While Ford South Africa no longer sells the Focus and Focus ST in this country (their local arm has shifted its focus to bakkies and SUVs), you can still pick up a great pre-owned model.
This sporty and budget-friendly hatchback is a popular choice for first-time car buyers. The sedan is also a solid, sporty-looking compact car option with engaging road manners and a wide range of available powertrains. Drivers of the Ford Focus rave about its agile handling, potent turbocharged engines and reliability.
The spacious front seats, excellent handling and comfort are all features that Ford owners rate highly. The rear seat is ideal for children but some adults report feeling cramped in the back in terms of leg and headroom. From 2016 onwards, Ford introduced four new derivatives - all featuring PowerShift 6-speed auto transmission paired with a 1.0 EcoBoost engine.
This combination is available in Ambiente (entry-level) and Trend specs for both the Focus five-door hatch and four-door sedan. The fourteen available variants include the Focus ST, which is a highly desirable performance model. Ford's 1.0 EcoBoost engine delivers 92kW/170Nm and, when paired with the PowerShift auto, fuel consumption is a low 5.5 litres/100km with emissions of just 125 g/km. Even the Ambiente versions include remote central locking, front power windows and power side mirrors, dual front and side airbags, power-assisted steering, a trip computer with EcoMode, temperature gauge and air conditioning. The Focus is jam-packed with features.