I’ve liked the five-door hatchback as an optional style for the Ford Focus since it showed up four years ago. Other than a bit of tightness in rear-seat legroom and headroom, it has been a boon for the car’s handling, parking, economy and cargo-carrying capability.
The hatchback, measuring 171.7 inches, is a full 7 inches shorter in overall length than the Focus 4-door sedan. In some relatively short parking garages, the hatchback fits with precious room to spare over the four-door.
There is no difference in the curb weight; both scale around 3,000 pounds.
Both versions of the Focus are competitive in the crowded compact sales field, which also includes the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Chevrolet Cruze, Mazda3, Kia Forte, Volkswagen Golf, Hyundai Elantra and others.
A review model sent my way recently was the upscale Titanium model of the ’16 Focus hatchback, finished in ruby red. Featured, in addition to its excellent handling qualities, is a new Sync3 infotainment system, which seems easier to use and of quicker response than the old MyFord Touch setup.
An added Focus amenity, which Ford showed off on an Escape several years ago, is its ability to parallel park itself. Pull ahead of a parking space along the curb, press the Active Park Assist button, shift into reverse, take your hands off the wheel and the system steers the vehicle, with the steering wheel spinning this way and that, into the parking space. It tells the driver to brake, then to slowly pull forward and place the gearshift in park. The job is done.
Though an impressive feature, I’d not use it often, since the driver still is responsible for gear selection, accelerating and braking, I’d go ahead and steer it, too.
Charcoal black leather seats were comfortable and supportive and the Sync3 system included voice-activated navigation, Sony audio with 10 speakers, Sirius XM and Bluetooth.
The Focus exhibited good, strong braking. It performs with a 160-horsepower, 2.0-liter GDI (direct-injection) 4-cylinder engine mated to a 6-speed select-shift automatic transmission. Its overall fuel mileage average of 32.1 miles per gallon fell right in the middle of its EPA estimate of 26/38.
Though many Focus models are sold in the low $20,000s, the Titanium version carried a sticker price of $28,045. Several other added options, other than those already mentioned, are blind-spot and lane-keeping alerts, reverse-sensing and rearview camera, remote start, automatic-dimming headlights, heated front seats and heated steering wheel and dual-zone electronic air conditioning.
The Ford Focus showed up in model year 2000, a replacement for the aged Contour, and its best sales numbers were its first two years, 286,166 in 2000 and 264,414 in’01. It has consistently sold more than 200,000 per year.
Ford’s selling strength, of course, is in its lines of pickups and SUV/crossovers. Among its cars, the Focus ranks second-best, behind the midsize Fusion. The Focus is far ahead of the Mustang, Fiesta, Taurus and C-Max.
Here are the specifications for the ’16 Ford Focus Hatchback Titanium:
- Capacity 5 passenger
- Wheelbase 104.3 inches
- Length 171.7 inches
- Width 71.8 inches
- Height 57.8 inches
- Curb Weight 3,015 pounds
- Track 61.2 inches front, 60.4 rear
- Ground Clearance 5.3 inches
- Turn Circle 36 feet
- Drivetrain Front-wheel-drive
- Engine 2.0-liter 4-cylinder
- Horsepower/Torque 160/146
- Transmission 6-speed automatic
- Steering electric power-assist rack-and-pinion
Fuel mileage estimate 26/38 - Fuel mileage average 32.1
- Fuel Tank 12.4 gallons, regular unleaded
- Wheels 17-inch
- Tires Cooper 215/50R17
- Cargo Volume 23.3 cubic feet
- Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles basic, 5/60,000 powertrain
Competitors Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Chevrolet Cruze, Mazda3, Kia Forte, Volkswagen Golf, Hyundai Elantra
Assembly Plant Wayne, Mich.
Parts Content N.A.
Base Price of Lowest Model $18,100; Base Price of Review Model $23,725; Destination Charge $875; Sticker Price $28,045.