Ford Focus

Our verdict

The Ford Focus is one of the most complete cars on the road today. Well designed, well engineered, well built, well priced. It drives superbly, does what you need it to, and won’t break the bank.

Comfort

The Focus has a truly remarkable ride. It's supple but not soft, allowing for all the crap British roads can throw at it while remaining totally composed at any speed. It's also refined and capacious inside. Spot on really.

Performance

The wild ST aside (because that warrants its own page), the Focus is a solid performer, with plenty of power over economy equations to get lost pondering. The 1.8 and 2.0-litre TDCi diesels will better 50mpg and still hit 60mph in around 10 seconds.

Cool

The Focus is too MOR to ever be cool, but for that same reason it's not going to mark you out as a tosser either. If you're buying a Focus ‘cool' isn't even on your radar is it?

Quality

A slightly incongruous mix of really posh materials and pretty damn cheap ones, the Focus is nonetheless very well made. This second generation car has plenty of Germanic feel in the touch points and will surely last.

Handling

Few mid-sized hatches come close to the Focus in terms of its lithe, responsive chassis and quick, informative steering. This is a car in which you can potter to the shops or make brisk cross-country progress. Makes you proud to be British. Or European or whatever.

Practicality

The Focus is right up there. It's one of the widest cars in its class, meaning there's masses of shoulder room for rear passengers and a general sense of space throughout the cabin. At 385 litres the boot is well massive.

Running costs

The Focus also has real value for money in its impressive arsenal of selling points. It comfortably undercuts competition from the likes of VW, Toyota and Vauxhall. And remember those excellent diesels...