2016 Ford Focus Trend Review

Inside, there’s a far more resolved and aesthetically pleasing cabin design. There’s far less ‘clutter’, given the fascia is now dominated by a properly integrated 8.0-inch touchscreen. The classic Ford ‘button fest’ is a thing of the past, though the new layout lacks the Mazda‘s rotary dial on the transmission tunnel that spares the screen of smudgy fingerprints. 

Running on the touchscreen is Ford’s Sync 2 system, which divides the home screen into quadrants for phone, navigation, media and general vehicle information. There are also shortcut buttons and tactile ventilation controls set below, and an excellent digital trip computer ahead of the driver’s line of sight.

It’s sporty and functional, with a great driving position. Furthermore, the Ford’s general trims are better than before, though the Mazda 3 and Volkswagen Golf are both more tactile.

In fact, there remain certain plastic surfaces in the Focus where the pennies have been pinched, notably the grey stuff surrounding the central fascia, and that urethane steering wheel and gearshifter are ordinary.

Standard equipment levels are pretty good. There’s Bluetooth streaming, two USB inputs, satellite-navigation, an industry-leading voice control system that actually works, cloth seats, regular (not climate control) air conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, one-touch indicators, a reverse-view camera and rear parking sensors.