Ford Focus Deals

2010 Ford Focus Review

A refresh of a refresh.

Cosmopolitans of the car scene have long known (and mostly complained) that the Ford Focus in Europe got a full redesign some years ago while America's version dragged on with a design that predates Y2K. Well, the fans who howled at Ford's previous "update" won't be much happier this time, because the changes to the 2008 Focus amount to another reshaping of the same basic dough.

That said, the changes aren't bad, and they're at least more obvious this time. The station wagon and both hatchbacks are history, replaced by a more America-friendly two-door coupe to go along with the always-popular sedan (all Focuses are now made in Michigan). The new style is more Euro (or at least more Audi), and the formerly bland interior has given way to something more interesting (or more fussy, depending on your viewpoint). There's also a new optional feature called Microsoft Sync, which enables voice operation of iPod and Zune MP3 players (among others) and Bluetooth cell phones. Judging by the abrupt rise in Focus sales, people seem to love it.

We're down to only one engine now -- the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder from the Mazda 3 (a fine compromise between power and MPG) -- and Ford retuned the suspension. The Focus still rides, handles, and accelerates just fine, but the new one has lost much of the sharp feel that made the original so much fun.

Taken all together, it's as if Ford made every effort to shave off anything that was ever distinctive about the Focus. What remains is another competent, anonymous compact car -- and one mildly amusing electronic gadget.