Ford 2008 Focus: A Good Subcompact That's Better Than the Original

For a long time, the Ford Focus remained essentially the same vehicle. It started life as good, affordable transportation when it debuted in 2000 and it ably performed the same role, almost unchanged, for nearly eight years, until the automaker released its major update of the Focus in 2008.

When it debuted as a 2000 model, this derivative of the Mazda3 platform - it was and still is built at the same plant (Flat Rock, MI) where the Mazda is built - has served its master very well. Ford, which owns most of Mazda, used the development work on the Mazda3 platform as the basis of the Focus. It came up with a very nice subcompact whose lines changed very little through 2008.

Early Changes Hard to Locate

Aside from a piece of bright work here and a line or two there, you would be hard-pressed to misidentify the 2000 or 2006 Focus on a quick look. It would take you a longer look to note the changes in things like badging and wheels that occurred.

A sea changed happened in 2008 when Ford released the reworked Focus. It was, to paraphrase a famous lunar phrase, "one step for cars and a large leap for carkind." It sounds silly, doesn't it, but it is true. The 2008 that we had the chance to evaluate on more than one occasion during our time as a Ford salesperson was easily better and larger than the original.

The restyled 2008 Focus is almost a full three inches taller than the 2000; 12 inches wider, and seven inches longer. Those changes have added headroom, legroom and thigh and hip room to the Focus and have helped to make it a far more comfortable vehicle. Interestingly, they have managed to keep the footprint the same, so all of the work was done with either new space or unused space in the original. It was a very nice change. (The 2000 Focus was, for its day, a very good subcompact that got great mileage and performed very well. It's just that its day has passed and 2008 has shown it.)

For starters, the lines are much more modern as they are far less rounded than lines on the model they replaced. The front end sports the tribar, blacked out grille that is nicely fared between headlamp assemblies that are fared into the front fenders. The slightly sloping hood features a simple centerline and a couple of straightback detailing lines and culminates in an upswept cowl in front of the windshield wipers.

Carrying the line of the hood, the fenders that also establish the high beltline for the vehicle are nicely sculpted and translate the design into the cabin quite effectively working with the door panels. The doors, themselves, are nicely sculpted and work into the A-, B- and C-pillars of the roof in a subtle blend of development work that means you really don't notice them.

Nice Lines

The rear quarters carry the line nicely through the short rear deck and the nicely sculpted rear end and fared bright taillights with high intensity LEDs work nicely at the corners.

The roof and greenhouse work well and complete the whole picture.

Interestingly, even though it has undergone a massive - for a Focus - change, you can still see it is a Ford Focus. And, after having driven both models, we can say with assurance that while the 2000 was a pleasant subcompact that worked well, the 2008 was lightyears ahead in terms of materials, ride, handling and braking.

The interior, whose upholstery ranged from cloth to leather and which could be optioned with everything but the proverbial kitchen sink (it even offered Ford's SYNC Bluetooth synchronization option) as well as the usual items that included upgraded sound systems, Navigation, power steering, brakes, windows and doorlocks and keyless locking.

Instrument Panel Good

For the driver, the instrument panel was a one-oval/center console design that found all of the key controls and gauges either right in front of the driver or easily accessible on the wheel or stalks surrounding it. The air conditioning/heater controls are an easy reach away and you don't have to take your eyes far from the road to use them. The driver's seat, available in powered and non-powered but multi-adjustable form, was also available as a heated unit. You can also include a moonroof on the order form.

The driver's seat was comfortable and supportive, thanks, in large part, to Ford's excellent use of side and back bolsters. The 2008 model included more than enough air-bag protection from the front sides and rear as well as the ceiling.

Built as a unit-body, the front-drive Focus was powered by the same 2.0-liter Duratec engine that appeared in its 2000 predecessor. The key change, though, was that it was upgraded from a standard 121-horsepower unit to a 136-horse four. That change gives the Focus a lot more character and handling ability without sacrificing its roughly 30 mpg city/highway mileage average.

Thanks to the weight differential -- 69/31 front to rear -- you have the weight over the driving wheels so the handling is good, especially in foul weather.

Unfortunately, the Focus does suffer from some of the problems inherent with front drive, torque steer, trailing throttle oversteer and chronic understeer. Torque steer is the tendency of any front-drive car to jump right on hard acceleration (it's a function of the way the power is applied). Trailing throttle oversteer is the tendency for the vehicle to want to swap ends when you come steaming off the highway onto a decreasing radius bend. At that time, if you get off the gas suddenly, the suddenly lightened front end tries to tighten up in the last direction steered while the now totally unloaded rear end tries to come around and into a skid.

Detroit, for the most part, has dialed these problems out of their products, but, nevertheless, they do crop up from time to time. The final problem with front drive is due to the weight distribution. Since about 69 percent of the weight is over the front wheels, if you try to move the car out of its basic path, it won't do so without a big fight and if you've lost power, then it's just hold on for the ride.

Well Designed Changes

As noted, though, these problems are something you should know about but not worry about as Ford has pretty much dialed them out of the picture thanks to unequal length control arms and changes to the suspension geometry. This has made it tough to know what type of drive the vehicle uses.

Overall, the 2008 restyle is one that works and works well for the Focus. Ford has taken its premier subcompact and taken it from good to even better.

(Source: Author's experience as Focus owner and Ford Salesperson, Ford Training Materials)