DRIVE- 2012 Ford Focus Titanium 

Launched here in Ireland on Monday... Amazingly sleek when you see it on the street and that interior... best I've seen in an American car!

"Ford thinks that as gas prices go up, people will buy luxury features on smaller cars to remind them of the bigger cars they came out of" I was in shock about the price until you said that. Well put!

I never thought I'd say this but kudos to ford they are making their way up!

The Ford Focus has always been a great seller in the UK. With the fabulous new features such as self parking this new car is going to fly off the shelves...

wow my grandpa just bought this car this morning he traded his 2011 ford fusion sport for this; my grandpa loved the fusion but he said it was a bit small for trunk space cuz he needs room for tools all the big stuff plus he's having trouble backing up so he wanted a backup camera. He's got the all new 2012 ford focus titanium; My mom has a 2002 ford focus se. It's a very big improved over the last 10 year my god. Great job Ford

great review again! i dont see how you guys arent more popular? love the car. not to great on looks but practicality makes up for it.

@Pyromaceno1 I just bought a 2010 Golf --which I love--and I saw one of these in person and must admit to a touch of buyers remorse. Glad to see Ford and Chevrolet each giving us good and desirable compacts.

I just won this car a few days ago!! Cant wait to get mineeeee!!!

This is first Ford car I'm really interested in, since I'm an import kinda guy. The level of refinement is above and beyond the usual imports.

THIS IS GOING TO BE MY FIRST CAR!!

I used to hate Focus.... But with this one.. maaan... its a big change! :)

@SuperQuantumMechanic I bought a new 2010 Focus S and REALLY like it a lot. It's a VERY well constructed car.

@BOWENSblog becuase the Euro versions are the most advanced versions while the American versions are yesterday's model. Until now when consumers spoke out.

There seriously needs to be a compare between this and the golf tdi

i think this is the best compact car in the segment currently. Its between this and the hyundai elantra and i think this wins by a close margin.

Beautiful car!

@DocWolph It is all strategic pricing. Getting an AWD at $30k is great but reminding you, that vehicle would not be even close to the options of a fully loaded car. Import vehicles (depending which) have an advantage of American vehicles, that is, getting their resources at a lower cost. Focus is made in America for North American consumers thus, providing jobs and boosting local economy. Although this may be a small contribution in a Macroeconomic perspective as a whole.

Thanks buddy! But I will definitely stick to my Honda Civic. It has been nothing but great for me for the last 16 years!!

@mrzack888 it does. you just have to lift up the bottom half first.

@mrzack888 the back seat does fold all the way down, reviewer didn't pull up the seat first.

Amazing car!

Still needs a AWD model somewhere in there. After the last couple of "Snowpocalypses", that may become a much more feasible feature. A high-perfromance WRC-inspired model would not be out of sorts then, finally.

@riveras1990 The price quoted in the video, ~$27K, is for the Titanium unit w/ everything. You don't have to get the car with everything. I look at the Lancer. Its continued success, despite Mitsubishi's woes in the US, is proof that an AWD model is not too costly. An EVO X goes for ~$40K. A WRX can top $30K w/ options. $1500 to add AWD to a Titanium or a lesser unit? More than few might call that a bargain.

Very nice car indeed

@BOWENSblog True, Toyota Touch navi is not HQ like the ford focus. it looks so nice ! (touch navi)

THE BEST !

well done

I like it I want one

@wompwomp55 He said, "Check out the way they hid the fuel filler door." Not where's the fuel filler door.

@palebeachbum ...okay well first of all the self parking feature is like $500 but its not like anyone is forcing you to buy the titanium there are many other models that do not come with all the fancy stuff.

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS CAR. Def on my short list next year. My only complaints, 0_0 $27 grand! and no HID headlights? :( I would gladly trade the rain sensing wipers for HIDS. I hate the way the muffler looks, they should have used the dual set up with chrome tips on the Mazda 3. I'm nit picking tho but I think I want to wait for the ST model :)

I have a 2012 ford titanium and have double clutch problems.

@TopGear759 but can the gli park itself, does it have a very cool touch sensitive dash board?, sync, adaptive cruise control, and a whole bunch of other stuff. I dont think so.

I wish they made an ST Sedan Version

As soon as I'm done with this academic term I'm driving this.

@Dalit5 chevy's puting out good products? i mean i guess you could say the volt but it barely sold 300 units last month.

@wlsdn0128 You have to remember that this exact car has been in Europe for a while.

Not a ford fan but this is impressive. It looks very German. This is the direction American cars need to go in.

i'm getting a white oneeee :) i love this carrr!!!!!

@ericj305 How do you know they aren't interested? Didn't this just get released like a month ago?

It's good in America they make the same Focus with Europe now.

Wow that car is amazing, GO USA!!!!

You guys should get Ford to give you the 1.6 diesel like we have in Europe if you want excellent fuel economy, 70mpg on average. A 2.0 petrol auto would be considered extremely thirsty over here.

@BOWENSblog It's not where the parts are produced but the overall R&D. The driving experience of a European car is at a much higher level than the US. Real car-lovers want this experience. I.e the outgoing model in the US has (fortunately) never been released in the EU, because of it's (awful) design, besides of that, it is still the 1st gen Focus from 1998!! The 2nd Gen of EU (2004) was never released in the US which was a pity for US customers. Now these customers can smile again.

@palebeachbum Does it park itself? Cos if it does you may have just sold me on the Elantra instead of the Focus.

@theiceman9081 Then don't get the Titanium edition. The S model, which is only offered as a sedan has a four-speaker sound system with a CD player and auxiliary audio jack. bump it up to SE and you can get USB ports. No need to buy a Titanium edition if you're not going to take advantage of all of the bells and whistles (like I did :-P)

put those backlights back on the fiesta again right now!

i dont like how big the taillights looks from the back- side view

What's better this or Toyota Prius

@mjgc8755 Only its not american. The bulk of this car was designed by Ford Germany.

Either Moondust silver or Micastone I think.

@DriveCarReviews There are lower cost alternatives out there beside the focus, even the shitty S trim which has NOTHING. What's so hard to understand about that?

1:32 already rust on the bottom?

What's color is this car > anyone know? Please

@KatiushaVN4 i hear ya. I was looking for an acura. Point is, if Im gonna spend all that money, Im NOT gonna get a freaking focus lol

@000haker You can buy it with xenons

160HP!!! pretty strong

@riveras1990 If you were only talking about Hyundai I might buy that. However, looking at the Macroeconomic picture, The Japanese, dealing with a very strong Yen right now, can not compete price wise without cutting content. Try pricing the cars the Focus is going up against as a FWD or possible AWD. Besides why are you trying to argue against a hypothetical? If FORD does it it'll be a hit.

@DocWolph The car would be too expensive with AWD it already has many many features and new technology other vehicles in its class don't have

Ford's market shouldn't be the older generation trading in their old big cruisers. Their market is the fresh new generation who are willing to buy compact segment cars to help the environment.

@socalpimp1974 isnt it a european designed car?

@gardmans1 Yea i guess. I like the Cruze alot, but I was thinking more like the Sonata

I want a 5 door with two tone interior. I'd spend a little more over the Fiesta.

Yes, it has many features, but I would go for a bigger car that is the same price and gets the same mpg

@palebeachbum If you get the Ford Focus Titanium it will cost more because it comes with more. There models are S, SE, SEL, and Titanium. S is going to be really cheap because it comes with less. SE is one step above that. It comes with a bit more then the SE. The SEL coems with a lot options. The Titanium will be there top of the line make. I have a SEL 2011 it cost more becuase it comes with more. I have heated leather seats and a sun roof. You can't get that with the s model.

@sdlausen Good points and well said!

@riveras1990 Your Mistubishi Lancer would not come close to 40mpg including AWD. But, the world is a big place. There is still a market for vehicles that Mistubishi manufactures, just it is not favorable. Or at least an educated consumer would say.

backseat doesnt fold all the way, wut's the point.

I'm totally confused about why these new, higher quality American small cars (Fiesta, Focus, Cruz) are now costing MORE than their equally good foreign competition. Have they lost their minds? As much as I might love this new Focus, there's no way in hell I'm going to pay even. Just to put it into perspective, a comparable '12 Hyundai Elantra with sunroof, leather, heated front/rear seats, navigation, bluetooth, etc, is loaded for $23k. Not to mention it's rated at 40mpg hwy no matter the trim.

I'm going to stick with my '96 Bronco Eddie Bauer -_- I'm going to get owned this summer with gas costs though.

27k puts this car in another league where it really isn't all that appealing. If you buy a stripped-down model, it has a lot of value. It's also not as nice. The interior is great, but two things stood out immediately. The steering wheel is AWEFUL, imo. It needs a 3-spoke and better stiching that isn't so coarse. You have to press buttons on the shift knob to manually shift the automatic. That's a terrible idea. It needs a separate notch in the shift gate.

its 22 they added a lot

Luxury on a 160HP vehicle is perplexing... I'm sure those who have 28K to spend will opt for a different car shell and stronger engine. (EX: Camaro)

if only the reviewer had read the manual! beating deadlines are we? hmmm?

same here!

27 in Canada...

cant help the feeling there is some nissan influence in it.

@Jeffmtbr no room in the back obviously im not driving from the backseat

@socalpimp1974 Europe actually.

@riveras1990 You talking to yourself? Anyway, and AWD Focus wouldn't get 40mpg either. Although I am sure it would do much better than a Lancer Rallyart or Impreza WRX. But that's not the point. Making a car that would allow FORD to sell to those who want AWD in a compact, and not leaving to their competitors, is the point.

@clokverkorange No self parking feature. If you learn how to parallel park for yourself though, you can save $5k. You also don't get the Microsoft wizardry the Focus offers, but personally, I'd rather not give rich Mr. Bill Gates anymore of my hard earned money than I already have to. Not to mention, those features are simply more gadgets to break in the future. I love driving. I find pushing buttons and having control over all aspects of the car a more satisfying experience than talking to it.

I like the car, but a little pricey for a hatchback. I could buy a full size sedan (Honda Accord?) for the price of this small hatchback. Plus, I really don't care about navigation, center console display, etc. I just want a simple radio that does mp3 and iPod. Thats it.

I bet after a year or 2 it well have the eco boost!

Wow, 40 mpg that is what i am talking about........

@FreshPotatoMafia Amen, brother, Amen!

@davidlm6974 its also way more expensive...

@guyNbluejeans Exactly what I was thinking.

@juscurious That so has nothing to do with it. It has to do with the model. They are showing here the top of the line model of the 2012 Focus. I mean really what did you want them to show the S model. That's going to be really cheap because it does not come with all the bells and whistles. So get of you're Hyundai high horse.

if it had xenons and better shaped taillights id get it

well there be a coupe

Honestly this car is ok but 27 grand for it is way to much u can buy a sedan for that much and if you are concerned with saving gass u can jsut by a cross over for that much. the man in the video is very short if you are 6'4 like me no way will you fit in he back seat.

@socalpimp1974 its european

@RefurbishedBacon You are not alone. I do the same thing and I dont regret it.

damm 28 city! 40 hwy! the way it looks and the price starting msrp 16 grand (of course not the titanium though) maybe one lower trim and i think i will get one!!! (much better than my 2001 jetta! what trash that car has been)

once again no super sporty version like the Europeans get with the 300hp V6 that was in the RS model from Top Gear...such a sad shame, I will buy a VW GTI for my bday, then.....

@Nakke144 Yeah, but it's still a Ford, so it's an American car all the same!

Couldnt they have done a little better on the

No gas cap wow. Now people can steal gas easier.

Somehow interior reminds me of a Hyundai Sonata... a bit... copied or not ,

For that 27K I can get a GLI Jetta.