After giving a few but necessary tweaks to the Fiesta, Ford is back with a newly designed Focus with a few major improvements over the earlier model years. Apart from the updated front fascia, there are tweaks made to the cabin as well, including the addition of a large 13.2-inch touchscreen and a fully digital instrument panel. A dual-clutch automatic joins the game and will be available throughout the Focus lineup.

Overview

Ford has introduced the new 2022 Focus with revised styling and mechanical tweaks to compete well with the Volkswagen Polo, which is now entering into a new generation. The starting price is just £22,465, which is roughly about $30,681 at current exchange rates, is not bad at all considering the upgrades. Apart from the visual changes, the most important would be the addition of a hybrid system for increased fuel efficiency. The hotter ST-Line is where the changes are most noticeable with a more aggressive stance, lowered bumper, and a bigger grille. Ford states that all the new Focus trims have “unique styling elements that express their individual personalities, with an expanded Vignale pack delivering ultimate luxury and exclusive design features.” Apart from the small hatchback, there is a wagon on offer for added practicality and comfort. As for its sales figures, the Focus has been one of the best-selling hatches in the U.K. and we think that Ford might just be able to take figures up drastically as the new Focus looks great.

Powertrain and Performance

The 2022 Ford Focus powertrain largely remains unchanged with the availability of a total of three engine setups with front-wheel drive. The 1.0-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder is the base engine and can be opted for with a 48-volt mild-hybrid setup. Now, the power output with the hybrid setup will be either 125 or 155 PS. However, the non-hybrid 1.0-liter three-pot is available and is capable of putting 100 or 125 PS, which is not bad at all considering the mileage it returns. Ford offers a 1.5-liter EcoBlue three-cylinder diesel engine with a mere 95 or 120 PS and another 2.3-liter EcoBoost inline-four engine which comes just with the ST-Line. The engine puts out about 280 PS and is the most powerful among crop. Ford made available either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with both the 1.0-liter and 2.3-liter engines. The diesel engine, however, has an eight-speed automatic unit as an option instead of the DCT.

The overall performance is, as expected, great for city usage and highway drives. The slowest among the bunch is the 1.0-liter petrol engine which takes about 12.2 seconds to reach 100 km/h or 62 mph. With the 48-volt mild-hybrid setup and the 155 PS power output, the time shortens to 8.8 seconds. The 2.3-liter engine is the best in terms of real-world performance and does 0-62 mph in 5.7 seconds. The new Focus has three driving modes: Normal, Sport, and Eco. The driver will have full control over the throttle response, power steering wheel, and also the gearbox according to his/her convenience.

2022 Ford Focus Performance Stats

Exterior

The updated looks of the new Focus are somewhat similar to the updated Fiesta, at least from the front end. But for the Focus, it is all-new and has been one of our favorites in the recent Ford’s “human-centric” design philosophy. The bonnet has more creases than before and compliments the front fascia looks, which now include sleek LED headlights and DRLs. Ford’s blue-oval badging has moved from the bonnet to the upper intake grille and the nose has been lifted up to provide a sportier stance.

The styling cues get better with the Titanium trim onwards. There is a wider glossy black grille with a honeycomb pattern, horizontal bars, and bigger side vents. The sporty ST-Line gets a rear diffuser, side skirts, and a rear spoiler, differentiating it from the other trims. The rear gets LED taillights as standard and the available “high series” taillights make a dramatic loop light pattern. The Vignale package some bespoke detailing to the Titanium, ST-Line, and Active trims with a new wheel design and satin-black upper intake grille and side vents.

2022 Ford Focus Exterior Dimensions

Interior

Stepping into the interior will expose you to a new cockpit design enhanced by the huge 13.2-inch touchscreen display mounted on the center of the dashboard. Ford has integrated the controls for HVAC into the infotainment display for a clean and uncluttered center console. The interior quality will be the same as the outgoing model. A 12.3-inch driver information display adds up the opulence but isn’t available as standard, which is acceptable considering the asking price of the Focus. The ST-Line gets a flat-bottomed steering wheel that is leather-wrapped and has faux-leather trims.

The new Focus is as practical as it could ever be with ample space to fit up to five people. In the front row, there are about 987 millimeters or 38.8 inches of headroom along with 1421 millimeters or 55.9 inches of shoulder room and 1109 millimeters or 43.6 inches of legroom. The rear seats are fairly comfy with a good 965 millimeters or 37.9 inches of headroom and a quite impressive 918 millimeters or 36.1 inches legroom. If you compare it with the 2022 Volkswagen Polo, the rear legroom of the Focus is better. A decently sized 392 liters or 13.8 cubic feet of cargo capacity is available with all seats in place. It is slightly lower than the Polo which comes with 414 liters or 14.6 cubic feet.

The infotainment system has the latest SYNC 4 entwined with a large 13.2-inch touchscreen display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come installed as standard. Advanced voice recognition is also present with the whole package and Ford claims that its “advanced machine-learning” helps drivers to have enhanced communication experience.

2022 Ford Focus Interior Dimensions

Safety

The new Focus witnesses the additions of advanced driver assistance features which include Blindspot Assist, Intersection Assist, and Rear Occupant Alert along with the preexisting features such as:

- Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go.

- Speed Sign Recognition.

- Lane Centring.

- Pre-Collision Assist with Active Braking.

- Active Park Assist 2.

As per Ford official Glen Goold, That seems to be true considering the segment. And if you are concerned about the crash ratings, the 2018 Focus got tested by the Euro NCAP and it was rated with a full 5-star rating. So with the new model year, it will be no less, considering its robust build quality and of course, the advanced driver assistance features.

Final Thoughts

The new 2022 Focus looks stylish, energetic, and even promising with loads of features and Ford’s assurance of over-the-air updates to improve the overall system and bugs. In its segment, the new generation Polo is a very potent competitor to the Focus, but the former will be priced aggressively and is expected to be around £19,000. But with the availability of the advanced safety features which are mostly standard, along with a better cabin experience and multiple powertrain options, the 2022 Focus is the one to give extra attention to.