We have a Ford Focus Diesel Estate Auto on hire. It looks to be the top of the range model - with all the boys toys I have in my Niro.
After 4 days and 360km of driving it has rather changed my opinion of Ford cars.
It is well put together, nicely appointed, roomy, comfortable seats, good legroom, plenty of luggage space, is refined and nice to drive. Its only significant failings are a very sensitive brake and accelerator action.
This is not helped by the gear positions being PRNFS in-line. It is too easy to slide through F and into S without realising - until you caress the loud pedal and it jerks everyone's head with violent acceleration. After 4 days I have got used to it and no longer kangaroo down the road by inadvertently selecting sport. In my Niro the gearbox auto gate is conventional and you pull the stick sideways to engage sport.
The reversing camera is superb with the clarity of a top-of-the-range dash cam - even at night. It puts the KIA one to shame. This also applies to the built-in sat nav display. I wish the map display was as clear in my Niro. However - the sat nav is less user friendly in terms of setting a destination and geographical coordinates cannot be entered to create destinations or way points. The car is only 6 months old with 7400 km on the odometer, The sat nav maps appear to be at least 2 to 3 years out-of-date. I have brought my Garmin Nuvi with me and the maps and speed limit displays are much more reliable,
As usual, I have adapted easily to driving on the wrong side of the road and so far have made only one left/right mistake. This was when we did some shopping. Upon returning to the car I climbed into the drivers seat - only to find that someone had stolen the steering wheel.
I am enjoying this car and wish my Niro was as quiet in terms of road noise. Whether this is down to the car, or the Portuguese road surfaces, is anyone's guess. Both cars have 16" rims with the same tyres.
