SMALL BUT MIGHTY
Ford’s three-cylinder one-litre engine is no lightweight
You don’t get much choice if you want Ford’s smallest engine. The 999cc, three-cylinder turbocharged Ecoboost comes only at one trim level in the Ford Focus sedan, and you can only have a six-speed manual transmission. It costs at least a $1,376 premium over the regular 2.0L, fourcylinder engine. So you really have to want it.
There’s a similar lack of choices with the subcompact Fiesta, the only other car in which the tiny motor is available.
If you go for it, you’ll be buying Ford’s most efficient power plant to date. It’s small, but it’s good for 123 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque. You get a fuel consumption of 5.9L/100 km on the highway and 8.1 in the city. The test car’s realworld average over a full tank of regular gas was 7.2.
That’s an improvement over the regular 2.0L engine’s claim of 7.3 highway and 10.2 city, but you must pay the premium for the engine and buy the manual transmission. You could buy the 2.0L with an automatic transmission and it would still be $300 cheaper than the Ecoboost.
If you like manual transmissions, the 1.0L Focus’s stick shift is very good, and an improvement over the regular five-speed manual in other Focuses. It’s so smooth, you’ll probably forget to shift out of fourth gear on the highway, but fifth and sixth are like overdrives. Overtaking needs a downshift, if it’s not to take all day.
It’s probably best not to overtake too much. The Focus is not quick with the little Ecoboost engine. It’s peppier in the Fiesta, but that smaller car is 170 kg lighter. This is probably why this feature is offered only in the Focus sedan, and not in the sportier hatchback.
The savings in gas over the lifetime of the car will probably recoup your investment, but not by much. If gas becomes more expensive, the savings will be more obvious. In Europe, where gas costs roughly twice the price, one in three Focuses are sold with the Ecoboost engine.
The Focus is satisfying to drive. The cabin is refined and straightforward, with intuitive placing of the controls. There’s lots of storage and the seats are comfortable. This is not a premium car, but it’s well put together.
There are a few styling changes for 2015, including a reshaped hood and grille, and new lights, but differences are subtle. Its looks are bland but not dull. The Focus is the world’s bestselling car, and Ford clearly didn’t want to mess with it too much.
As a family-carrying fuel-saver, it’s good value compared to more expensive hybrids. The Ecoboost engine option costs more, but the regular price of $20,799 seems reasonable when you consider the remarkable technology under the hood. Current deals offer the same model for $19,258, a significant savings.
It’s too bad the buying decision always comes down to money, because ethically, the world needs smaller, more efficient engines. If you’re happy to make the investment now, and don’t mind a stick shift with a leisurely drive, the Ecoboost Focus is a clear winner. Mark Richardson is a regular contributor to Wheels. The vehicle tested was provided by the manufacturer.