Together with the Focus Active
five-door hatch, the Ford Focus Active Wagon tries to bridge the gap between Ford’s
passenger cars and its SUVs in Europe. The latest member of the Ford Active
family brings a raised ride-height, enhanced rough-road capability thanks to a
modified chassis, and SUV styling cues.
Design-wise, the Focus Active Wagon looks just like
the regular wagon except it has a higher ground clearance (+30 mm at
the front and +34 mm at the rear) than the standard Focus, plastic
cladding, unique bumpers and front grille, and standard roof rails. Other
exterior tweaks meant to make it look more rugged include the silver-finish
skid plates and unique alloy wheel designs.
As with the Focus Active hatch, the interior
features high-bolstered seats trimmed with Active cloth featuring blue
stitching, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift lever, and bright
elements on the dashboard and door panels. The Active scuff plates and floor
mats with blue stitching round off the changes compared to regular Focus
models.
Focus Active models also feature a modified chassis
that includes a short-long arm (SLA) independent rear suspension configuration,
unique springs, dampers, stabilizer bars, as well as front and rear knuckle
geometries. Ford says the SLA system delivers “a desirable balance between
front and rear compliance over larger bumps in the road,” contributing to a
smoother ride.
Furthermore, in addition to the Normal, Sport and
Eco drive modes of the regular Focus, Active models bring Slippery and Trail
modes for better traction on mud, snow, ice, and sand. The engine lineup for the 2019
Ford Focus Active Wagon includes two EcoBoost three-cylinder turbocharged
gasoline units and two EcoBlue four-cylinder turbo diesels. The petrol range
consists of a 125 PS 1.0-liter unit and a 150 PS 1.5-liter
engine. Diesel fans can choose between a 120 PS 1.5-liter unit and a
150 PS 2.0-liter power plant.
The most economical variant is the 1.5-liter EcoBlue
with an NEDC-measured average fuel consumption of 3.5 l/100 km (80.7 mpg UK)
and 93 g/km CO2. There are two transmission options: a six-speed manual and an
eight-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is not available, however. Both Focus
Active models are now available to order across Europe.