Do the Fiesta and 2012 Focus bring back Contour memories?

[2b2]

...Reading the stats on the average height of male Americans you are well above the average noted at 5'10"

strictly personal observation:

 

to me it seems that men in the U.S. are either 6' or taller

OR

5'9" & shorter

&

that the 5'10" number is practically a mathmatical myth

[sullynd]

Another thing, where did the space go?

 

:shrug:

 

AFAIK the 2012 has a longer wheelbase, so the lack of rear leg room is curious.

 

Focus (2011) 36.1

Focus (2012) 33.2

Cruze 35.4

 

HONDA FIT 34.5

Edited December 18, 2010 by sullynd

[Hugh]

:shrug:

 

AFAIK the 2012 has a longer wheelbase, so the lack of rear leg room is curious.

 

Focus (2011) 36.1

Focus (2012) 33.2

Cruze 35.4

 

HONDA FIT 34.5

I'll wager a guess is priority of materials used. I feel crash regulations have a lot to do with it. So far, Ford has been doing well with sales because of styling (IMHO the current Focus is in the eye of the beholder), features not normally available (here is where the Cruze will probably enjoy a brief sales high until the 2012 Focus comes and not forgetting the next generation of imports) in it's class. I also feel Ford's market research has shown rear room is not a priority. As towing is not so much a priority in the 2011 Explorer.

I admit this is all speculation, this is my market as a owner in the B and C segment. I for one like the direction Ford went intead of trying to build a Fit/Versa competitor. From the drawings out there for the upcoming Fit, I see Ford design cues in it.

[MaybeaFocus]

Here is the rear leg room for a few more compact sedans:

 

Civic 34.6

Corolla 36.3

Mazda 3 36.3

BMW 3 Series 34.6

 

So it looks like the 2012 Focus lags all of its competitors. That really bums me out; it sounds like it will be an otherwise great car, but it will be completely impractical for people with young families. It is a challenge to fit many car seats in the 2011 Focus; I can only imagine how it will be in the 2012 with 3" less legroom.

[jpd80]

I'm probably one of the few people who has never really wondered too hard about why smaller cars

don't have much rear leg room, call me silly but I think that's how they actually get the size down....

 

 

It's not like we're asking it to get bigger - I just wish it hadn't gotten smaller. The new model has 3 inches less rear leg room than the outgoing model.

with the new Focus, you will notice that the leg room has changed;

Leg room

Front: 41.9 (Max 43.7) ...

Rear: 33.2

 

I would say the mountings have been moved rearward to give drivers another 2" of rear leg room,

this is probably due to Ford clinics saying that rear seat passengers are less likely to be full sized adults.

Edited December 18, 2010 by jpd80

[MaybeaFocus]

I'm probably one of the few people who has never really wondered too hard about why smaller cars

don't have much rear leg room, call me silly but I think that's how they actually get the size down....

 

That's just it. The 2012 is BIGGER than the 2011 but actually has significantly less rear legroom (3" is quite a bit when talking about legroom). I don't expect a small car to have more rear legroom than a Lincoln Town Car, but it is a bit disappointing when the new Focus is bigger than the old one yet has much less legroom.

[2b2]

...Why is is so hard to make a C segment vehicle with

adequate rear leg room? ... I guess Ford will be scooping out back of front seats like it did with Contour to gain some kind of rear leg room.

THEY ARE - can't re-find the photo (yet) but saw a shot of the rear compartment thru the door and the front seat backs look quite weird with a 2-3" hollow cut out of it - problem is' date=' for long-legged passengers (me) imho it's better to have the edges of the front seats curve away & sort of have the front seat a bit "in your lap"

[/quote']

found a different photo at BORG's old album

click ^ for huge

but think the more recent one didn't have map pockets on the back of the front seats

which made it look more extreme

[stpatrick90]

I thought compiling all the measurements in one spot would help:

 

Elantra

Headroom f/r - 40.0/37.1

Legroom f/r - 43.6/33.1

Shoulder Room f/r - 55.9/54.8

Hiproom f/r - 53.5/52.7

 

Cruze

Headroom f/r - 39.3/37.9

Legroom f/r - 42.3/35.4

Shoulder Room f/r - 54.8/53.9

Hiproom f/r - 53.0/52.4

 

Mazda3

Headroom f/r - 38.9/37.5

Legroom f/r - 42.0/36.2

Shoulder Room - 54.9/54.0

Hiproom f/r - 53.7/52.2

 

Civic

Headroom f/r - 39.4/37.4

Legroom f/r - 42.2/34.6

Shoulder Room f/r - 53.7/52.4

Hiproom f/r - 51.9/51.0

 

Corolla

Headroom f/r - 38.8/37.2

Legroom f/r - 41.7/36.3

Shoulder Room f/r - 54.8/54.6

Hiproom f/r - 53.0/43.9

 

Focus 2011

Headroom f/r - 39.2/38.3

Legroom f/r - 41.7/36.1

Shoulder Room f/r - 53.4/53.6

Hiproom f/r - 50.4/50.9

 

Focus 2012

Headroom f/r - 38.3/38.0

Legroom f/r - 41.9(Max 43.7)/33.2

Shoulder Room f/r - 55.6/53.7

Hiproom f/r - 53.9/52.7

 

Sentra

Headroom f/r - 40.6/37.3

Legroom f/r - 42.4/34.5

Shoulder Room f/r - 56.9/55.1

Hiproom f/r - 54.1/53

 

Jetta New

Headroom f/r - 38.2/37.1

Legroom f/r - 41.2/38.1

Shoulder Room f/r - 55.2/53.6

Hiproom - not listed

 

___________________________

 

 

 

Headroom front

Sentra - 40.6

Elantra - 40.0

Civic - 39.4

Cruze - 39.3

Focus 2011 - 39.2

Mazda3 - 38.9

Corolla - 38.8

Focus 2012 - 38.3

Jetta - 38.2

 

Headroom rear

Focus 2011 - 38.3

Focus 2012 - 38.0

Cruze - 37.9

Mazda3 - 37.5

Civic - 37.4

Sentra - 37.3

Corolla - 37.2

Jetta/Elantra - 37.1

 

Legroom front

Focus 2012 - 43.7Max

Elantra - 43.6

Sentra - 42.4

Cruze - 42.3

Civic - 42.2

Mazda3 - 42.0

Focus 2012 - 41.9

Focus2011/Corolla - 41.7

Jetta - 41.2

 

Legroom rear

Jetta - 38.1

Corolla - 36.3

Mazda3 - 36.2

Focus 2011 - 36.1

Cruze - 35.4

Civic - 34.6

Sentra - 34.5

Focus 2012 - 33.2

Elantra - 33.1

 

Shoulder Room front

Sentra - 56.9

Elantra - 55.9

Focus 2012 - 55.6

Jetta - 55.2

Mazda3 - 54.9

Corolla/Cruze - 54.8

Civic - 53.7

Focus 2011 - 53.4

 

Shoulder Room rear

Sentra - 55.1

Elantra - 54.8

Corolla - 54.6

Mazda3 - 54.0

Cruze - 53.9

Focus 2012 - 53.7

Jetta/Focus 2011 - 53.6

Civic - 52.4

 

Hiproom front

Sentra - 54.1

Focus 2012 - 53.9

Mazda3 - 53.7

Elantra - 53.5

Cruze/Corolla - 53.0

Civic - 51.9

Focus 2011 - 50.4

 

Hiproom rear

Sentra - 53.0

Elantra/Focus 2012 - 52.7

Cruze - 52.4

Mazda3 - 52.2

Civic - 51.0

Focus 2011 - 50.9

Corolla - 43.9

 

 

I think people are overreacting to this. It is a compact car afterall and as you can see from the numbers it certainly appears that the Focus is in the mix of things in terms of all the dimensions.

Edited December 18, 2010 by stpatrick90

[Hugh]

I thought compiling all the measurements in one spot would help:

 

Elantra

Headroom f/r - 40.0/37.1

Legroom f/r - 43.6/33.1

Shoulder Room f/r - 55.9/54.8

Hiproom f/r - 53.5/52.7

 

Cruze

Headroom f/r - 39.3/37.9

Legroom f/r - 42.3/35.4

Shoulder Room f/r - 54.8/53.9

Hiproom f/r - 53.0/52.4

 

Mazda3

Headroom f/r - 38.9/37.5

Legroom f/r - 42.0/36.2

Shoulder Room - 54.9/54.0

Hiproom f/r - 53.7/52.2

 

Civic

Headroom f/r - 39.4/37.4

Legroom f/r - 42.2/34.6

Shoulder Room f/r - 53.7/52.4

Hiproom f/r - 51.9/51.0

 

Corolla

Headroom f/r - 38.8/37.2

Legroom f/r - 41.7/36.3

Shoulder Room f/r - 54.8/54.6

Hiproom f/r - 53.0/43.9

 

Focus 2011

Headroom f/r - 39.2/38.3

Legroom f/r - 41.7/36.1

Shoulder Room f/r - 53.4/53.6

Hiproom f/r - 50.4/50.9

 

Focus 2012

Headroom f/r - 38.3/38.0

Legroom f/r - 41.9(Max 43.7)/33.2

Shoulder Room f/r - 55.6/53.7

Hiproom f/r - 53.9/52.7

 

Sentra

Headroom f/r - 40.6/37.3

Legroom f/r - 42.4/34.5

Shoulder Room f/r - 56.9/55.1

Hiproom f/r - 54.1/53

 

Jetta New

Headroom f/r - 38.2/37.1

Legroom f/r - 41.2/38.1

Shoulder Room f/r - 55.2/53.6

Hiproom - not listed

 

___________________________

 

 

 

Headroom front

Sentra - 40.6

Elantra - 40.0

Civic - 39.4

Cruze - 39.3

Focus 2011 - 39.2

Mazda3 - 38.9

Corolla - 38.8

Focus 2012 - 38.3

Jetta - 38.2

 

Headroom rear

Focus 2011 - 38.3

Focus 2012 - 38.0

Cruze - 37.9

Mazda3 - 37.5

Civic - 37.4

Sentra - 37.3

Corolla - 37.2

Jetta/Elantra - 37.1

 

Legroom front

Focus 2012 - 43.7Max

Elantra - 43.6

Sentra - 42.4

Cruze - 42.3

Civic - 42.2

Mazda3 - 42.0

Focus 2012 - 41.9

Focus2011/Corolla - 41.7

Jetta - 41.2

 

Legroom rear

Jetta - 38.1

Corolla - 36.3

Mazda3 - 36.2

Focus 2011 - 36.1

Cruze - 35.4

Civic - 34.6

Sentra - 34.5

Focus 2012 - 33.2

Elantra - 33.1

 

Shoulder Room front

Sentra - 56.9

Elantra - 55.9

Focus 2012 - 55.6

Jetta - 55.2

Mazda3 - 54.9

Corolla/Cruze - 54.8

Civic - 53.7

Focus 2011 - 53.4

 

Shoulder Room rear

Sentra - 55.1

Elantra - 54.8

Corolla - 54.6

Mazda3 - 54.0

Cruze - 53.9

Focus 2012 - 53.7

Jetta/Focus 2011 - 53.6

Civic - 52.4

 

Hiproom front

Sentra - 54.1

Focus 2012 - 53.9

Mazda3 - 53.7

Elantra - 53.5

Cruze/Corolla - 53.0

Civic - 51.9

Focus 2011 - 50.4

 

Hiproom rear

Sentra - 53.0

Elantra/Focus 2012 - 52.7

Cruze - 52.4

Mazda3 - 52.2

Civic - 51.0

Focus 2011 - 50.9

Corolla - 43.9

 

 

I think people are overreacting to this. It is a compact car afterall and as you can see from the numbers it certainly appears that the Focus is in the mix of things in terms of all the dimensions.

Thanks for the numbers. After looking at them, it does put it into persepctive. It would seem a lot of hot air for overall nothing.

[StevenCaylor]

It sounds to me what they did was to extend the front seat tracks an additional few inches to accomodate taller drivers. I would reserve judgement until I can sit in both models and compare. I remember a comment from one driver stating his definition of a "family car". Sit in the front seat and adjust it so you're comfortable. Then switch to the back seat. If your knees don't touch the back of the front seat, then it's a family car.

[Edstock]

but it will be completely impractical for people with young families. It is a challenge to fit many car seats in the 2011 Focus; I can only imagine how it will be in the 2012 with 3" less legroom.

So people who have young families, which means short people who don't need legroom, will find the lack of legroom completely impractical?

 

What does a child car seat have to do with legroom? Please explain?

 

 

 

[jpd80]

That's just it. The 2012 is BIGGER than the 2011 but actually has significantly less rear legroom (3" is quite a bit when talking about legroom). I don't expect a small car to have more rear legroom than a Lincoln Town Car, but it is a bit disappointing when the new Focus is bigger than the old one yet has much less legroom.

That figure is with the bloody seats jammed right forward where the driver cant possibly fit comfortably,

what For did was recognize that that full forward position was unrealistic and moved the seat tracking

back to accommodate long legged drivers, it in no way diminishes the actual leg room available

with the front seats in the normal adjustment zone, it the same as it ever was..

 

As Deanh has suggested, go try them first and see if there actually is a problem,

I'm sure you will find it a trick with numbers and there's actually pretty good room.

Edited December 19, 2010 by jpd80

[sullynd]

What does a child car seat have to do with legroom? Please explain?

 

My son is in a front facing seat now. His legs are not yet long enough to bend like a normal seating position - they stick straight out. In the flex he has inches to spare. In the escape hes a near miss. In the Focus he'd likely be hitting the seat. The bigger issue is rear facing seats, especially rear facing infant seats. Our infant seat wouldn't fit in my wifes old VW without the passenger seat all the way up and tilted foreword (such that it could not be sat in)

[jpd80]

Our infant seat wouldn't fit in my wifes old VW without the passenger seat all the way up and tilted foreword (such that it could not be sat in)

I can tell you that is also true in the current global C1 Focus,

a friend I know has exactly the same problem you mentioned.

 

Keep in Mind that the 2012 Focus will be bigger in size but

still something like 300 lbs lighter than Chevrolet Cruze.

Edited December 19, 2010 by jpd80

[MaybeaFocus]

That figure is with the bloody seats jammed right forward where the driver cant possibly fit comfortably,

what For did was recognize that that full forward position was unrealistic and moved the seat tracking

back to accommodate long legged drivers, it in no way diminishes the actual leg room available

with the front seats in the normal adjustment zone, it the same as it ever was..

 

As Deanh has suggested, go try them first and see if there actually is a problem,

I'm sure you will find it a trick with numbers and there's actually pretty good room.

 

That's interesting. I didn't know that is how legroom is calculated. That also explains why the Fusion, despite just having 1" more rear legroom than the current Focus, feels much much bigger.

[jpd80]

That's interesting. I didn't know that is how legroom is calculated. That also explains why the Fusion, despite just having 1" more rear legroom than the current Focus, feels much much bigger.

 

That has more to do with canopy effect and width, keep in mind

that the new Focus has more of both than the 2101 Focus.

 

So how does it feel in a Fusion with the drivers seat right back?

bet there hardly any rear leg room there either......

Edited December 19, 2010 by jpd80

[tjl]

Wasn't the Contour supposed to be a midsize? People don't expect all that much when it comes to leg room in a Focus.

 

The Contour was supposed to be a size up from the Escort, and the Focus eventually replaced the Escort. But the Focus was actually bigger inside than the Contour. Chalk it up to size inflation over the years. Other cars have also grown over the years -- the Honda Accord grew from an EPA compact (or maybe even subcompact) class car of the 1970s to the EPA full size car of today.

 

The 2012 Focus has about 3" less rear legroom than the 2011 Focus, according to the specs on Ford's web site. Total interior volume is about 91 ft^3 passenger, 13 ft^3 cargo for the sedan, compared to the 94 ft^3 passenger, 14 ft^3 cargo for the outgoing model. However, the hatchback's cargo room is larger than that of the old ZX3/ZX5 models (but smaller than the old wagon models).

 

But note that the Focus' competition is continuing to get larger. The Cruze and Elantra nose into the EPA midsize class by interior room (actually, even the 2007 Elantra nosed into the EPA midsize class).

[stpatrick90]

Further comparison....

 

Headroom front

Sentra/Versa/Altima - 40.6

Fit - 40.4

Elantra/Sonata - 40.0

Accent - 39.6

Civic/Malibu - 39.4

Cruze/Aveo - 39.3

Focus 2011 - 39.2

Fiesta/Mazda2 - 39.1

Accord - 39.0

Mazda3 - 38.9

Corolla/Yaris - 38.8

Fusion - 38.7

Focus 2012 - 38.3

Jetta - 38.2

Mazda6 - 38.1

Camry - 37.9

 

 

Headroom rear

Fit - 39.0

Focus 2011 - 38.3

Focus 2012 - 38.0

Cruze/Versa - 37.9

Accent/Sonata/Fusion - 37.8

Mazda3 - 37.5

Civic/Aveo/Camry - 37.4

Sentra/Mazda6 - 37.3

Corolla/Malibu - 37.2

Accord - 37.2

Jetta/Elantra/Fiesta - 37.1

Mazda2 - 37.0

Altima - 36.8

Yaris - 36.7

 

Legroom front

Sonata - 45.5

Altima - 44.1

Focus 2012 - 43.7Max

Elantra - 43.6

Accent - 42.8

Mazda2 - 42.6

Accord/Mazda6 - 42.5

Sentra - 42.4

Cruze/Fusion - 42.3

Civic/Yaris/Fiesta/Malibu - 42.2

Mazda3 - 42.0

Focus 2012 - 41.9

Focus2011/Corolla/Camry - 41.7

Versa - 41.4

Fit/Aveo - 41.3

Jetta - 41.2

 

Legroom rear

Camry - 38.3

Jetta - 38.1

Mazda6/Versa - 38.0

Malibu - 37.6

Accord - 37.2

Fusion - 37.1

Corolla - 36.3

Mazda3 - 36.2

Focus 2011 - 36.1

Altima - 35.8

Yaris - 35.6

Cruze/Aveo - 35.4

Civic/Sonata - 34.6

Sentra/Fit - 34.5

Accent - 34.3

Focus 2012 - 33.2

Elantra - 33.1

Mazda2 - 33.0

Fiesta - 31.2

 

Shoulder Room front

Accord - 58.2

Sonata - 57.9

Camry - 57.8

Fusion - 57.4

Mazda6 - 57.3

Sentra - 56.9

Elantra/Malibu - 55.9

Altima - 55.7

Focus 2012 - 55.6

Accent - 53.5

Jetta - 55.2

Mazda3 - 54.9

Corolla/Cruze - 54.8

Civic - 53.7

Focus 2011 - 53.4

Mazda2 - 52.8

Yaris/Aveo - 51.6

Fit - 51.5

Fiesta - 50.6

Versa - 48.8

 

Shoulder Room rear

Camry - 56.9

Sonata - 56.7

Mazda6/Fusion - 56.5

Accord - 56.4

Altima - 55.5

Sentra - 55.1

Elantra - 54.8

Corolla - 54.6

Mazda3 - 54.0

Cruze/Malibu - 53.9

Focus 2012 - 53.7

Jetta/Focus 2011 - 53.6

Accent - 53.1

Aveo - 52.8

Civic - 52.4

Fit - 51.3

Mazda2 - 51.2

Versa - 50.7

Yaris - 50.2

Fiesta - 49.2

 

Hiproom front

Altima - 56.8

Accord - 56.6

Sonata - 55.2

Mazda 6 - 55.1

Camry - 54.6

Sentra - 54.1

Fusion - 54.0

Focus 2012 - 53.9

Mazda3 - 53.7

Elantra - 53.5

Cruze/Corolla/Malibu - 53.0

Civic - 51.9

Aveo - 51.6

Fit - 51.5

Accent/Fiesta - 50.6

Focus 2011 - 50.4

Yaris - 49.8

Versa - 48.8

 

Hiproom rear

Mazda6 - 55.9

Sonata - 54.9

Accord - 54.3

Camry - 53.9

Fusion - 53.3

Sentra - 53.0

Avep - 52.8

Elantra/Focus 2012 - 52.7

Altima - 52.5

Cruze - 52.4

Mazda3 - 52.2

Malibu - 52.1

Fit - 51.3

Civic - 51.0

Focus 2011 - 50.9

Yaris - 50.1

Accent - 49.6

Fiesta - 49.2

Versa - 47.2

Corolla - 43.9

[RichardJensen]

:rolleyes:

 

That is all.

[stpatrick90]

:rolleyes:

 

That is all.

 

If that is in reference to me...my defense is I was bored and needed the distraction.

[Hugh]

If that is in reference to me...my defense is I was bored and needed the distraction.

Normally, it is. Under the circumstances, this topic is so old, you can`t ignore it. It`s ignorance plain and simple. It`s plain boring.

[TomServo92]

Thanks for the numbers. After looking at them, it does put it into persepctive. It would seem a lot of hot air for overall nothing.

 

As are most Fordbuyer threads....

[focus05]

It's somewhat interesting from my perspective (and keep in mind, I have no idea how legroom is calculated):

 

• The current Focus lacks only 1" to the current Fusion, but it doesn't feel it back there - much tighter than the Fusion.
  
• The new Fiesta is, on paper, much smaller than any of its competitors, but in reality it feels the same as the Yaris and only slightly tighter than the Fit (not counting headroom).
  
• I was surprised that the new Focus actually lost interior space to the old Focus
  
• Because they feel about the same when sitting in them except in the driver's area because of a center console/dash.
  
• The new Focus is only 1" shy of the Civic for legroom in the back, and the Civic has been praised as being roomy - certainly more than the current Focus
  
• The passenger volume on the two is about the same.
  

 

So... here is my million dollar question: My 93.5 cu ft old (2005) Focus feels the same roominess as the new 90.5 cu ft 2012 Focus; given that, how relevant are volumes and legroom #s within sort of a 5-7% margin? It seems like they aren't. And I guess the more fundamental question: how are the measurements even derived that causes such variability?

 

So the Cruze and Elantra may, in fact, feel roomier in the same class, but I bet they won't feel significantly better to most consumers stepping out of a real midsize like the Fusion or Camry.

[theoldwizard]

The Contour was supposed to be a size up from the Escort, and the Focus eventually replaced the Escort. "

This is ancient history, but here is my $0.02.

 

I owned a second generation, early 90s Escort GT (Cayman Green, 1.8L DOHC, 5 speed; loved that car). Even with only 2 doors it was frequently used as the "lunch bus" for myself and 3 other. All of us were north 200 lbs, probably 2 or 3 north of 250. One guy was about 6'2", another about 6 and the other two about 5'10". While entry and exit from the back seat was a bit challenging, once in, it was not too bad for a <20 minute ride.

 

I traded that Escort in for a 2000 Contour, V6, 5 speed. While a quicker car, the interior volume S*CKED ! No adult ever sat in the back. Besides no leg room, you had to duck under the roof line to get in the back.

But the Focus was actually bigger inside than the Contour. Chalk it up to size inflation over the years

I am grateful for this, as I have not gotten any slimmer.

the Honda Accord grew from an EPA compact (or maybe even subcompact) class car of the 1970s to the EPA full size car of today.

They just squeak into the full size class so they have "best in class" fuel economy instead of being in the mid-size where they would be middle of the pack.

The 2012 Focus has about 3" less rear legroom than the 2011 Focus, according to the specs

Not good ! Maybe this is why Ford US stuck with the C170 platform for so long.

Edited December 19, 2010 by theoldwizard

[jpd80]

Not good ! Maybe this is why Ford US stuck with the C170 platform for so long.

Sigh,

All they've done is adjusted the front seat travel to have less full forward and up to 43" front leg room for the driver.

It still has the same available rear leg room when the front seat is adjusted for tall or short drivers......

 

This thread keeps descending into the ridiculous "why hasn't Focus got the same rear leg room as a Taurus"

Edited December 19, 2010 by jpd80