Ford Focus SE 1.0L EcoBoost Sedan, remove speed from your list, then you have a smooth operator on hands

Lots of analysis and energy were wasted in measuring speed and stories were entirely focused on straight-line acceleration, and what a 707-hp muscle car could do to various tires on the drag strips, etc. There were even attempts to energize rental cars to achieve top speeds. Here we need to stop and introduce something that is not fast, the 2015 Ford Focus EcoBoost Sedan 3-cylinder. 

The 1.0 Liter 3-cylinder EcoBoost was introduced first in the smallest Ford Fiesta previous year, and it joins the lineup of the Ford Focus as a $795 option. This can be availed only in the mid-range SE-spec Focus and the engine’s displacement is only 999cc, yet with the help of the turbocharger and direct fuel injection, it can achieve 123 horses and 148 lb-ft torque. This model gets the six-speed manual as the only transmission option where as the regular Focus examples get either a five-speed or a six-speed dual clutch automatic as an option. The feature of engine start-stop is standard with the 1.0 Liter.

 With the price and size of the car, you cannot expect a faster timing for the 0-60mph or the quarter mile and the Focus lags behind by a full 2 seconds. The 3-cylinder has half the displacement of the 2.0 Liter base Focus, which makes it 37horses behind, it just clocks 9.4 seconds, and the extra gear could not do much about it. You can calculate your taxes before it crosses the quarter-mile mark as it takes 17.2 seconds.

In spite of these dull figures, the 1.0 Liter engine was still enjoyable as it remained quiet during operation and when canned produced fantastic growls. The EcoBoost engine performs marvelously in the Fiesta, but moving the larger Focus takes the wind out of it. You can understand a how a 2972 pounds Focus curb weight can do to the smaller engine though it has been given as a smaller option in the Fiesta which is 350-lbs lighter. If you tick- off speed from your priorities, then the EcoBoost engine in the Focus moves into a happier gear. When on idle you can be fooled into concluding that it is the regular four-cylinder Focus that you are driving.

The EcoBoost Focus is rated by EPA for 29/40mpg in city and highway, which is 2mpg smarter than the four-cylinder Focus both in city and highway. Our observation yielded 33mpg which is the same as the combined EPA rating and 3mpg better than the Fiesta 1.0 Liter Sedan. The start-stop function was smooth at the road junctions while vehicles like Land Rover and BMW have trouble in restarting with their four-cylinder engines; it is a great victory for Ford.

The restart is jolt-free though you would feel the throat clearing when it reawakes though. The system can be completely killed off if you do not like it. The Focus SE is the only trim available with the 3-cylinder and at the price of $20,080 it is adequately equipped. If you want the hatchback body style you may have to pay an extra $500.