Ford Focus 1.6 4Dr Review: Focal point

Thanks to its premium Continental pricing, the Focus is more expensive to buy than most of the popular Cat A Japanese saloons out there. But what these Eastern models can’t provide is the Focus’ handling brilliance and outright safety list.

The facelift has given the Focus a further boost in the desirability stakes as well, but it’s not all perfect for the Ford - there’s no improvement in terms of engine performance, which is an aspect that the Focus needs real badly if it were to compete with slightly dearer European competitors like the Volkswagen Jetta TSI. The Focus’ gutless 100 horses just couldn’t hold a candle to the VW’s 170 German stallions.

The Ford’s gearbox is another Achillies’ heel in this day and time of seven speeds and twin clutches – a four-speed automatic box just won’t do it.

However, cast these shortcomings aside and the Focus will guarantee to put a wide grin on your face every single time you put it through a sequence of twists and turns – cos' surprisingly with the Focus, you’ll realize that "no power doesn’t necessarily equals to no fun"...

Credits: Story by Raymond Lai, pictures by Azfar Hashim