So Jordon came home the other day and mentioned that he is reviewing a 2012 Ford Focus for his blog/Twitter this week.  He picked it up on Wednesday and we have been driving it since then.  He is posting a full review later today but here are my thoughts.

• I love the styling.  I said it was European but Jordon hates that cliche.  He said it is just “Ford styling” but in the same way you don’t describe a Porsche as anything else but a Porsche.  I really like how it looks.  Ford has it’s design chops back.
• Sync by Microsoft is a lot of fun.  Mostly in listening to Jordon trying to remember how to use it without saying, “What can I say?” (which brings up the commands on screen).  Neither one of us are GPS people (we are map people) but the on screen GPS is spectacular.   Not only that but the stereo commands are amazing with little things like being able to point at a picture of the car to show where you want your balance and fade to be.  Brilliant. 
• Speaking of Sync, Jordon hooked his Samsung Galaxy Ace up to it via Bluetooth and the sound quality was outstanding, far better than his speaker on his phone.  There was one thing that Sync can’t do and that is read his text messages.  I am assuming that is an Android limitation but with both of us having Android phones, I can’t tell for sure.  Either way it’s not that big of a deal.
• The climate controls are wonderful.  Different heat controls for both seats and both sides of the car.  Now of course Jordon loves to discreetly turn up my seat heater when I am not paying attention.  I am sure there is a control to taser him when he does that but I haven’t found it yet.  Still I really love the customization in the car.
• It has a high roof which isn’t a big deal for me being 5’4 but with Jordon being 6’4, it’s a big deal.  He can get in and be comfortable in the car.   As for the back, there was enough room for the boys.  While we didn’t put the dogs in the car or go to the cabin, there was more than enough trunk and backseat space to make travelling comfortable.
• Mark is obsessed with Sync and with him being in the backseat, he was always leaning over to check it out.  In the long run there is a realistic chance he could have spinal damage or I need to let him travel more with his PSP.
• The backup camera worked really well.  It projects your path and makes it clear if your car is going to make it along any obstacles in your path.  The car actually has sonar which beeps if you are getting to close to an object when pulling into park.  It’s one of those things that you scoff at until you use it.  While I have never backed into anything in my years, having something like this just makes backing up and navigating easier.
• The other day while driving to work, Jordon placed his laptop and some Diet Coke on the passenger seat, he was amazed that because of the weight, the car turned off the passenger side airbag, assuming there was a child sitting there.  It’s a car that does enough thinking that Knight Rider isn’t nearly as cool anymore.

I really like our Mazda 5 but I will be sad when the Focus goes back.  I can really seeing us purchasing one for our next vehicle.  For a family of four, it may be the ideal blend between space, fuel economy and styling.