2011 Ford Focus Driver Assistance Pack test

If you’re looking for a new family hatchback, there’s a good chance you’re considering buying a Ford Focus. With its fantastic safety record and excellent value for money, the Focus has always been the benchmark that other manufacturers aim to beat. There’s no surprise that it’s currently the best-selling car in the UK, but Ford is keen to push the class-leader even further ahead of the pack with a new hi-tech version for 2011. The Focus is packed with technology, providing owners with a range of gadgets that should keep them safe on the roads, as well as entertained and pointing in the right direction.

Back in February, we were one of the first people to drive a 2011 model on UK soil. During our brief hands-on session we tried the Active Park Assist feature, but the cars weren’t fitted with the £750 Driver Assistance Pack. However, an extended drive in Scotland this week gave us an opportunity to put the tech toys to the test. As road safety is such a burning issue, anything that can make a driver’s job easier has to be a good thing.

Traffic sign recognition

One of the first things we noticed when driving the 1.6 EcoBoost Titanium was the Traffic sign recognition. This highlights changes in road speed on the dashboard by using an in-built camera that scans the roadside in front of the car for specific symbols, displaying changes in speed limit and overtaking restrictions on the dashboard. The system was very responsive, with signs appearing the instant we passed a sign. It did sometimes confuse signs on side-roads as changes in the speed limit, but the system was otherwise extremely useful.

On our test route through an unfamiliar town in the heart of Scotland, we were always aware of the speed limit even when we hadn’t seen the signs themselves. In its default view, the notifications appear large on the dashboard screen, but they can be shown in the top right corner should you want to look at another part of the trip computer. In order for you to notice new signs appear, the symbols appear in colour then slowly fade to grey, so when the speed limit changes it’s immediately obvious.

Active City Stop

Possibly the stand-out safety feature of the pack is Active City Stop. Designed to prevent low-speed collisions that can occur with urban driving, the system uses the forward facing infra-red laser mounted next to the rear view mirror to scan the distance to an approaching reflective object. The brakes are pre-charged if a potential crash is detected, which will help the driver stop quickly should they react in time. If they fail to notice the hazard, the brakes will engage automatically to prevent an accident. We found it slightly unnerving keeping our foot on the accelerator when approaching a set of bollards, but the system worked well. At 10MPH, it completely stopped the car without any intervention from the driver. It isn’t fool-proof; at speeds between 10 and 20MPH, the system is unlikely to completely stop the car before a collision, but it will significantly reduce its speed. Because of the working distance of the sensor, it won’t work above 20MPH.

We already know that the new Focus can nearly parallel park by itself, thanks to Active Park Assist (standard on the Titanium X and part of the £525 Convenience Pack on the Titanium model) but this won’t help you reverse onto your drive or into a space in a supermarket car park. The Park Pilot assist uses sensors in the front and rear bumpers to detect incoming objects, such as cars, lamp posts and small children, displaying the obstacle on the dashboard and making an audible beep. We liked the detailed dashboard screen, which is far better than the traditional audible warning. The system didn’t pick up low kerbs, but for reverse-parking into a crowded car park we can certainly see the advantages of having it on board.

BLind-spot Information System (BLIS)

One small but very useful part of the Driver Assistance Pack is the blind-spot notification system, affectionately known as BLIS by Ford. Motorway driving can be incredibly dangerous, particularly when overtaking in heavy traffic. Using BLIS, the car detects when another vehicle is directly in the driver’s blind spot. An unobtrusive LED illuminates on each wing mirror to warn the driver of a potential hazard. It stays lit for a short time after the other vehicle exits the blind spot, so the driver is aware to look out for it. We tested the system on the motorway, but it will also work when overtaking on any road. The yellow light is unobtrusive but still very noticeable when driving, making it perfect as a gentle reminder to check your mirrors.

Standard equipment

The Driver Assistance Pack great, but we also tested out the standard equipment installed in every Focus, regardless of engine capacity or trim. DAB radio works as you would expect; even in rural Scotland (where Ford invited us to test the car) we could pick up all the major radio stations. Another great inclusion is Bluetooth; we paired our iPhone 4 with the system in just a few steps and could instantly make calls using the buttons on the dashboard or steering wheel. Ford has taken the technology one step further than making phone calls, as you can now use Bluetooth to wirelessly stream the music stored on compatible devices to the car stereo. The option was automatically enabled when we connected an iPhone 4, but you still need to use your handset to change tracks. Sound quality was fantastic; we can see this technology quickly replacing in-car connection kits. A USB port will still let you play your music if you have an unsupported phone or media player, albeit using a cable.

There’s no doubt that the new Ford Focus is technologically impressive. It’s incredibly good value given the number of gadgets included as standard. Now that we’ve had the opportunity to fully test the Driver Assistance pack, it’s clear that the £750 option is also fantastic value. The BMW 7-series has a similar factory option, but it has fewer features and costs upwards of £1,100. It’s rare for factory options to stand out as must-buy extras, but Ford has made the Driver Assistance pack very difficult to turn down. Considering how much of a difference it makes to driver safety, the option should be top of anyone’s priority list when looking for a new car.