MK3 vs MK3.5 Ford Focus
Discussion
I realise immediately that this is going to be of zero interest to almost all PHers, but incase this is of relevance to anyone out there, I thought I'd offer my thoughts having just switched from a 2014 Focus to a 2015 Focus (facelift). Both cars are white and similar spec, both with the famed one litre turbocharged ecoboost engine. There are a couple of differences between the spec of the two cars:
The 2015 has the higher-tuned ecoboost with 125hp compared to the 100hp of the 2014
The 2015 has a 6 speed manual compared to the 2014's 5 speed.
The 2015 is one trim level up - a 'Zetec' rather than a 'style.' (so a few small differences there)
Here are my thoughts:
Aesthetically, its hard to argue that the new one looks better. Okay, it's not a massive overhaul but the new nose looks much better, especially in person, with a surprisingly pronounced splitter, better shaped grill ("blah blah blah aston martin blah blah blah") and new corporate headlights. The rear is similar, and the overall profile has not changed.
The interior has improved, although I've always felt that criticisms levelled at the pre-facelift car have been unfair, especially those referencing 'too many buttons' and 'not very nice plastics in some places.' Strangely, although for the most part those 'nasty' plastics lower down in the cockpit haven't changed, other reviews of the facelift have implied that Ford has improved/replaced them. Odd.
The steering wheel, which was a slightly weird shape on the 'old' car with seemingly mis-shaped thumb grooves, is much improved. It's a better shape and is quite thin where your thumbs go, something I am a fan of, and it looks miles better with more neatly placed buttons. One minor thing that had me puzzled in the last car was that the volume buttons were mounted on top of the part of the wheel which you push to sound the horn, meaning that if you pushed the volume button for the radio firmly, the horn would go off which was awkward more than a couple of times on the road. The centre console is better, a marginally better layout with a couple fewer buttons. Overall, its not exactly an overhaul inside, but it is slightly improved and remains a nice place to sit.
On the road, it's much the same. I haven't driven the new car enough to suggest that the suspension changes make the car better or worse, but the changes must be fairly minor as it has been hard to tell the difference. The steering, however, is a bit different. It's hard to pin down how exactly it is different, but it seems a bit lighter around town at slow speeds. Once again, in keeping with the theme of this post, the change is minor.
The 125hp ecoboost was an option on the old car just as it is now, but my previous one had the 100hp ecoboost, so the change here is not related to the facelift. The 6 speed is a nicer gearbox than the five, and the extra 25hp helps a lot at 70mph, but torque is the same across both states of tune so at slow speeds the change is not noticeable.
In conclusion, the facelift car is better in every appreciable way than the 2014 model, but if you're looking at them used then in terms of everyday use they are really very similar - not really worth switching IMO if you're looking a steep price difference between the two. (Mine's on a company lease so it was out of my hands)
If anyone wants to know anything else let me know, but otherwise I hope someone has found this useful.
Cheers
The 2015 has the higher-tuned ecoboost with 125hp compared to the 100hp of the 2014
The 2015 has a 6 speed manual compared to the 2014's 5 speed.
The 2015 is one trim level up - a 'Zetec' rather than a 'style.' (so a few small differences there)
Here are my thoughts:
Aesthetically, its hard to argue that the new one looks better. Okay, it's not a massive overhaul but the new nose looks much better, especially in person, with a surprisingly pronounced splitter, better shaped grill ("blah blah blah aston martin blah blah blah") and new corporate headlights. The rear is similar, and the overall profile has not changed.
The interior has improved, although I've always felt that criticisms levelled at the pre-facelift car have been unfair, especially those referencing 'too many buttons' and 'not very nice plastics in some places.' Strangely, although for the most part those 'nasty' plastics lower down in the cockpit haven't changed, other reviews of the facelift have implied that Ford has improved/replaced them. Odd.
The steering wheel, which was a slightly weird shape on the 'old' car with seemingly mis-shaped thumb grooves, is much improved. It's a better shape and is quite thin where your thumbs go, something I am a fan of, and it looks miles better with more neatly placed buttons. One minor thing that had me puzzled in the last car was that the volume buttons were mounted on top of the part of the wheel which you push to sound the horn, meaning that if you pushed the volume button for the radio firmly, the horn would go off which was awkward more than a couple of times on the road. The centre console is better, a marginally better layout with a couple fewer buttons. Overall, its not exactly an overhaul inside, but it is slightly improved and remains a nice place to sit.
On the road, it's much the same. I haven't driven the new car enough to suggest that the suspension changes make the car better or worse, but the changes must be fairly minor as it has been hard to tell the difference. The steering, however, is a bit different. It's hard to pin down how exactly it is different, but it seems a bit lighter around town at slow speeds. Once again, in keeping with the theme of this post, the change is minor.
The 125hp ecoboost was an option on the old car just as it is now, but my previous one had the 100hp ecoboost, so the change here is not related to the facelift. The 6 speed is a nicer gearbox than the five, and the extra 25hp helps a lot at 70mph, but torque is the same across both states of tune so at slow speeds the change is not noticeable.
In conclusion, the facelift car is better in every appreciable way than the 2014 model, but if you're looking at them used then in terms of everyday use they are really very similar - not really worth switching IMO if you're looking a steep price difference between the two. (Mine's on a company lease so it was out of my hands)
If anyone wants to know anything else let me know, but otherwise I hope someone has found this useful.
Cheers
Thanks for sharing! I'm still torn between the looks of the Mk3 and 3.5, in some aspects the 3 looks better, but in others (especially the interior) the 3.5 brings the car back up to date.
It's interesting to hear your thoughts on moving up to the 125ps, I was advised to do this when the time comes to get my car by fellow Focus owners. They also said about the 6 speed being much better! And funnily enough the 125ps is still not too expensive to insure for a new driver, around £1500 which is pretty reasonable!
I think I'll stick to Candy Red though!
Nice to see a Focus on here!
It's interesting to hear your thoughts on moving up to the 125ps, I was advised to do this when the time comes to get my car by fellow Focus owners. They also said about the 6 speed being much better! And funnily enough the 125ps is still not too expensive to insure for a new driver, around £1500 which is pretty reasonable!
I think I'll stick to Candy Red though!
Nice to see a Focus on here!
£1500 sounds like a very good quote to me. I had another MK3 (a black one) with the NA 1.6 petrol before the previous white MK3. The ecoboost is a no-brainer; much happier to rev and has a much nicer thrum. Both have 100hp but ecoboost delivered the power in a much more fun way, with good pull in the middle of the rev range. If you push it hard in second gear and then let off you get a fantastic turbo whistle sound (impossible to pick up on camera). If the 125hp isn't much more expensive than the 100hp then you may as well get it, but they are closer in performance and feel than you might think given the former having a fifth extra power. You can't go wrong.
Yes, I was surprised with the cost of the quote if I'm honest! I compared it to a MK1 Focus 1.6 and they were the same price!
The Ecoboost does sound like an exleent engine, the only complaints I've heard about it is the poor fuel economy compared to the official figures.
Are you allowed to do any modifications to yours seeing as it's a company car? I'm planning on fitting an ST spoiler, mud flaps and maybe cuing sign the wheels if it has some I don't like.
The Ecoboost does sound like an exleent engine, the only complaints I've heard about it is the poor fuel economy compared to the official figures.
Are you allowed to do any modifications to yours seeing as it's a company car? I'm planning on fitting an ST spoiler, mud flaps and maybe cuing sign the wheels if it has some I don't like.
I'm not sure exactly what they advertise MPG-wise for the car, but I do most of my driving around town and it usually shows 30-35 MPG average. Not awful but you're right, it is far from the 50ish MPG that they claim. I can't do anything to the car but I'd rather save for a more fun car to buy when insurance becomes more reasonable (likely an E30).
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