Gathering Leaves in a Ford Focus

By Zoran Segina

I’m looking at a duo of five-leaf plants on the dashboard of the 2017 Ford Focus SEL. They may resemble Cannabis Sativa genus, but they actually represent Anticipation and Speed in the Eco-Drive mode with more leaves the better. I lost two Anticipation leaves, but managed to keep all five Speed leaves. Page 175 of the 500-page manual (what is this, a spaceship!) explains that Anticipation shows how well I anticipate stopping in traffic, not engaging in over-acceleration and so on. Huh? In a thicket of LA traffic? Every traffic light I encounter is unsynchronized. Sitting in one traffic jam after another, what is there to anticipate? In the rush hour jungle of Southern California traffic eco leaves do not grow.

Five Speed leaves are explainable. In the last several days, I engaged in interesting freeway accelerations. Focus SEL comes only with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a six speed automatic transmission. Its 160 horsepower is undoubtedly not the best in class, and for those craving neck-snapping acceleration there is turbocharged Focus SVT. The Focus architecture is European-based, and the test SEL remains solid and responsive despite the passage of time.

The car’s proportions make it nimble, allowing the driver to change directions with ease. Keep the engine in the right torque range and Focus accelerates with authority. It is a model unchanged since 2012, but—its age notwithstanding—Focus SEL is still an exceptionally well-built car. This mid-level hatchback gobbles the freeway like its much more powerful and expensive automotive brethren—confirmed by a puzzled look of an aggressive BMW 540 driver heading South on the 405 and wondering how come the small Focus is somehow always ahead of him.

That combination of the performance, ability to drive in the Eco Mode, and more than reasonable sticker price, makes the Focus a favorite among everybody I asked about the car. Jim likes it. My mechanics are impressed by the looks and the price. The Tall Girl, who has an exceptionally discerning taste and cannot be swayed by brand names, finds Focus comfortable and starts to inquire how soon could she get one.

In a car designed for world little details matter.

Large windshield visors protect glare from a steeply raked front windshield. The driver’s visor can be extended to provide better cover on the side. The exploratory trip around the cabin shows that the costs savings measure—to keep the Focus SEL affordable—have been carefully thought out.

Front seat controls are mechanical, but there is sun/moon roof with an eyeglass holder next to the operating button. Switching rear view mirror from day to night mode is mechanical. In the dark, opening the driver’s door activates a faint glow around the door handles, cup holders and side panels. It’s like being on a boat—red lights on port (left) and greenish ones on starboard. Not to mention that locating items in side pockets is that much easier. Center console cup holders are equipped with springs (to accommodate different size drinks,) and liners that can be pulled out to clean spills. Underneath the fixed elbow rest—which provides support but does not interfere with dynamic driving—there is storage box with another USB port and 12-volt charger.

On a longer trip to north tip of the Santa Monica Bay, the firm suspension and low profile tires transmit road imperfections. The Tall Girl begins to complain. The trip, however, awards me two fully developed Eco Green plants with a message: "Very Good" “Eco Champion.” Perhaps the secret lies in gently driving my sweetie up and down the coast.

The Internet neophyte interacting with contemporary vehicle connectivity:

Heading back to town, I connect my cell phone to a USB charger. While charging my phone, this Focus is trying to interact with it. Do I wish to pair it with the car? No, and since I do not care about their electronic tete-a-tete, I firmly press the disable button. One minute later the satellite radio goes dead. Although the Ford press fleet manager tried to assure me that the two events were unconnected, I still suspect that the Focus retaliated. Could Herbie’s mischievous spirit live in other car brands?

Levity aside, Ford Focus SEL, despite its age, is a solid contender in the mid-size segment. With the introduction of the 2019 model next year, a capable and well-priced Focus promises to be around for a long time.

The author is Editor-at-Large for LACar. To read the unabridged version of Zoran Segina’s leaf-gathering activity, go to LACar.com.