[gdcwatt]

I filled the tank for the first time, today, in our 2012 Focus SE Sedan, with Sport Package, and 6spd autotrans. We've only driven it around town, but it continues to impress me every time I get into it. Even with the 16" alloys, the car is just so well connected to the road; the torque vectoring system really does seem to reduce understeer, and I can't wait to try it in the rain (and snow, but I can wait for that), and the engine is strong enough. But everything about the car is just so positive: turn the wheel, the car turns; touch the brake to transfer some weight, flick to a lower gear, or two, crank the wheel and nail the gas, then upshift... What a fun, pointable car.

Light on the gas, getting started, it quickly and quietly upshifts to 4th at low speeds, but there's good pull from the engine. I've gone around the block a few times at night, with the auto S (Sport mode, instead of Drive), which holds onto the gears, and toggled up and down - I was having a great time, and was not trying to save fuel, at all, except that I kept it to no more than 20 over the limit.

The entire family agree that this is one impressive car. And visibility out is great, and the seats are comfortable enough, regardless if you're 6ft or 5' 2", but it's the suspension that is so wonderful.

Btw, 8.9L/100km city only = 26.5 US mpg, except we haven't been trying.

We looked at the new 2012 Civic EX, but couldn't believe how cheap the interior was. Since there are often a few of us plus luggage in the car, the Civic's lack of torque, combined with the 5 spd auto really put us off - on paper anyway, because we didn't even bother to drive the thing, the memory of the sloppy suspension in a 2010 model still fresh enough in our minds. The strength of the Focus engine and 6 spd auto is a real plus.

I liked the Elantra, and the backseat and trunk were larger than the Focus or the Civic, but the showroom was too busy for us to find a ride and, more importantly, my wife had reservations about the brand. I admire Hyundai bringing important things to market, for incredibly low prices: direct injection, rear disc brakes (Sorry, but I'm not buying a 2,800lb car, loading it up with 800lbs of people and stuff without 4 disc brakes!), air, heated seats (Hey, it's Canada), and 6sp autotrans.

I drive a TSX, and purposefully not a TL, but if I want to go fast I know how to, although the rest of the family just don't have that option, and I want it that way. The Focus, however, is just so easy to get into and go. Way to go Ford. Finally, a great, affordable small car - I LOVE $4 GAS, and what it's done for the automobile.