It’s the kind of morning that makes you want to drive. Early light spilling through the beech trees of the Deister, soft mist rising off the trails, and that mild chill in the air that keeps your focus sharp. Fitting, then, that today’s test car is the Ford Focus , a name synonymous with concentration, precision, and just a hint of forgotten charm in a world of crossovers and digital distractions. 

The Focus has a long story. Since 1998, it’s tried to redefine what a compact car should be , sharp to drive, practical enough to live with, and just edgy enough to set it apart from the Golf crowd. And now, 25 years later, we find ourselves with the fourth generation, facelifted in 2021 and quietly soldiering on in the face of Ford’s looming retreat from the European compact class. So the question isn’t just how well this car drives. It’s also this: Is it still relevant? 

To find out, I took the 1.0 EcoBoost Focus Titanium X deep into the Deister range, with enough luggage to simulate a long weekend, a borrowed gravel bike folded flat in the back, and the open invitation of curvy, quiet roads beneath the forest canopy. Let’s see what Cologne’s best still has to offer. 

Inside the Focus: Roomy Simplicity With New, Gen Tech 

The moment you step inside, it feels… solid. Not fancy. Not dramatic. Just solid. The Titanium X trim brings a few luxuries , heated steering wheel, partial leather seats, ambient lighting , but it’s the new 12.3, inch touchscreen that steals the show. It floats cleanly above the vents, offers clear Apple CarPlay integration, and controls nearly everything, including climate. And that’s where the love affair cools a little. 

Using the touchscreen for temperature control isn’t bad in a Tesla, where it feels intentional. But here, you sometimes wish Ford had kept a few old, school knobs. On twisty Deister roads, trying to toggle heat with a sweaty finger mid, corner isn’t ideal. 

Space, though, is surprisingly generous. I’m six feet tall, and with the seat lowered all the way, there’s still more than a hand’s worth of headroom. Even in the back, I didn’t hear a single complaint from my taller, than, average passenger. Trunk space starts at 392 liters, expands to over 1,350 liters with the seats down, and swallows a full, size gravel bike (front wheel removed) with ease. For a compact car, it’s admirably practical. 

Ford Focus ST 💚💚 pic.twitter.com/tTCCpYwgrs

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The Drive: Balanced, Precise, and Still Sporty at Heart 

If you’ve driven the Ford Focus in any form before, you know what to expect , taut body control, direct steering, and a sense of engagement that rivals forget. Even with the smallest engine, this car feels like it wants to play. 

The 1.0, liter three, cylinder EcoBoost is the heart of this test model. On paper, 125 hp doesn’t sound thrilling. But in real, world driving, especially in twisty, undulating terrain like the Deister, it’s a surprisingly willing partner. The mild, hybrid system , a 48, volt belt, starter, generator setup , lends torque when needed and captures energy during deceleration. It makes throttle response more eager, especially between 1,500 and 3,000 rpm, where turbo lag would otherwise be noticeable. 

Acceleration to 100 km/h takes 10.2 seconds. It’s not fast, but it’s also never frustrating. Overtaking requires planning, yes, but in return, you get a responsive gearbox (manual in our test car) with short throws and a light clutch. It’s an old, school charm wrapped in a modern drivetrain. The Focus rewards smooth driving , heel, and, toe feels natural, the steering is consistent, and body roll is kept in check even when pushing through tight switchbacks. 

The Focus isn’t a GTI, but it communicates better than most hatchbacks in its price bracket. The Deister’s sinuous B, roads are a perfect match , fast enough to test chassis balance, tight enough to feel connected, and full of elevation changes that reveal the car’s composed damping and well, sorted suspension. Compared to a Golf or Astra, the Focus feels just that bit more alive. 

Living With It: Hybrid Nuances and Fuel Sips 

Let’s talk about quirks. The mild hybrid system, while helpful in reducing emissions and improving efficiency, takes some getting used to. Lift off the throttle and the regen kicks in stronger than expected for a car without full electrification. It’s not unpleasant, just unfamiliar. The start, stop system, too, has its own rhythm , shutting the engine down early, even with the clutch still pressed , and restarting only when the throttle is tapped. Once acclimated, it all works smoothly, but there’s a short learning curve. 

Fuel consumption in the real world? On our mixed route of mountain curves, town traffic, and autobahn stretches, the Focus returned 6.3 liters per 100 km , almost exactly what ADAC reported (6.2). That’s decent, though not exceptional. Some competitors with four, cylinder mild hybrids manage better, but the Focus claws back points with its cleaner emissions profile and predictable throttle calibration. 

Tech & Safety: Mature, Modern, Mostly Intuitive 

Ford has come a long way in refining the Focus’s feature set. This Titanium X came loaded with adaptive LED headlights, lane centering, adaptive cruise control, a rear, view camera, and even a wrong, way warning function , an underrated but useful touch on rural backroads. 

The parking assist feature, which takes over steering and braking, worked well in tight urban zones. And the lane centering system was one of the better ones I’ve used in this class , not overly intrusive, but accurate enough to reduce fatigue on longer highway runs. It feels like Ford has put a lot of quiet thought into the details, and it shows. 

That said, the user interface can still feel slightly disjointed. Some functions are buried deep in menus. And while the graphics are crisp and the system is fast, it lacks the polished fluidity of, say, a VW interface. 

Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost , Technical Specifications 

To guarantee precision, all technical data is sourced directly and instantly from Ford’s website.

Specification	Value
Engine Type	1.0L EcoBoost, 3, cylinder, mild hybrid
Displacement	999 cc
Power	125 hp (92 kW)
Torque	170 Nm
Transmission	6, speed manual
Drive Type	Front, wheel drive
0, 100 km/h	10.2 seconds
Top Speed	200 km/h
CO₂ Emissions (WLTP)	121 g/km
Combined Fuel Consumption (WLTP)	5.4 l/100 km
Real, world Consumption (ADAC)	6.2 l/100 km
Trunk Volume (Normal)	392 liters
Trunk Volume (Max, seats folded)	1,354 liters
Weight (Empty, EU)	1,330 kg
Max Trailer Load (Braked)	1,100 kg
Length × Width × Height	4,382 × 1,825 × 1,452 mm
Base Price (Germany)	€32,600

Conclusion: A Driver’s Compact in a World of Crossovers 

Back at the trailhead, with pine needles crunching underfoot and the gravel bike loaded again, I take one last look at the Focus. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t shout for attention. But it delivers something increasingly rare: honest, responsive driving fun in a practical, well, priced package. 

Yes, the world is moving toward crossovers, and yes, Ford’s own lineup reflects that shift. But the Focus proves there’s still a place for a compact car that engages, that communicates, and that quietly does everything you need without demanding the spotlight. 

Is it as comfortable as a Golf? No. As tech, savvy as a Hyundai i30? Perhaps not. But in terms of driving joy , the kind you feel winding through a misty forest road with windows cracked and gears clicking into place , the Focus remains deeply satisfying. 

And if this really is the last great Focus? Well, Ford can be proud. It still lives up to its name.