Ford Focus 1^st Gen 2^nd Gen 3^rd Gen

Reflecting on the first 3 generations of Focus – an important car in that the 1^st generation was the car to jolt VAG out of its complacency. Dynamically and in just about every way conceivable it was such a massive step on from the last of the Escorts – not something which happens very often these days, where for most manufacturers the new model is just a little bit different from the old.

Thinking about the styling though

1^st Gen - Clean, elegant, still looks modern. Has stood the test of time exceptionally well.

2^nd Gen - Not that bad but kind of dull, clumsy looking. Can’t believe someone designed this and imagined it looked better than the 1^st Gen.

3^rd Gen – Trying too hard, too busy, too much going on. The dash in particular I assume was designed to appeal to very young children – but wait a minute - young children don’t buy cars – So how does that work?

I am convinced that time will only amplify this, in 10 or 20 years time:

1^st Gen – Still looking good.

2^nd Gen – Looking duller than ever.

3^rd Gen – Trying way too hard.

and the 1^st generation will look the least dated by far.

Bearing in mind just my opinion and only talking about styling.

Anyone agree/disagree?

Totally agree, from the sweeping dash to the striking triangular side indicators of the mk 1, in design terms it was outstanding and also the best of all three to drive! The handling, for its class, was revolutionary :-) The mk2 was just comparatively bland/bloated and the mk3 is way over the top in several areas and doesn't gel as an overall design to me ie triangular front grille shapes at the front to the blobby fried egg style rear light clusters!

Agree completely we've even got a St3 and i've gone off it.

Another thing is with all the trimmings (heated leathers, electric everything ect ect) it weighs as much as a typical American family

I don't like the look of the new Focus at all for the same reasons as above.

I can't argue with that; in fact the Focus mk1 was the first time I've wanted a Ford that small since Fiesta RS2, and before that since the sportier mk2 Escorts and V6 Capris.

I had a 2001 Mk1 Focus with the 90hp diesel. Lovely car and quite reliable for the 60k / 3yr I had it (just a brake caliper and a door solenoid all under warranty).

Great to drive and didn't feel under power at all. Interior was a bit scratchy and it had a few rattles by the end of my time with it. Seats weren't great.

I made a mistake getting rid of it so soon. It's still going round Dundee today, I see it occasionally.

Never liked the Mk2. Fugly car.

Mk3 is better looking, nice enough to drive (father has a 1.6d) but the interior is very fussy and cluttered. Far too expensive though, in line with everything else I suppose.

I stepped from a 'P' reg Escort (Mistral edition) into a W reg Focus Ghia (2.0 petrol). I'd hated the Escort with a passion, it's only saving grace was that it always did 330 miles on a tank, regardless of whether it was driven by a district nurse or the very devil himself.

The only thing I could see that had been carried over was the head-unit. I cannot deny that the Focus actually looked quite good, and had a dynamic pose. 140mph too and much better economy than the Escort, along with a load of toys.......I was quite happy.

Fast forward a bit.....my last 2 company cars were MKI Focus, the last of which is a "last of" 1.8 TDCI Ghia (04 plate), which is sitting on my parents driveway as dad's runabout. I know it's been clocked (but no proof) so the 120,000 on the clock is knowingly under mileage. Once the teething problems had been ironed out (at the company's expense) it's run fine ever since, only failing to start once over the last 3 years (duff battery coupled with cold morning). For me, I replaced it with The Skoda Fun and then onto an Octavia.

Rewind a bit and the previous was a 1.6 LX. At the time GOTD (girlfriend of the day) got a MKII 1.6 LX. Driving it was about as inspiring as driving the Escort again, so very very dull. The centre console had grown and was constantly rubbing against my left leg. The engine had to be pushed harder to achieve anything like mine. The interior was dull too. The only advantage it had was a bigger boot. Comparing LX to LX the new one had lost a few things, the most surprising was the heated from screen.

Not had any experience of the MKIII, but then it would be being compared to the Octavia, and I've not driven a Ford that will stand up to that comparison.

I still use the 1.8TDCI from time to time and am surprised how well the interior has survived, how much fun it is to drive and how undated it looks. You see a MKI in a car park and you'll notice it. MKII and MKIII, just anonymous boxes.

Ford got it right with the MKI, seems a shame they couldn't keep it up.

Agree the 1st gen focus was well ahead of its rivals dynamically but i thought the interior looked hideous. The 2nd gen has a pretty nice interior IMO and in ST and RS forms looked pretty aggressive externally. 3rd gen the interior is a plastic mess and the exterior although more fussy the the previous 2 isnt too bad. I actually think the 3rd gen car is proportioned well as a good indicator of this is that it even looks decent on small wheels. Some cars (audi) are wheel sensitive and only look good on big wheels IMO which suggests a car design that is not proportioned properly. The problem i have with the 3rd gen is the poor build quality. We have 3 in our neighbourhood and each one has chrome strips peeling themselves off of the car. And as its the first thing that catches my eye it just ruins the whole look for me.

The new generation of fords seem to be going backwards in terms of appealing interiors as they seem fascinated with buttons and shiny plastic bits which just looks cheap IMO.

Edited 14 March, 201313 yr by Jockdooshbag

Have to say I hated the look of the mk1 focus although it was clearly a vast improvement as a car from what I rememebr of the Escort. I learnt to drive in a Focus.

I preferred the (outside) look of the mk2 although the interior of the lower trims was cheap and grim. Would have bought one instead of the Mazda but discounts were surprisingly unforthcoming.

Again I find the outside styling of the mk3 fussy but the interior doesn't both me, prefer to the mk 2 in that respect and still nice to drive.

1st and 2nd gen were great 3rd.... yeh its trying to please all.... it doesnt work.

Totally agree with the 1st post. Loved my Mk1 pre-FL 1.8 Zetec 3dr. Was the first car that got me into car forums - I know at least one contributor to this thread will remember the FFOC

Probably still the best car I've driven 'out of the box', before or since - a sublime mix of handling, ride quality and suspension compliance/control. The 1.8 liked a drink though!

Then I started hearing things about an interesting small diesel 'hot' hatch, think it might have been a Skoda Fabia?.....

I like new Focus a lot and am a big fan of the new ecoboost as people who know me will know my sister has just got the zetec with 1.0 100 ps engine, black with Titanium x appearance pack with privacy glass and it looks pretty good. She got a good deal on it as hubby works for Ford. For that reason i will prolly end up with one or a Fiesta too but i would want the 125 ps