Ford Focus Active locked in

BY TUNG NGUYEN | 20th Nov 2018

FORD Australia has confirmed the high-riding Focus Active small hatchback will be offered in showrooms next year priced at $29,990 before on-road costs, splitting the middle of the fourth-generation hatch and wagon line-up.

To add to the rugged off-roader looks, Ford has increased ground clearance by 34mm and added 17-inch alloy wheels, as well as two unique driving modes – Trail and Slippery – in addition to the standard Normal, Eco and Sport settings.

Motivation still comes courtesy of a 134kW/240Nm 1.5-litre turbo-petrol EcoBoost engine, which is fed through an eight-speed automatic, but despite its off-road ambitions, the Focus Active remains front-wheel-drive only.

Fuel economy in the Focus Active is rated at 6.4 litres per 100km thanks to the standard inclusion of auto idle-stop technology.

Further differentiating it from its road-focused siblings, the Focus Active sports front and rear skid plates, unique front and rear bumpers, black-plastic wheelarch cladding and twin exhaust outlets finished in chrome.

As an option, buyers can also choose an $1800 Design Pack that increases wheel sizing to 18 inches, and adds adaptive LED headlight with automatic high beams and privacy glass.

Safety equipment extends to keyless entry and start, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, wide-angle reversing camera, and lane-keep assist – all included as standard.

Also available is adaptive cruise control and rear cross-traffic alert in a $1250 Driver Assistance Pack.

Like the rest of the Focus range, the Active features Ford’s 8.0-inch Sync3 infotainment system with smartphone pairing, satellite navigation, voice commands, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity and wireless device charging.

However, the seats are now swathed in a “more rugged, versatile cloth trim”, according to Ford, while the interior is also equipped with scuff plates and Nordic Blue highlight stitching.

The Active will only be offered as a hatchback in Australia. It is also available as a wagon in Europe.

Its most obvious rival is the Subaru XV, which is essentially a jacked-up version of the Impreza hatch. The XV is priced from $27,990 plus on-road costs to $35,240.

Ford Australia and New Zealand president and CEO Kay Hart said the new Focus crossover is expected to be a hit with local buyers.

“The Focus Active is a strong addition to the line-up and is a great match to the active lives of Australians,” she said.

“The German-sourced Focus range now offers new variants including the ST-Line hatch, ST-Line wagon and Active hatch, all designated to offer greater versatility and adaptability.”

2018 Ford Focus pricing*