There’s a new member of the 40 mpg club, and it’s the 2012 Ford Focus. When equipped with a six-speed automatic and the SFE (Super Fuel Economy) package, the 2012 Focus nabs a rating of 28 city and 40 highway.
That makes it the fourth Ford vehicle to get a 40mpg or better rating, the others being an auto-equipped Fiesta, the Fusion Hybrid and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. It is important to note though that this 40 mpg rating is only possible with an automatic transmission and the Super Fuel Economy package. Americans overwhelmingly prefer automatics over manual transmissions, so that one is a no brainer, and a big advantage for the Blue Oval over the Chevy Cruze Eco, which needs a manual transmission to hit its 42 mpg rating. However, the Super Fuel Economy package adds full active grille shutters, 16-inch steel wheels with aerodynamic hubcaps (lets call them what they are people) “high efficiency” tires and a rear spoiler. All of that gives the 2012 Ford Focus SFE a 40 mpg highway rating, and 28 mpg in the city.
That means the 2011 Hyundai Elantra is still the only car in this price segment to attain 40 mpg without a special package. However, the Focus packs 160 horsepower, which is 12 more than the Hyundai and 22 more than Cruze Eco. The 40 mpg Focus adds another choice to the suddenly super-competitive comact market, and I think it is the best looking of the bunch yet. Is the Focus on your wish list, or are you looking elsewhere?
Source: Ford
Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to HEMI’s. You can follow his slow descent into madness at Sublime Burnout.