Motor Trend
Ford’s new Focus is “so radically improved” from the previous U.S. model that “it’s surprising the name stayed the same.” This impressive compact has a few minor flaws—namely a rear seat that won’t fold flat and the slight pokiness of the six-speed auto transmission at lower speeds. But that’s about it. The Focus “has vaulted from forgettable to formidable in one fell swoop.” It’s now the “sportiest” car in the small-car class and maybe the best overall.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
We like the looks of the five-door hatchback, so “consider yourself free to ignore the slightly frumpy sedan”—even though the price of the hatchback runs about $1,800 higher. Interior surfaces in either model are “an order of magnitude richer” than in the old Focus, “easily matching what’s now offered” by such worthy rivals as the Mazda 3 and the new Chevy Cruze and Hyundai Elantra.
Autoweek
To attain the 40 mpg that Ford’s ads are touting, you’ll need the “Super Fuel Economy” package. But no model feels like budget class, and options include a backup camera and self-parking electronics. In a highly competitive market, this fun, handsome new Ford is bringing “a lot of stuff” to the fight.
-
Fannie Flagg’s 6 favorite books that sparked her imaginationFeature The author recommends works by Johanna Spyri, John Steinbeck, and more
-
Google: A monopoly past its prime?Feature Google’s antitrust case ends with a slap on the wrist as courts struggle to keep up with the tech industry’s rapid changes
-
Patrick Hemingway: The Hemingway son who tended to his father’s legacyFeature He was comfortable in the shadow of his famous father, Ernest Hemingway
