2008 Ford Focus XR5 Turbo Review
September 2, 2008 by Matt Brogan
Ergonomics, visibility and driving position are excellent (excluding the afore mentioned brake pedal height), and in all it’s comfortable ride offering proportions adequate for a family of four, except perhaps that the rear leg room may be a tad tight for lanky teenagers. There’s generous shoulder and headroom, and with a respectable but somewhat shallow 362 litre boot (seats up – parcel shelf down) a weekend away in the XR5T is still an absolute pleasure.
The ESP (or Dynamic Stability Control in Ford speak) calibration compliments the car perfectly, and isn’t as overly obtrusive as some systems tend to be. Traction too isn’t overtly sustained but still provides enough grab without being too sensitive on take-off. Adding to the usual raft of three letter acronyms (ABS, EBA, EBD, ESP & TCS), there’s also dual front, side and curtain airbags to keep you safe which have contributed in earning Focus a Five Star ANCAP rating.
I’d very much like to have seen cruise control fitted, or at least made optional. Given it’s available in the Mondeo XR5 Turbo and Volvo C30 (which both share this engine) I cannot see why it isn’t included here. The instrumentation back lighting is also a nuisance on the open road as the central multi-function display on the cluster has a red hue which does not dim with the gauges, making for an unpleasant and distracting glow in your peripheral vision. That said though, I still love this car.
With the fistful of rivals all so very close in terms of bang for your buck, a great deal of hot hatch selection will naturally fall back to personal preference and driving style, but for my money the balance of price, punch and panache puts the XR5T within a sniff of first place.
CarAdvice Overall Rating: 
How does it Drive:
How does it Look: 
How does it Go:
Specifications:
- Engine: 2522cc, DOHC, five-cylinder (20 valve)
- Induction: Multi-point & turbocharged
- Power: 166kW @ 6000rpm
- Torque: 320Nm @ 1600rpm
- Transmission: Six-speed manual
- Brakes: Four-wheel discs with ABS, EBA & EBD
- Driven Wheels: Front
- 0-100km/h: 6.8 seconds
- 0-400m: 13.52 seconds @ 174km/h
- Top Speed: 241km/h
- Fuel Type: 95RON Premium Unleaded
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 55 litres
- Fuel Consumption: 9.3 litres/100km (Combined)
- Airbags: Dual Front, Side & Curtain
- ANCAP Rating: Five stars
- Safety: ESP with Traction Control
- Service Interval: 12 month/15,000km
- Spare Wheel: Space Saver
- Turning Circle: 11.7 metres
- Warranty: 3 year/100,000km
- Weight: 1366kg (Tare)
- Wheels: 18 x 8.0-inch Alloy
Road Test the Rivals:
- Holden Astra SRi Turbo (147kW) – $34,990
- Honda Civic Type R (148kW) – $39,990
- Mazda 3 MPS (190kW) – $38,750
- Subaru Impreza WRX (169kW) – $39,990
- Volkswagen Golf GTi (147kW) – $38,490
- Volvo C30 T5 (169kW) – $42,450
Jon:
i own a 2007 FN2 CTR. the one they sell in australia. if youre considering a new CTR make sure youre a person more concerned about how a car drives and feels as opposed to how much power it has. if youre a person who enjoys big oopmh at the hit of the throttle then even a GTI is better than the CTR for that. if you like hanging onto a high speed corner at 7800rpm while wondering whether to change up or stay in gear then CTR is for you
Try a ralliart Colt cheap as and fun to drive, I bought one for only $25k drivaway and got a ralliart upgrade for another $500. 128kw 240m/n and ONLY 1120KG!!! Do the maths, it keep up with a XR5 with heaps of change in the bank
Andy there is no way that a Colt Ralliart can keep up with a XR5 Turbo. I’ve driven both cars and the XR5 has alot more grunt. If not why would people buy this over the Colt. XR5 best there ever was best there ever will be.
This is a good machine but I can not understand why no cruise and hard to believe no left footrest engineered for RHD version…..even for the larger UK market. My test drive noticed a huge turning circle 11.7m and annoying road noise (like all Mazdas and the Focus). No car is perfect so it is good value but……I will wait for the new Subaru WRX 4WD sedan for only $3000 extra.
One of my friends recently purchased an LV XR5 and I must say, it seems to me to be a thoroughly impressive hot hatch for the dollars. Not to impliedly deride the car’s looks, chassis or build, but I still think the motor is its standout feature. That engine is brilliant!
I thought my mate was bullsh##ting about being able to drive around in 6th gear at 40km/h without the motor struggling, then I sat in the passenger seat and ate humble pie while he demonstrated. Then to add insult to injury, he went up a steep hill – still at 40km/h in 6th gear – and the thing didn’t even break a sweat. Then opened it up on a straight shortly after, and it sounded awesome! Indeed that is a fine engine..
I’d always harboured the unfortunate misconception that the XR5 weighed in at 1440kg+ and hence I never bothered to test drive one when I bought my last car (an MY08 WRX.) At 1360 odd kg, it’s about the same as a 5 door Golf GTi and with considerable advantages in both power and torque, I’m surprised it isn’t faster to 100km/h.
The suspension on the XR5 is fantastic too, sadly better than my WRX, although to be honest, I think the car’s still not quite spot on.
Front wheel drive still kills it for me, and whilst it’s probably among the more capable of the breed, you’re never far from your friends in the ’steer’ family (understeer, torque steer, and cousin lift-off oversteer..) if you really push it. Whilst the grip is commendable, I don’t imagine those 18 inch 225/45 Continentals would be cheap to replace either. And what’s with the miserly 50 litre fuel tank?
The lack of cruise control too (esp in Victoria, with our speed camera infested highways) is somewhat unforgiveable this day and age. Certainly not a deal breaker in itself, but an unnecessary inconvenience by its curious omission.
In all though, I guess one has to remember the XR5 only costs $37k or so, and that said, on a bang-for-your-buck assessment, it pretty much trounces all the competition in my book.
That was a pretty good mini-review Hugo. Good stuff.
We just bought the LV in Performance Blue (no stripes) with leather and sunroof. Trouble is my hubby hogs it so I’ve only driven it once but made sure the experience was worth it! Had an XR6 T in auto a couple of years ago, but love the size and manual box in the XR5 T more than I thought I would. I can put up with the few nuisances it has like no C/C, foot rest and being a bit noisy (not too bad) because as a package it is sensational. Love the engine and gear box, engine noise, seating/comfort and paracacality and it can go like stick if you want it to. No regrets so far – just want to drive it more!!
interior… very nice, fords interiors are very consistantly eye pleasing. exterior… can’t complain. engine… not as impressive as when i saw the vtec. but wtf is up with the way you open up the hood? wtf???
Is that 400m time Fair Dnkum???Seems a bit fast.