Twin Test: Kia Cerato and Ford Focus

It’s achingly hard to believe these cars are sales underdogs in our market; they are just as good as the Japanese offerings. Maybe even better says Arvind Kumar

If you’re in the marketplace for a C-Segment sedan, you find there are three normal criteria the purchase should substantiate. They normally are the price, the brand and the residual value. This would present you with the Altis and Civic being the usual suspects. Why?

Did you know the bestselling car in the world is the Ford Focus, and the Hyundai Elantra which shares its drivetrain and underpinnings with the Cerato came fourth? The Altis came second, and the Civic did not even make the top 10 list.

Please don’t misunderstand me because I’m not denying the Civic and Altis are massively capable cars. It’s just perplexing that these two cars don’t turn up on buyers’ radars as often as they deserve to. This is when you begin to ponder why cars which are so right for so many people around the world somehow don’t tug similar heartstrings here on home soil. In most cases, the common denominator is the retail value.

So let’s start this thought process with the price. The Cerato 2.0-litre retails for RM118,888 as you see it here and the Focus 2.0-litre Titanium+ will set you back RM126,396. So that puts these two firmly in the crosshairs of the similarly specified Toyota Altis 2.0V priced at RM136,097 and the Civic 2.0S priced at RM128,359. So at a glance, the Cerato and Focus have trumped the price wars; but the bigger question remains, how are they like to drive.

Both cars utilise electric powered steering systems, with the Focus coming out on top due to its lovely weightage and precise and positive feedback. Input is very easily translated to the front threads and even at speed, tracks with immense confidence. The Cerato on the other hand, utilises the company’s intelligent flex steer system which provides the driver with three steering settings: Comfort, Normal and Sport.

I first sampled the system on Hyundai’s I30, while the three progressive weight modes on that car vary from too-light to nice and then heavy. The Cerato’s settings seem to range from heavy, heavier and unwieldy. Plus, it’s slightly vague and does not want to break from the dead-centre position. The Cerato also slightly loses out on feedback coming from the front end.

The ride in both cars is really good, the Focus has a slightly firmer ride but it’s still comfortable on highways and the phenomenally smooth roads we find within the city. Climb into Cerato and you’ll find the ride slightly softer but the execution is no deal breaker.

Both the Cerato and Focus have really good body manners. High speed direction changes don’t easily unsettle the Focus. Pile the Focus into a corner under heavy load, you will find grip levels are impressive and body roll remains minimal. This is definitely the pick of the two for someone who loves driving.

Not that the Cerato won’t commit to a corner just as quickly. I had both cars down a windy stretch of road with bumps and potholes that might make the surface of the moon jealous; but wherever the Focus could go, the Cerato could follow. Just as fast. Only difference is you will feel the mid-corner balance fade away slightly in the Cerato which you won’t in the Focus. Otherwise, on a highway, the Cerato is in its element oozing compliance and confidence.

The Cerato is powered by a 2.0 MPI-D Nu engine which utilises variable valve timing to generate 160bhp at 6500rpm and generous 194Nm of torque to the front wheels. The Focus delivers 170bhp and a peak torque of 202Nm from its four cylinder powerplant.

The Cerato is equipped with a six-speed conventional gearbox while the Focus uses a dry dual-clutch setup. While the Focus’ unit has very quick and precise gearshifts, it still feels slightly sluggish for a dual-clutch unit and Cerato’s smooth and refined conventional setup was the one preferred after having extensive time in both cars.

Gun the throttle in the Focus and you feel the mid-range torque working the gear ratios to give you good acceleration. The Focus is surprisingly rapid between the 80kph to 120kph, making overtaking a breeze and throttle modulation is so easily transmitted from the engine down to the road. This car just knows what you want and how you want it.

The Cerato on the other hand relies on its energetic gearbox to pile on speed. Prod the accelerator and it readily guns for a lower ratio to spurt forward. What the Cerato lacks in power against the Focus, it readily makes up with its energetic gearbox. Surprisingly though, it’s the Cerato that has the sportier exhaust note.

Inside the Cerato though, it’s a cool and calm place. The ventilated front seats really work on a hot day; an otherwise unheard off specification for any other car within the C- and D-segments. Cockpit layout is ace with all controls and displays canted at the driver. NVH levels are good save for some engine vibration at idle which filters into the cabin.

The Focus wins this one as it is a lovely place to be in. From the leather seating to the soft touch-points and good all round visibility, echoes of the larger Mondeo give the cockpit a sense of occasion. However, I don’t fancy the busy-buttoned multimedia controls. It’s not the easiest to control and the information display could be better. The Ford Sync though works very well and connects seamlessly to your mobile device.

Both cars have achieved five-stars ANCAP ratings, each providing six airbags, ABS equipped with EBD and stability control. The Focus adds onto this with its blind spot detection system, which is prodigiously sensitive to any object with the car’s rear-three-quarters. The Cerato on the other hand, has front and side collision sensors which pre-emptively arm the airbags when it detects a collision is imminent… neat huh!

Style is very subjective but increasingly important within a segment that is dictated by young professionals and executives all vying for illusive street-credibility and presence. On this count, I personally feel Cerato’s curvaceous lines injected with exciting styling cues like the daytime lights, sleek tail-lamps and a very sleek glass house takes the cake. The Focus is no slouch either with chiselled edges, an aggressive front end and muscular shoulder line. Again, different strokes for different folks but my money is on the Cerato ageing more gracefully with time.

The most surprising point we learned was the fuel consumption of both these cars, I must stress, these are not official figures but both cars were subjected to very similar driving conditions. The Cerato returned a rather typical 435km for a full tank, until Chris achieved a staggering 530km on the Focus until he nearly ran on fumes. The Focus does however five litres more than the Cerato with its 55-litre tank.

So we know both these cars have the substance and the right price; but coming back to the other two factors of brand perception and residual value. Both factors like-it-or-not, are intertwined. However, there’s no denying the slightly chequered history of these brands in the country; which reads as a con in a list of pros.

Nonetheless, market perceptions are transitional in nature, especially in our country’s rapidly maturing automotive landscape. So they will improve too, for Kia and Ford if products like these keep making their way onto our roads.

So which is better? This was tougher than expected, the Cerato does everything well, it’s just the Focus does them all slightly better. It’s personally the one I’d go for just because it works better as a package compared to the Cerato. However, the Cerato gets you into the game at an unbeatable price which is paramount within this marketplace, and by the smallest of margins… takes this one.

Second opinion

Chris Ng says: Won by that much…

There wasn’t any doubt that the Focus would grab my win. But by golly the Cerato came so close in forcing the Focus to re-cork that champagne. Both cars have similar features; only the packaging is different. Also, where the Focus’ interior is beige and bright, the Cerato welcomes you into its softly-lit dark interior. Overall, if you’re counting the shell’s design and interior décor, I prefer the Cerato’s effort.

However, I couldn’t come to terms with the vague but heavy steering and the firmer ride – all are fine if you have never driven the Focus prior. But jump from one to the next and I find the Focus’ ride to be more pliant over road undulation without taking away anything from its handling. The steering is comfortably weighted and sensitive. Even the Focus’ powertrain employs the horses and torque better across the rev range.

Still, special credit must be given to the Cerato. It is a vastly improved product even when compared to the Forte, which itself has made many swallow a chunk of the humble pie. I wonder what the Koreans will pull out of their hat next. In the meantime, the Focus is the better car.

Kia Cerato 2.0

Price

RM118,888(OTR W/Ins)

Engine

1999cc 16v 4 cyl, VVT, 160bhp @ 6500rpm, 194Nm @ 4800rpm

Transmission

Six-speed auto, front-wheel drive.

Performance

N/A 0-100kph, N/A kph, 7.0/100km

Suspension

MacPherson struts front, torsion beam rear.

Dimensions

4560/1775/1445mm

Weight

N/A kg

Ford Focus 2.0 Titanium +

Price

RM126,396

Engine

1999cc 16v 4 cyl, MPI, 194bhp @ 6000rpm, 202Nm @ 4100rpm

Transmission

Six-speed dual-clutch auto

Performance

N/A 0-100kph, N/A kph, 6.6l/100km

Suspension

MacPherson struts front, multi-link rear.

Dimensions

4534/1824/1466mm

Weight

N/A kg