Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Ford Focus

Facing stiff competition from Honda, Toyota, Hyundai and Mazda in the small-car market, the Ford Focus was in need of more than a face-lift. Unfortunately, that was all Ford was willing to do for the 2008 model. Reviewer David Thomas does find some improvements and attractive new features to recommend it, but at the end of the day the Focus fails to set itself apart from competitors that are either less expensive or simply better cars.

2008 Ford Focus Expert Review (Cars.com)

Comments

[steve]

Nice cr! wish I had one.

Stamps foot!

Stamps it again!

I must say, I like that you all post reviews by several different people. About the car, yes it may not be completley new, but in my opinion, the original focus was already rather advanced for small cars in 2000. Not brand new, yes; but behind, no.

Dave seems to be a interior plastic connosier. For him compliment the interior of any car, it must be good, lol.

[Dave T.]

It kind of comes with the job ;)

[JM]

this car isnt behind the competition? it has no rear headrests at all!

[Daz]

I see this car becoming a Hertz staple in the near future.

[J]

Nameless,(Don't know you name, since you never typed one in!)

If you really think that the Focus is not behind, please tell me honestly where are the rear headrests?
Even the cheap looking Cobalt has them.
(BTW, does the focus offer all 3-point seatbelts?)

[alex]

this thing is ugly.. wow, the interior sucks too. they will sell though, some people dont know any better than to buy from the big 3

[ZB]

Even if the Ford Focus was advanced in the year, 2000, that's almost 8-years ago. Apparently Ford seems to think that most of their products can age gracefully over time and still measure up with the redesigned competition. I think not!

I don't think the Ford Focus is that ugly. Toyota is doing quite well selling ugly cars. Talk about ugly cars!

Why can't a car manufacturer design a good-looking vehicle that's a quality product? Most buyers have to settle for ugly but well-built, or good-looking but a little deficient in the quality department. Sometimes, a lot more than a little deficient.

In terms of homes, many Americans buy good-looking but poorly-built houses. It's a hoot seeing Toyotas parked in the garages of these poorly-built houses. At least it's a hoot to me.

Just make the Ford Focus really ugly and improve the quality. It will be a winner.

[J]

ZB,
Look at my Civic. ;)

[ZB]

J,

I don't know the year of your Civic?

Looks-wise, Honda Civics have been pretty decent-looking cars. There were a few years where the body of 4-door Civic, from the end of the back door to the rear bumper, was much too high and that feature detracted from its overall looks.

I'm through with foreign cars. If a new Ford Focus was $4000 more than a new Toyota Camry, I would buy the Ford Focus. Headrests or no headrests. Most people would not, but I would.

[henrycarman]

The new Ford Focus is better than Honda or Toyota but no one is actually looking at the vehicle just reading this Asian bought media crap!

[foreversincebreakfast]

Yeah, it's too bad we in North America get this ugly piece of crap (hatch no longer offered) while the Europeans get a truly modern and nicely designed Focus in a variety of body styles.

[Mart]

Yet, like the new Astra, if Ford brought it (the EU Focus) here and it cost $3k more than the current Focus (which it would as it's a far more sophisticated vehicle) you'd all be bitching about how no-one will buy this over the Japanese competition at that price.

[rower30]

Some people like to complain about all but what matters.

1.0 This car has the best lane change handling of ANY car in its price range. How's the eight year old chassis hurting it?
2.0 It has the second highest real world mileaage of any car in the class.
3.0 The trunk space is second in the class.
4.0 It has a proven Mazda derived powertrain that is smooth and easy to maintain (no cam chains). HP power is good and the torque peak is at the lowest RPM of all the competitors, with the cxeption of the ASTRA which has too little torque to begin with. This makes the engine easy to use stop-light to stop-light.
5.0 Crash tests are four and five stars all the way around on the four door. I don't torture myself with two-doors.
6.0 Comfort is best in class for noise (lowest in the class) and ride motion.
7.0 Styling is fine for a car that isn't intended to be a punk rocket, which is fine by me. Go get a Mazda 3 for that, Ford's other car line.
8.0 Visibility is very good all the way around.
9.0 Has by far and away the best price with option matched between competiting brands. trust me, I looked and drove and priced them all; VW, Mazda, Honda, Toyota, Saturn, El all.

Some things I'd like to see;
1.0 Spare tire.
2.0 Rear seat headrests could added and be small riser on the rear seats to stop the damn things from blocking my view like the models that do have them.
3.0 Break away mirror attachment points.
4.0 The fender trim could be an option. No one will mistake the Focus for a Nissan GT-R (which has fender vent detailing, too).
5.0 More interior color options. The stone interior doesn't match the vappor silver exterior color, but I just can't do black. It's way too hot, clostraphopic, and shows every little piece of lint in a 10 mile radius of the car.

All in all, the Focus is a well managed upgrade. The cahssis and drive train is NOT holding this car back at all. No
"new" chassis can beat it in the lane change. I could care less about styling. I think that most all the small cars are homely by being too conservative or too punky. Overall it does what a good small car needs to do. It is quietest in calss, and 85% of the other items are near the top of class. I',m glad Ford kept this car a well rounded product and let the Mazda do the Zoom Zoom. I HATE the higher output Mazda engine, it's too peaky for just eight extra HP. You pay in the torque curve, and day to day drive ability.

Most peopel don't want a car that is quiet, composed on the road, returns good mileage, can steer out of it's own way, and is priced well that buy small cars. Most younger buyers want the fastest, or best braking, or highest HP (may not be the fastest), best looking (who says what that is, look at the Scion?, biggest (fill in the blank))ETC. Nope, the Focus isn't for you, but must everything be for you?