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2009 Ford Focus Review

February 21, 2009

STYLING | 6 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Well-arranged dashboard has mostly intuitive and handy controls
Consumer Guide

Newish 2009 Focus Coupe features a front end with a larger lower air intake
Autoblog

Gawky profile doesn't mesh with the restyled front and back at all
Cars.com

In 2008 the Ford Focus saw its model lineup trimmed from four body styles to two, but for 2009 the Ford Focus lineup expands with a new trim level. Although completely redesigning the Focus for 2008, Ford has reconsidered the appearance of the coupe, which debuts this year with yet another new look.

The 2009 Ford Focus lineup is relatively straightforward; choices are limited to either sedan or coupe body styles. Consumer Guide says that "S, SE, SES, and new-for-2009 SEL trim levels are available," though "S and SEL are sedan only; the S coupe has been dropped."

Exterior styling is not exactly the Ford Focus's strong point, even in Ford's rapid rethink of the coupe for 2009. Regarding the coupe, the "gawky profile doesn't mesh with the restyled front and back at all," according to Cars.com, and reviewers at Jalopnik are not impressed with "what the Dearborn-based automaker calls a 'sporty new look.' We call it lipstick." Autoblog lists some of the changes for the 2009 Ford Focus coupe as "a larger lower air intake that's supposedly inspired by the new Fiesta, and those garish faux fender vents are now completely gone." Kelley Blue Book reviewers report that "base S models come with 15-inch steel wheels; the SE gets alloy rims of the same size," while "SES and SEL variants move up to 16-inchers" and the "SES coupe rides on 17-inchers." Overall, Autoblog says the Ford Focus 2009 coupe "has surely lost its visual luster, but that's a good thing from a design standpoint."

Unlike the exterior, the cabin of the 2009 Ford Focus is much the same as last year's model. The interior is, in fact, a winner in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com; even those who slam the exterior styling praise at the cabin design. Autoblog notes that "hardly anything has changed" inside the Ford Focus coupe, which still features a "T-shaped swath of silver plastic...with clearly laid out controls for the stereo and HVAC placed front and center." Consumer Guide praises the "well-arranged dashboard [that] has mostly intuitive and handy controls," although the gauges "can be hard to read in changing lighting conditions." Cars.com claims that "almost every aspect is improved" over the previous generation, "and the striking, winged dashboard draws the eyes immediately." Kelley Blue Book adds that one of the benefits of the more mature dashboard design is that it offers "improved storage spaces, better-positioned controls and attractive ice-blue backlighting."

Conclusion

Whether as a coupe or sedan, the 2009 Ford Focus is neither anonymous nor good-looking on the outside, but interior design is a strong point.

STYLING | 6 out of 10Expert Quotes:Well-arranged dashboard has mostly intuitive and handy controlsConsumer GuideNewish 2009 Focus Coupe features a front end with a larger lower air intakeAutoblogGawky profile doesn't mesh with the restyled front and back at allCars.com In 2008 the Ford Focus saw its model lineup trimmed from four body styles to two, but for 2009 the Ford Focus lineup expands with a new trim level. Although completely redesigning the Focus for 2008, Ford has reconsidered the appearance of the coupe, which debuts this year with yet another new look. The 2009 Ford Focus lineup is relatively straightforward; choices are limited to either sedan or coupe body styles. Consumer Guide says that "S, SE, SES, and new-for-2009 SEL trim levels are available," though "S and SEL are sedan only; the S coupe has been dropped." Exterior styling is not exactly the Ford Focus's strong point, even in Ford's rapid rethink of the coupe for 2009. Regarding the coupe, the "gawky profile doesn't mesh with the restyled front and back at all," according to Cars.com, and reviewers at Jalopnik are not impressed with "what the Dearborn-based automaker calls a 'sporty new look.' We call it lipstick." Autoblog lists some of the changes for the 2009 Ford Focus coupe as "a larger lower air intake that's supposedly inspired by the new Fiesta, and those garish faux fender vents are now completely gone." Kelley Blue Book reviewers report that "base S models come with 15-inch steel wheels; the SE gets alloy rims of the same size," while "SES and SEL variants move up to 16-inchers" and the "SES coupe rides on 17-inchers." Overall, Autoblog says the Ford Focus 2009 coupe "has surely lost its visual luster, but that's a good thing from a design standpoint." Unlike the exterior, the cabin of the 2009 Ford Focus is much the same as last year's model. The interior is, in fact, a winner in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com; even those who slam the exterior styling praise at the cabin design. Autoblog notes that "hardly anything has changed" inside the Ford Focus coupe, which still features a "T-shaped swath of silver plastic...with clearly laid out controls for the stereo and HVAC placed front and center." Consumer Guide praises the "well-arranged dashboard [that] has mostly intuitive and handy controls," although the gauges "can be hard to read in changing lighting conditions." Cars.com claims that "almost every aspect is improved" over the previous generation, "and the striking, winged dashboard draws the eyes immediately." Kelley Blue Book adds that one of the benefits of the more mature dashboard design is that it offers "improved storage spaces, better-positioned controls and attractive ice-blue backlighting." ConclusionWhether as a coupe or sedan, the 2009 Ford Focus is neither anonymous nor good-looking on the outside, but interior design is a strong point.  2009 FORD FOCUS STYLING | [6 out of 10] Consumer Guide: "Well-arranged dashboard has mostly intuitive and handy controls" Autoblog: "Newish 2009 Focus Coupe features a front end with a larger lower air intake" Cars.com: "Gawky profile doesn't mesh with the restyled front and back at ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The 2009 Ford Focus is up against tough competition. The 2009 Honda Civic offers great variety, such as coupe and sedan body styles and multiple powertrains, including hybrid and natural gas. The 2009 Toyota Corolla is especially attractive in its top trim level, though less so in the base trim. The 2009 Focus also has to compete against the Mazda3, a perennial enthusiast favorite for its handling. Comparatively, the Hyundai Elantra and Dodge Caliber trail this pack in overall refinement and style. Now that the Focus lacks a hatchback or wagon model, those shoppers will have to look elsewhere—good possibilities in that range include the Mazda3, the Toyota Matrix (which is based on the Corolla), and the Honda Fit, which is smaller on the outside but surprisingly roomy inside.

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See the Ford Focus in Other Years:

2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000

Comments (1 total)

  1. By Jaxon #2, Posted: 7/22/2009

    Video review: http://excarsalesman.typepad.com/cars/ford-focus/

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