QUALITY | 8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
the aggressively Euro-firm cushions encourage Emily Post posture all ’round
Car and Driver
Road and wind noise are subdued, a benefit of the stiffer body and the insulation necessary to make the voice-activated SYNC interface system possible.
Popular Mechanics
does not ride very well with the optional 18-inch 40-series high-performance tires
Edmunds
Even pretty serious depressions—the type that would rattle one’s teeth in the last-generation Focus—were eaten up with little clamor.
Winding Road
the front seats are uncommonly good
Automobile Magazine
Inside, the Focus can feel more like a European sport sedan than a budget-priced hatchback. Add the upgraded sport seats of the Titanium model and you'll find even better support than the already impressive base front seats.
Whether you choose the sedan or hatchback, you get back seat accommodations that are virtually the same, with just enough legroom and headroom to fit even those over six feet. With the leather upholstery, there's no skimping on look and feel in back; you won't get mid-size comfort, but there's enough comfort back there for most six-footers.
Cargo holds in the hatch and sedan are both ample with large openings, but seat-folding is a little involved. For one, you can't release the back seats remotely, as you can in some other vehicles; the other thing is that the back seats don't fold completely flat unless you slide the front seats far forward and flip the lower cushions down--and even then the headrests get in the way. The reward, perhaps, is a more comfortable contouring for the back seat than in most small cars.
Our most significant complaint concerns the instrument panel design, which seemingly cuts into front passenger knee space especially.
Road noise is typical for the compact class, although the Focus does well in sealing engine noise out. Ride comfort is impressive, even though the Focus is one of the firmer-riding small cars, its more sophisticated suspension tuning filters out the most jarring bumps.
Conclusion
Sporty doesn't mean uncomfortable here; the Focus has a spacious interior, and the refinement of a more expensive vehicle.
