13 Sep 04
Inside, the sense of quality has taken a massive leap. The basic ergonomics are the same, but they were never the problem. So the vents, climate control and stereo are high up on the centre console and everything is logically arranged and easy to get at. There are even oval vents, like the old Focus. But that strange diagonal form has gone, replaced by a sober horizontal dash. All the switches, panels and vents nestle up to their surrounding panels with tight precision too. The main dash top is a good soft moulding; so are the door-tops and armrests, and the seat adjusters have a nice expensive action. But lower down the facia, though it still looks good, the plastics get harder and thinner. There are some useful storage places including one under a lid on the dash top, but many of them do without rubber liners so your keys, pens or whatever will slide around every time you take a corner.
It's hard to imagine many people not getting comfy in this supportive seat, and it and the steering wheel adjust to a wide degree. So, optionally, do the pedals, a first for this class of car. Visibility is pretty good, and the sense of space increased because the base of the windscreen pillars have moved forward to give the Focus a sleeker look from the outside.
Ah yes, the outside. Has it advanced enough? It's certainly a very tidy evolution of the old car, as well as handsome and apparently expensively tailored. It looks classy in other words, with a nice stance and crisp shoulders. But the old car was bought by people who wanted something radical - in its day there was nothing so fresh in the segment. Now we've got the Mégane and, soon, the Citroën C4, so Ford might lose those buyers who want something out of the mainstream. Still, even when it's standing still this is a classy enough car to pull in Golf buyers, and that's a dearly held ambition at Ford.
