Ford releases all-new Focus pricing

BY JUSTIN HILLIARD | 17th Sep 2018

FORD Australia has released full details for its fourth-generation Focus due in December, with the German-built small car to launch with five-door hatch and wagon body styles that usher in higher pricing and specification.

The entry-level Trend kicks off the Focus hatch line-up from $25,990 before on-road costs, rising to $28,990 for the mid-range ST-Line and $34,490 for the flagship Titanium. Conversely, the $30,990 ST-Line is the only wagon variant on offer.

While the Focus’ entry-level cost is $2600 dearer than before, all variants are now fitted with an eight-speed torque-convertor automatic transmission with paddle shifters as standard instead of a six-speed manual gearbox.

The ST-Line hatch and wagon are new to the Focus line-up, while the Trend and Titanium are $1600 and $1800 more expensive than their direct predecessors respectively.

However, buyers are compensated for the price increase with a longer list of standard equipment that is headlined by autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, and lane-keep assist.

The Trend also includes an active front grille, front air curtains, underbody panels, an integrated rear spoiler, dusk-sensing headlights, LED daytime running lights, rain-sensing windshield wipers and 16-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, an 8.0-inch touchscreen Sync3 infotainment system, satellite navigation with live traffic, a Wi-Fi hotspot, voice control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, Bluetooth connectivity, digital radio, a six-speaker sound system, a rotary gear selector, an electric park brake, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, comfort seats and driver lumbar support.

Advanced driver-assist systems extend to post-collision braking, a 180-degree reversing camera, rear parking sensors, hill-start assist, a manual speed limiter and cruise control, plus six airbags (dual front, side and curtain).

The ST-Line adds a honeycomb front grille insert, a bodykit (bumpers, side skirts and rear spoiler), sports suspension (10mm lower ride height), LED foglights with cornering functionality, LED tail-lights, auto-folding side mirrors with heating functionality and puddle lights, chrome twin exhaust tailpipes, privacy glass and metallic 17-inch alloy wheels.

Its interior ups the ante with a flat-bottom steering wheel, sports seats, red interior stitching, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, wireless smartphone charging, a black roofliner and metallic pedals. Tyre pressure monitoring is exclusive to the ST-Line.

The wagon also picks up roof rails, a two-tier boot floor, load-compartment loops, a rear tonneau cover and remote seat release. With its second row stowed, 1653L of cargo capacity is available.

Compared to the Trend, the Titanium gains chrome exterior trim, LED tail-lights, auto-folding side mirrors with heating functionality and puddle lights, privacy glass and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Adaptive LED headlights with auto-levelling functionality, scrolling LED indicators and high-beam assist are also included but can be added to the ST-Line as part of its $1800 Design Pack.

Dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, wireless smartphone charging, six-way power-adjustable front seats with heating functionality, leather upholstery, a nine-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system with a subwoofer and LED ambient lighting are standard inside. A head-up display is a $300 option for the Titanium.

Active safety features expand to include adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, lane-centring and evasive steering assist, speed sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and rearward AEB.

The Trend and ST-Line can be optioned with the additional safety gear as part of their $1250 Driver Assistance Pack, while park assist can be added to the Titanium for $1000.

Prestige paintwork costs $550 for all variants, while a panoramic sunroof attracts a $2000 premium for the ST-Line and Titanium.

All variants are motivated by a 1.5-litre EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine that produces 134kW of power at 6000rpm and 240Nm of torque at 1600rpm. Significantly, it is an all-aluminium unit that features an idle-stop system and combines power and direct fuel injection.

The Focus line-up comes with Ford Australia’s recently-introduced five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, while up to seven years of roadside assistance is offered alongside capped-price servicing.

As reported, GoAuto understands that the Focus line-up will expand in the second quarter next year with the Active, a ‘small SUV’ that rides 30mm higher than the non-ST-Line hatches and picks up skid plates and wheelarch cladding, among other ‘off-road’ appointments.

According to Ford Australia and New Zealand chief executive officer Kay Hart, the Focus has a rich history, one that the new model successfully builds upon.

“The Focus has been one of the world’s best-selling vehicles, and it’s a significant part of Ford’s line-up, having been on sale for almost two decades in Australia,” she said.

“We’ve seen Focus set benchmarks in technology, driveability and performance, and this all-new generation is the best combination of Focus character and the latest technology that Australian customers are asking for.”

Sales of the Focus have taken a hit this year in the lead up to the new model’s release, with 3505 examples sold to the end of August – a 14.9 per cent decrease over the 4121 deliveries made during the same period in 2017.

As a result, the Focus is currently placed 10th in the sub-$40,000 small-car segment, trailing the Toyota Corolla (24,770 units), Mazda3 (22,502), Hyundai i30 (19,481), Volkswagen Golf (13,660) and Kia Cerato (13,151), among others.

2018 Ford Focus pricing*