Keeping it in Focus: part 2
The Ford Focus ST might be Ford’s performance flagship, but it’s the luxurious Titanium that ticks most boxes for those who want economy to go with their comfort and high tech protection, says John Oxley.
We swapped our Focus ST for a Titanium, the top auto in the Focus range, and the irony was that both were in the same shade of blue. Even more ironically, when we went down to our local butcher’s shop, it was the Titanium they all came out to look at, and oohed and aahed about. Maybe the ST looked too much like a “buy racer” for them, with its bulging front spoiler and OTT grille, plus those big “in your face” wheels. Maybe the ST’S wilder body kit hit the wrong vibes, while the more-sophisticated Titanium look ticked the right boxes. As it is the Titanium still comes with its own sports-style kit, with a rear spoiler, as well as additional suspension mods over other Focus models. Fact is, although they were both blue, they represent a totally different market. The Titanium comes with a 132kw/240nm 1.5-litre version of the four-cylinder turbocharged direct injection Ecoboost engine, and although there’s a world of difference between them, it doesn’t mean the Titanium is any way a sluggard – far from it, in fact, for it’s a lively unit made even more so by the latest version of Ford’s six-speed auto ‘box with paddle shifters. The Titanium is designed to be Ford’s technological flagship in the Focus range, and as such it comes with a plethora of features you’d not usually expect in this grade. As such it gets a bunch of features that even the ST doesn’t have, including blind spot monitoring with cross traffic alert – the latter great when you’re trying to reverse out of a parking spot between two SUVS – forward collision warning, lane keeping aid, smart key entry with parking sensors front and rear (the ST only gets them at the front), and adaptive speed control, which uses radar to adjust vehicle speed to that of the car in front when the cruise control is set. There’s also active park assist, which helps you find a parking spot, then helps you slot the car in, whether parallel or perpendicular parking. It’s eerie when you first try it, but you won’t want to be without it when you get used to it. The interior is very similar to that of the ST, except it doesn’t get those tight Recaro front seats, which means it gets Sync2 with voice control, as well as an excellent audio setup with Bluetooth phone and streaming. A reversing camera is standard, as is a tilt/slide sunroof and an eight-inch colour touchscreen and satnav, and there’s trailer stability control. Seat trim is in leather, as is the steering wheel rim, and the seats feature a 60/40 split and fold for increased versatility. The front seats are very comfortable, and feature adjustable lumbar support for both the driver and front passenger, and there’s dual zone climate control aircon. Bi-xenon headlights are fitted, with LED taillights, and there are both front and rear fog lights. An interesting fact is that although they feature different style wheels, both the ST and the Titanium have the same size wheels and tyres, 18 inch x 235/40, but it takes the ST 12m to turn between kerbs, while the Titanium does it in a circle 1m smaller. On the road the cars are like chalk and cheese. The Titanium is still quick, but not frenetic, while handling is still excellent, but not limitless.