugely flexible, and happy to pull hard from low revs,
sit quietly on the motorway – thanks to a long sixth gear – or race to
the 6,000rpm red line, showing no let up in punch.
The petrol Focus is 128kg lighter than the 161bhp diesel, at 1,333kg,
and you notice that in corners. The nose is more eager to turn in and
the steering is even smoother. What’s more, the torque vectoring system
has no trouble sending all of the EcoBoost engine’s punch to the road.
Throw in a snappy six-speed manual box, a taut yet comfortable ride and
that premium cabin, and it’s a great all-rounder.
The one fly in the ointment is the price. In Titanium trim, this 180bhp
model is expected to cost around £21,000. Yes, it is the range-topper
(at least until the 247bhp ST arrives later in the year), but that’s a
lot to pay for a compact family car.
More worrying is the fact that the cheapest EcoBoost-powered Focus you
can buy is the 148bhp version – available only in Titanium trim, at
£19,745. There’s no doubt the Ford is a great car, but the prices are
hard to swallow.
Text: Sam Hardy | Photos: Matt Vosper | Bron: Auto Express
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