Fuel econ figures ought to be similar to that of its Fiesta cousin, which nets 31 mpg city, 43 mpg highway.

Ford has yet to release fuel-economy estimates for this new 1.0L, but figures ought to be pretty similar to that of its smaller Fiesta cousin, which nets 31 miles per gallon city, 43 mpg highway and a combined rating of 36 mpg. Even allowing for some degradation, those metrics compare very favorably with today's Focus 2.0L manual, which manages 26/36/30, though as we've noted in previous road tests, we've often found it very challenging to net EPA test results with EcoBoost powerplants, even in everyday driving.

Interestingly, the Romanian-built 1.0L does without balance shafts – instead, the flywheel and crankshaft have been intentionally unbalanced to counter the action of the outside cylinders. It's an elegant solution that works well – the EcoBoost may actually be more refined than the current Focus' 2.0-liter four-cylinder, an engine that offers more horsepower (160) but less torque (146 lb-ft) at higher revs. That I4 will continue as the baseline for the 2015 model year, with the EcoBoost being available at extra cost (pricing hasn't been released, but if the Fiesta's option sheet provides any guidance, it'll be around $995).

As is the way these days, electric power steering has been fitted to the 2015 Focus to improve fuel economy and better enable the availability of convenience features like self-parking, as well as new safety technologies like lane-keep assist (the latter of which relies on our preferred feedback loop – haptic – delivering warning vibrations through the steering wheel instead of a chime that alerts the entire cabin to your waywardness). Blind-spot warning with cross-traffic alert is also available.

The six-speed manual gearbox we sampled – the only transmission so far confirmed as available with the EcoBoost at launch – was a pleasure to use, with a light, direct action and a clutch pedal to match. With all that torque down low, you won't feel the need for constant shifting around town (though first gear is a bit short). However, midrange and upper gears are all quite tall – there was one moment on the autoroute where we neglected to put it in sixth for several miles, such is the overall refinement of this package. In any case, the car never felt out of breath.