13 Sep 04
The 2.0 petrol was originally a Mazda unit, seen also in the Mondeo. It's refined and willingly torquey in the mid-ranges, but there are a few resonances (especially when you lift off the throttle) at 5000rpm-plus. Still, it's effective, the sharp throttle response helping you play all the tunes you want with that fluent handling. The gearbox's throw is nicely oiled, quick and shorter of throw than before.
The 2.0 diesel has a broad-shouldered plateau of torque, and unlike some turbodiesels it doesn't run suddenly out of breath if you're either above or below that favoured mid-rev band. So it's a relaxing unit to use, an easy way to carve great progress down any road, and it's not too fussy which of the six slick-shifting gears you use.
Of course the 1.6 diesel has to work harder to overtake, but again it has a fuss-free torque band that surfs you along deceptively rapidly. The usual 'rubber band' effect of CVTs isn't too noticeable. It happens when a CVT is mated to a small petrol engine - when you want to accelerate the best way is to spin the engine up to high revs and keep it there while the car gradually gains speed. It's disconcerting. But with this diesel, the mid-range torque lets the car acclerate without that panicky wheezing effect. If you want to over-ride, there are seven pre-set ratios reached by a tiptronic-style plus and minus gate. They shift very smoothly, and this CVT also manages gentle takeoff and manoevring well. They don't all.
At a fast cruise, all the Focus versions calm down nicely - the powertrain and tyres fall away into the background. The cars I drive were a bit variable for wind noise - one was really good, one distinctly average, some in between. But that's the sort of thing that tends to get better after any carmaker has built a few hundred. Anyway, there are some kicking optional stereos which could drown it out without a second thought.
