2010 Ford Focus Coupe

Changes for 2010 are limited, but significant. Important safety features—AdvanceTrac electronic stability control (ESC) and anti-lock brakes—are standard. Other new coupe standards include perimeter alarm, remote keyless entry with trunk release and power door locks. Ford’s SYNC voice-activated communications and entertainment system now has 911 Assist in the event of airbag deployment caused by an accident. SYNC also comes equipped with a GPS-based navigation system that supplies traffic reports to help the driver avoid accidents, gives driving directions and notifies the driver with vehicle health report service needs. The top-level sound system features 190 watts of power, nine speakers and CD/MP3 capability. The Focus Coupe comes with a six-month subscription to SIRIUS satellite radio available in the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C.

More Safety

One new standard Focus feature called MyKey will likely be abhorred by some teenagers, which means it’s a good thing. Designed to help keep novice drivers safe, the MyKey system allows parents to program the car so that the sound system doesn’t work unless the safety belts are buckled: More than 2,000 unbelted teenagers die in car crashes each year. And statistics suggest that if a teenage embraces one risky behavior, such as not wearing a safety belt, they engage in others, such as speeding, carrying too many passengers and driving intoxicated. MyKey works through a computer chip in the designated ignition key. MyKey allows speed alert chimes to be set to alert at 45, 55 or 65 mph, while top speed can be limited to 80 mph.


Crash test results for the 2010 Focus Coupe weren’t available as this was written, but the 2009 model earned five out of five stars in the government’s test for frontal driver and passenger impacts and three out of five for side driver impact and side rear passenger impact. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Focus its highest grade (Good) for frontal impacts and rated it Acceptable for side impacts.


With a 35 miles per gallon rating, affordable purchase price, impressive safety and some cool new features, the made in America Ford Focus Coupe is more than worth serious consideration. (www.fordvehicles.com)