STYLING | 9 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
The new Focus is handsome.
Car and Driver
Gone is the somewhat tall and skinny form we're used to, replaced instead with more aggressive proportions and a ready stance.
Edmunds' Inside Line
at the sharp end of the pack, making even the Germans seem tired and empty of fresh ideas
Edmunds
swanky vibe
Consumer Guide
From the exterior, there's no mistaking the 2012 Ford Focus for a flat-line commuter
Autoblog
There's no longer a Focus Coupe, but there are two beautiful body styles—a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback—from which to choose.
Both body styles are rakish and sleek, and while the profile of the Focus sedan is uncommon (and remarkably close to that of the recently introduced Chevrolet Cruze, as well as the Elantra), the distinction is in the details. Both models have Ford's kinetic design attributes, with the rising beltline that's become par, but accented here with some nice creases and curves—including a subtle curve that runs from the headlights all the way to the taillights, just below the beltline, and a sharper crease that starts after the front wheelwell and runs through the door handles. Taillamps are huge and form much of the rear corners on both vehicles. Thankfully, Ford's saccharine chrome louvered grille, from several of its larger vehicles, and which we never warmed up to, hasn't been carried over here.
Inside, the design is complex—incorporating a cockpit-like instrument panel arrangement, with a thick center stack, some nice surface sculpting, and vertically-oriented vents. Trims and finishes look classy and inviting, and there's a nicely tailored look to the entire interior that extends to door trim and even seats. The turquoise-colored gauge pointers are a nice touch.
Conclusion
The 2012 Ford Focus doesn’t look like the rest of the compact-car field, and that's a very good thing.
