Ford Focus Estate Review

Performance4.5/5

All petrol engines are 1.6 litre, from the 1.6 TI-VCT (103 bhp or 123 bhp) to the 1.6 Ecoboost (147 bhp or 180 bhp). Diesels also start at 1.6 litre, offering 93 bhp or 113 bhp and a choice of two 2-litre engines – the 2.0 TDCi (138 bhp) or the 2.0 TDCI (160 bhp). Both of the 2 litre engines are available with Powershift.  It is anticipated that the 1.6, 113 bhp diesel model will prove to be the most popular – it is nippy, does the standard 0-62 mph dash in 11 seconds, has a top speed of 120 mph and returns an average 67 mpg.

Handling5/5

The Ford Focus Estate handling is a delight, with good grip, assured steering and little body lean on bends. It offers a slightly firm ride at low speeds, but this improves when going faster; noise levels are at a minimum, gear changes are smooth and braking feels good. The driver’s seat position will adjust to whatever you need, no matter what shape or size you are, adding to the enjoyment of driving – there’s really very little to complain about here. Competitors may well feel that, as far as handling goes, Ford have set a new level to which to aspire.

Exterior3.5/5

The Focus Estate is probably best viewed from behind – with its long graceful roof and well-designed rear it is an attractive sight. Looking at the front though, it is not such a pretty picture – although some zingy new colours and alloy ranges do add to its desirability.

Interior4/5

Ford have made the Focus Estate very driver-friendly with an excellent range of seat and steering-wheel adjustment combinations. With an attractively laid out and easy to use selection of dials and switches and soft to the touch surfaces on the dash, along with a very airy feel to the cabin, the Ford Focus Estate has the feel good factor. From a practical point of view, the Focus Estate is a comfortable four-seater, but a bit of a squash for a third adult in the back – although three children will fit in easily. There’s ample leg and head-room for all passengers – and a reasonable amount of space for their luggage, although not as much as can be claimed by others in the class. There are 490 litres available – this reduces to 476 litres if you carry a spare wheel. The rear seats fold slickly to provide 1502 litres – but this still lags some way behind the Vauxhall Astra, the Kia Cee’d and the VW Golf. The one-touch retractable tonneau cover is a bit of a bonus though, and the floor area is low thanks to the newly designed suspension layout.

Equipment4.5/5

There are four Ford Focus Estate trims to choose from, from the entry level Edge, through the Zetec and the Titanium up to the Titanium X.  In order to compete on more of a level playing field with generously equipped Korean models, Ford have added more kit at entry level, equipping the Edge with air conditioning, stability control, digital radios, Bluetooth (with voice control and USB connectivity), ISOFIX child seat fittings, rear spoiler, roof rails and driver lumbar support. The Zetec adds 16 inch alloys, a heated front windscreen, sports front seats, heated door mirrors and a leather coloured steering wheel. Stretch your resources a little further and the Titanium will see you equipped with a superior stereo system, cruise control, rain sensitive wipers, automatic headlight control, dual zone climate control, rear LED lamps, height adjustment for the passenger seat a stop/start button. If you decide to throw caution to the winds and invest in a Focus Estate Titanium X you will add 17 inch alloys, power folding door mirrors, active park assist, heated front seats, Xenon headlights, ambient lights and headlamp jet wash to the line-up.

Safety5/5

The Ford Focus Estate safety is excellent and has been awarded a well-deserved five star Euro NCAP rating. With airbags everywhere you could wish, ISOFIX child seat fittings, electronic stability control as standard, anti skid control and other electronic systems such as torque vectoring, lane departure warning and the availability of a Driver Assistance Pack, Ford have come up with a good, safety-aware package.

Buying & Owning4.5/5

With the Focus Estate, Ford have produced a car with very good CO2 emissions across the range, coupled with impressive fuel economy, making it a desirable option for business users. It is likely to sell well on the second hand market, and Ford, of course, are known to be reliable and have a good name for servicing. Insurance costs should also be reasonable – and from the entire range, the 1.6 litre TDCi Duratorq diesel offers the most economical package.

Reviewed by cars2buy