Spotlight 2010 Ford Focus SES

After seven years of the first generation Ford Focus a overhaul was completed in 2008 to a sedan/coupe only style. For the many of the enthusiasts this was a major downturn for the once hot hatch Focus. For the average consumer it was still a eco-box on wheels, but Ford this was a initial step in bringing some pretty exclusive tech to small cars.


Exterior:
Weighing in at a 2,642 lbs and 175" long, 67.8" wide and 58.6" tall the 2010 Ford Focus SES sedan fits right into the compact category. From the first glance this car has gone through a few subtle revisions from the 2008 version. The chrome side flares are gone and a few other small things were cleaned up. When looking at it from the outside the Focus takes on Fords signature razor chrome grill with only 2 bars instead of the 3 seen on the Fusion and Edge. The headlights blend fairly well with the face of the car and the optional fog lights and heater mirrors are nice to have especially in the northern states.

Ford Focus 2010 From Fords website

Interior:

Stepping inside the Focus the first thing that stands out is that the center stack is similar to the Ford Fusion. The buttons and controls are laid out in a similar fashion except for the Focus has a little message center atop of the console that has radio information along with temperature and time. The dash was nice and clear to read and the different looking dials with a splash of color bring a welcome improvement over the previous generation which were just black with white lettering. The brushed aluminum looking materials add a nice touch to the interior even though they are plastic. For technology in the Focus, SYNC by Microsoft only available on Ford family vehicles is a awesome interface for using voice commands to call people, or play music from a compatible mp3 player. One thing I didn't care too much for on the car I tested was that the shifter seemed a little too far forward to rest your hand on while driving.

Ford Focus 2010 interior from Fords website

Powertrain:

Equip with a 2.0 liter Duratec engine that is good for 140 hp the Focus is fairly spry even with 3 adults in the car. The automatics shifts were on mark most of the time a few times it held in a gear longer than I wanted it to but overall it was a pleasant ride. It would be nice to have a select shift feature, but then again that's what a manual transmission is for.

Thoughts:

Honestly I had major doubts going into this test drive. I had driven a 2000 Focus and a 2005 Focus before driving a 2010. I liked the 2000's suspension w/ how it cornered and the design was pretty good. The 2005 was just bland all around. The 2010 was a shock to say the least. I didn't care when Ford dropped the hatchbacks with the second generation Focus, but instead they made a nice compact that handles rather well absorbs most of the bumps in the road and is very impressive in the inside with technology including SYNC.

Price Tested:

MSRP-$19,995

-DK 

Disclaimer: I signed up at the MSP auto show to receive $50 master card from Ford after completing a test drive with a Ford vehicle.