![]()
Estate
A cracking load-carrier at prices you'll like, the Focus hatch may be the best of the range to drive, but the estate versions are not far behind. Drivers will love the way it responds to the controls, particularly the steering, which lets you thread through bends and place the car just where you want it to be.
expand / collapse
LX and Ghia models give a more comfortable ride than the sportier Zetec, Sport or Titanium, but they all jolt over the bumps in town. The engines are quiet, but too much road noise enters the cabin. It's exceptionally comfortable for driver and passengers, too, and room in the back is generous, though not class-leading. If you're watching the pennies, the Focus's reliability and cheap servicing will make you smile. But, think carefully about how old a car you buy. Most models have lost almost two-thirds of their value by their third birthday, so a nearly new car may not be such a bargain. But, if you look at it another way, a three-year-old Focus is great value.
Running Costs
Ford has a well-earned reputation for making its cars cheap to run and the Focus estate continues the good work. Annual servicing is cheap and easy. What's more, any self-respecting garage should be able to tackle it with ease, so you needn't pay Ford-dealer rates. The Focus is also renowned for its reliability and its happy ability to rack up huge mileages without needing major work. When parts eventually do need replacing, they usually cost less than most. Insurance is cheap: most models are in groups 5, 6,or 7 and even the 2.0 petrol models are only in group 10. And, fuel economy is impressive, too: diesels manage up to 60mpg overall, while the most frugal petrol engine, the 113bhp 1.6, achieves up to 42mpg and even the 2.0 nears up to 40mpg day-to-day. Early depreciation is high, but slows after the three-year mark, so do your sums carefully before buying a nearly new car.
Hatchback
There's more than enough room inside the airy cabin for four six-foot adults, while the boot is well shaped and generous. Height adjustment on the driver's seat, and reach and rake adjustment on the steering wheel, means drivers of all shapes and sizes should find an excellent driving position, while the dash is a lesson to other manufacturers for its clarity and ease of use. It's all put together with a quality to rival the very best in the class. However, it's the way the Focus drives that really sets it apart - think sports car rather than small family car. It has a wonderful blend of sharp handling, generally smooth ride and excellent composure through the bends, all topped off by fine refinement at motorway speeds. If there is a slight complaint, it's that the price you pay for the sharp handling is a firm low-speed ride
Running Costs
The beauty of the Focus is that, because of the numbers sold new and the relatively undesirable badge, its stiff depreciation makes it a bargain used buy. It's also easy to shop around and find a good price. Best of all, once the car is more than a year old, it has already suffered the biggest hit of depreciation, so any future loss in value will be no worse than on its rivals. Other running costs will be no problem, either. You should see at least 40mpg from any of the petrol engines - our favourite 113bhp 1.6 returns 43.8 mpg on the combined cycle - and 50mpg from the diesels. Service and repair costs are good, too, and figures from a leading warranty company show that, in the independent sector, Ford maintenance rates are among the lowest. Similarly, insurance costs are perfectly acceptable, and on a par with those for the Focus's rivals.
Saloon
There's more than enough room inside the airy cabin for four six-foot adults, while the boot is well shaped and generous. However, by its very nature, this saloon is less practical than the hatchback version. Height adjustment on the driver's seat, along with reach and rake adjustment on the steering wheel, means drivers of all shapes and sizes should find an excellent driving position, while the dash is a lesson to other manufacturers for its clarity and ease of use. It's all put together with a quality to rival the very best in the class. However, it's the way the Focus drives that really sets it apart - think sports car rather than small family car. It has a wonderful blend of sharp handling, generally smooth ride and excellent composure through the bends, all topped off by fine refinement at motorway speeds. If there is a slight complaint, it's that the price you pay for the sharp handling is a firm low-speed ride
Running Costs
The beauty of the Focus is that, because of the numbers sold new and the relatively undesirable badge, its stiff depreciation makes it a bargain used buy. It's also easy to shop around and find a good price - although Focus saloons are less easy to find than hatches. Best of all, once it's more than a year old, it has already suffered the biggest hit, so any future loss in value will be no worse than on its rivals. Other running costs will be no problem, either. You should see at least 40mpg from any of the petrol engines - our favourite 113bhp 1.6 returns 43.8 mpg on the combined cycle - and 50mpg from the diesels. Service and repair costs are good, too, and figures from a leading warranty company show that, in the independent sector, Ford maintenance rates are among the lowest. Similarly, insurance costs are perfectly acceptable, and on a par with those for the Focus's rivals.