By Cars.com Staff
Cars.com National August 22, 2008Vehicle Overview
Ford's Focus compact car was restyled in 2008, gaining a new look inside and out. The vehicle is sold either as a sedan or coupe. The sedan is available in base S, SE, SES and SEL trims. For 2009, the Focus coupe is available in SE and SES trims. Competitors include the Chevrolet Cobalt, Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.
New for 2009
Electronic stability control is a new option. The Focus coupe gets some exterior revisions that convey a sportier feel. The sedan gains a new luxury SEL model.
Exterior
The Focus features Ford's now-signature bar-style grille that's also on the front of the Fusion and the Edge. For 2009, the Focus coupe gets a slightly revised front and rear that loses the Focus' front fender vents and gains restyled fog lamps. The SES coupe also features a rear, high-mounted spoiler. The Focus sedan is 175 inches long and 66.7 inches wide, while the coupe is slightly wider. The Cobalt, Civic and Corolla are larger than the Focus, though the Focus coupe holds its own against the Civic coupe.
- 15-, 16- or 17-inch wheels
- Standard body-colored front and rear bumpers
- Standard chrome grille, optional chrome handles and mirrors
- Optional power mirrors (standard on SE, SES, SEL)
- Optional rear spoiler (standard on SE coupe and SES models)
- Optional chrome tail pipe (standard on SES)
Interior
The five-seat Focus received extensive interior changes in 2008 that included a new instrument cluster, steering wheel, center control layout and dashboard design. The gauges and buttons have blue backlighting. The audio system readouts are consolidated in a dash-top display. Selectable ambient lighting for the cupholders and footwells is available, and the system has seven different hues with which to customize the look of the interior. For 2009, the Focus sedan receives a new SEL model that gets heated leather-trimmed seats and Ford's Sync system standard. The sedan and coupe best the competition in interior passenger space at 93.4 cubic feet. Cargo space in the trunk is 13.8 cubic feet, which is larger than the Civic and about even with the Cobalt and Corolla. All models get a 60/40-split folding rear bench.
- Available cloth or leather seating
- Standard air conditioning
- Standard speed-sensitive audio controls
- Optional power windows and locks (standard on SE, SES and SEL)
- Optional Ford Sync system (standard on SES and SEL)
- Optional moonroof
Under the Hood
Five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmissions are available. For 2009, coupes receive performance enhancements that give the model 3 more horsepower when paired with the five-speed manual transmission. The automatic transmission has been retuned to deliver quicker off-the-line acceleration. The coupe also gets a sporty free-flow exhaust tone.
- 140-hp, 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder engine with 136 pounds-feet of torque
- Five-speed manual or four-speed automatic
- Optional sport-tuned suspension
Safety
Driving dynamics are enhanced, with an optional electronic stability system on all models.
- Standard side-impact airbags (seat mounted)
- Standard side curtain airbags
- Standard smart key that immobilizes the engine in a theft attempt
- Optional antilock braking system with traction control
Additional Reviews
Cars.com Expert Reviews
| Mike Hanley | Cars.com National | September 3, 2009 |
| David Thomas | Cars.com National | November 18, 2008 |
| Cars.com Staff | Cars.com National | August 22, 2008 |
Affiliate Reviews
| Bill Griffith | Boston.com | July 28, 2009 |
| Sara Lacey | Mother Proof | May 13, 2009 |
| Tom Strongman | KansasCity.com | December 5, 2008 |
| Warren Brown | washingtonpost.com | November 30, 2008 |
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