As expected, Ford has applied the Active treatment to the all-new Focus and the world has gained a new pseudo-offroad hatchback.
People are going crazy for crossovers and the trend shows no signs of going soft anytime soon, leading manufacturers to breed new species of cars that have that adventurous off road-y style.
But the new Ford Focus Active isn’t the only member of this niche segment; in fact the more adventurous version of the compact Ford joins Subaru’s Crosstrek, which is already in its second generation.
At this point, it’s worth saying that Ford has not yet confirmed which bodystyles will come to North America when sales start in the second half of 2019, but something tells us that the Active should be one of them.
Ford hasn’t shared any specific information on the Focus Active other than it rides 30mm higher than the standard hatch, so we don’t know yet what engines it will use or whether it’ll power all four wheels. Chances are though that it will be offered only with front-wheel drive, just like its smaller sibling, the Fiesta Active.
If that’s the case, then the AWD-only Subaru Crosstrek enters this comparison with a major advantage, at least for those who must have the added grip. On the other hand, the Ford Focus Active will offer more engine options and cutting-edge technologies.
Visually, both models make pretty clear their off-road intentions with their plastic cladding, the increased ride height and a set of bigger alloy wheels.
The Subaru Crosstrek adopts a more square and rugged stance whereas the new Ford Focus Active appears to be more curvy and with slightly cleaner lines.
At the front, the two crossover hatches proudly wear their corporate grilles, with the Ford featuring the latest hexagonal mouth and the Subaru keeping things more conservative.
Open the door and the Subaru greets you with a sober and serious design while the Ford’s dashboard appears to feature more modern switchgear and upholstery options but that infotainment display that looks like a glued tablet will not please everyone.
Which one is your favorite? Cast your vote below.
