Research indicates that Volvo's system prevents about a quarter of the low-speed impacts common in commuter traffic when compared with similar vehicles. But New Zealand will not get the tech, nor many of the the high-tech goodies fitted to my demo car, such as lane departure warning and blind spot warning.
The company line
Ford New Zealand's line-up will be similar to Australia's and includes the top-shelf Titanium spec.
The super-frugal EcoBoost engine won't be available at launch but hasn't been ruled out. Price and specification will be confirmed next week.
What we say
Focus is a smart car, with an equally smart cabin that's clearly laid out with the cock-pit style centre console angled to the driver and easy to navigate.
The 316-litre boot is 1148 litres with the seats folded but some of the kit supplied seems over the top, such as the keyless start with a fiddly button which seems odd when you need the key to unlock the car.
On the road
Our British drive included semi-urban and open highway, where we found performance reasonably brisk rather than sparkling.
The stand-out feature was the 7.6l/100km thirst despite a vigorous approach to the throttle, no doubt partly thanks to the stop-start that helped pin thirst through urban gridlock (Ford's claim is 5.9l/100km).
The car's handling is notable for confident body control and little roll, although the steering feels a tad remote.
Overall, this Focus is likely to flatter the average driver but not encourage a keen one, which may disappoint those who bought the outgoing car for its dynamic character rather than its everyday capability.
Why you'll buy one
Smart looks and luxury-car features in a Corolla-bracket car. It's a shame we won't get the EcoBoost's competitive performance allied to frugal thirst.
Why you won't
It's not as dynamic as its predecessor, and Ford may take the cheaper, low-tech route.
