The driver’s hatchback continues to live up to its name after one final update
Time stops for nothing, not even the Ford Focus.It follows the Fiesta in being one of those combustion-only ‘legacy’ cars that stands between its maker transferring the line-up to electrified power. Ford’s CEO is “deeply convinced†the future is electric and because of this, the Focus won't see production beyond 2025 in spite of rivals persevering with combustion and scaling back their EV shift.In contrast to the brave new world through which it is forced to soldier on, the Focus is reassuringly familiar. It's powered by frugal petrol engines, can be had with a manual or automatic gearbox and aims to provide a more compelling driving experience than any of its competitors. You can also have a Focus ST, which we’ve reviewed separately.This fairly typical recipe reads alongside an equally typical list of rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf, Vauxhall Astra, Seat Leon, Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.A facelift saw this fourth-generation Focus updated with some new trim levels, upgraded interior technology, efficiency-focused engines and nip-and-tuck styling tweaks that, at the time, allowed it to stay competitive. What about now, though, in the late autumn of its production run?The Ford Focus line-up at a glanceFor a car at the end of its life, the Focus' range remains comprehensive. Prices start at around £28,500 for the Titanium edition rising to just under £43,000 for the ST Edition car. All models come with a 13.2in infotainment screen, a 4.2in instrument binnacle, keyless entry, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, front and rear parking sensors and lumbar support.Upper trims including Titanium X, ST-Line or ST-Line X get alloys up to 19in, a better speaker system, matrix LED lights, wireless charging and a significantly larger 12.3in digital instrument display. Underneath, the ST-Line gets shortened, stiffened springs and stabiliser bars and dampers as standard, the latter of which sees ride height lowered by 10mm.Full-fat ST/ST Edition cars come with a limited slip differential, bespoke styling details and sports suspension (ST Edition gets KW adjustable coilovers and fancy seats). There's also Active X, which gets a raised ride height and bumper extensions for a crossover-type look.The list of powertrains on offer is much simpler. There's a 1.0-litre turbocharged triple with either 123bhp and 125lb ft or 152bhp and 177lb ft. The former is available with a six-speed manual gearbox only, whereas the latter gets a seven-speed dual-clutch or nothing.
