While it looks and feels every bit like its petrol counterpart inside and out, brining the engine to life reveals a different story altogether. On idle, the distinguishable diesel clatter replaces the typical petrol purr. In this application though, the chatter’s been hushed to a minimum thanks to excellent noise insulation and use of common rail technology. All in all, the sound doesn’t intrude into the cabin and can be masked with the use of the Focus’s impressive sound system. Fans of stratospherically high engine speeds will be disappointed with the DuraTorq engine which maxes out at 4,000 rpm (its petrol counterpart does 6,000 rpm). However, it still manages to exact 134 horsepower (just 9 shy of the Focus 2.0) and 340 Nm of torque (equivalent of two Focus 1.8).
Thanks to the intrinsic properties of diesel engines, the Focus TDCi benefits from a wide torque band, meaning this car never runs out of acceleration prowess. A slight blip of the throttle sends this car rocketing forward with a locomotive-like efficiency, down to the feeling of being pushed into the seat cushions. The nicely spaced 6-speed manual is an ally too in exacting even more performance with its slick shift action and positive clutch engagement—a far cry from the grabby shifter/clutch from the discontinued Focus 1.6. However, the spacing between gears though is geared more towards speed than acceleration meaning the Focus TDCi won’t set drag strips on fire, but when it comes to everyday performance—it does a pretty fine job.
Despite the heavier engine upfront, the Focus TDCi still manages to keep its lightning reflexes around Manila’s tight roads. The all-around independent suspension (featuring the trademark Control-Blade rear struts) offers a great balance between riding comfort and handling. The electro-hydraulic power steering system offers finger light operation without feeling too boosted or dead. On the other hand, the brakes do an ample job of halting the Focus TDCi thanks to a nice, solid pedal feel and all-around disc brakes.
Ford claims 21.7 km/L on the Focus TDCi, and it’s quite possible on long stretches of road such as the NLEX or SLEX. In the city though, when bumper to bumper traffic’s the norm, the car squeezes out 13.33 km/L. After traveling 500 kilometers on varied road types, we averaged 14.50 km/L—not bad considering the amount of power and torque available.
When it first launched in the Philippines, the Ford Focus indeed revolutionized the compact car segment, delivering European levels of refinement and handling at affordable prices. With the introduction of the turbo-diesel engine though, Ford has brought the playing field to a much higher level. If Coke Light delivers both good taste and no calories, then the Focus TDCi offers both sporty performance and excellent fuel economy.
 |
 |
| The Focus's interior is pretty fine. Most of the interior feels well screwed together, but there are still some crude bits (like the front cup holders). 6-speed shifter's a joy to use...beware of the grabby clutch though. |
 |
 |
| The interior's European indeed down to the lack of cubby holes. Front cup holders double as mobile phone holders. |
