2012 Ford Focus Titanium Hatchback Manual

2012 Ford Focus Titanium Hatchback Manual 2012 Ford Focus Titanium Hatchback Manual
Instrumented Test

To paraphrase something that may or may not have been said by a guy who posthumously had an American luxury-car brand named after him: You can’t please all of the car-buying people all of the time. Ford learned this lesson when it started selling the redesigned 2012 Focus—it became a small-car favorite, but there was something missing. Something in a fancier-looking, optioned-up, manual-transmission cut. Something like the car you see here.

We found the Focus pleasing enough to appoint it to our 2012 10Best Cars list, but there was one specific setup we really got behind: the manual-transmission hatchback, which was at the time only available in low-level SE trim. Occasionally, you have to suffer the injustices of turning a key to start the engine and holding the switch to close a window to truly enjoy the driving experience. But then sometimes a car company listens to a small but vocal group of prospective buyers, and it builds a combo to please them. That’s why Ford made the manual available in the Focus’s top-tier Titanium trim level partway through the 2012 model year. Hole filled.

Good, with More Goods

The company chose to skip over the SEL model when it decided to offer a nicer manual Focus. (The SEL trim, which sat between SE and Titanium for 2012, has been discontinued for 2013.) Stepping up from SE to Titanium gives Focus hatch and sedan buyers standard 10-speaker audio with the MyFord Touch interface, chrome trim, 17-inch aluminum wheels, and backup sensors, as well as the opportunity to select a couple of option packages.

We were most eager to sample the manual Titanium because it’s the only trim level that can pair the transmission with the Focus’s optional Handling package. The equipment group, which runs $595 and was applied to this test car, includes a sport suspension tune and 18-inch aluminum wheels with summer tires.

Looks More Than It Sticks

The wheels do look a treat, and the suspension tune tightens up the ride and reactions of this Focus ever so much, but the setup and its Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tires doesn’t measurably increase lateral grip. At 0.88 g, the skidpad score was identical to that of a Focus SE hatch we tested wearing plain, 16-inch Continental ContiProContact all-seasons. The rubber does affect braking distances, however—156 feet from 70 mph compared to the 179 feet required by that SE. One other plus: The stability control didn’t have to interfere when we were circling the skidpad, as it did in the SE.

This Focus feels as planted as anything, with a little extra road feedback thanks to the stiffer setup and big wheels. The electric power steering seems to be affected by the tire and suspension changes, as it requires more small corrections on the highway than cars with the normal setup. This happens to be a quibble we have with all Foci, so the increase in directional indecision is notable.

Whatcha Want?

In short, we’re always happy to see wider manual availability. Those not completely satisfied by this combination can step up to the Focus ST, which is basically one big manual-only handling package with more power and an extra forward ratio. If you want one of those with an automatic, keep quiet. After all, there’s no sense trying to please all of the people.