BUYER'S GUIDE: Ford Focus

WHEN the Ford Focus burst on to the scene back in 1998, it  changed the face of family motoring. Practical, well equipped, great to drive and available with a huge choice of engines, trims and bodystyles, the  Focus proved a sales hit.

The 2004 Mkll car repeated the feat, despite criticism of its styling, and the Mkl ll Focus, launched in 2011, has done the same. It hasn't had the same impact as the original with its driver appeal and looks, and trails rivals on practicality, but it scores on safety and kit and as so many have found homes new, it's great value used.

History

THE Focus Mkl ll arrived in spring 2011with1.6 and 1.6T petrol engines and 1.6 or 2.0·litre TDCi diesels. At first there was only a five-door hatch, but weeks later this was joined by an estate with the same engine choices.

At first, the cleanest 1.6 TDCi diesel emitted 109g/km of  C02; by spring 2012, an ECOnetic edition had cut this to 95g/km.
Soon after, a 1.0T EcoBoost petrol engine appeared with 99bhp or 123bhp, the former emitting 109g/ km. At the same ti me, the 247bhp Focus ST hot hatch went on sale.
A r evised Focus arrives later in September with  a fresh l ook, extra tech and cleaner engines.

Which one?

NONE of the engines is weak, butthe regular 1.6 doesn't feel all that punchy; the 1.6T and the diesels are noticeably more muscular, or you could go for the 1.0T EcoBoost, although these are still relatively pricey.
On balance, the 148bhp 1.6T probably provides the best blend of performance, driving enjoyment and fuel  economy.
The tri m levels are confusi ng; they start with Studio, then progress through Edge, Zetec, Zetec Navigator, Zetec S and Ti tanium/ Navigator, and finish with Titanium X Navigator.
All cars get ESP, air·con, electric front windows and a  space-saver spare wheel.
Titanium adds auto lights  and wipers, dual-zone cli mate control pl us multimedia. 

Alternatives

ONE of the strongest rivals is the recently replaced Mazda 3, which looks stylish and  is great to drive, plus well built and equipped. Other alternatives include the Toyota Auris and Honda Civic, both of which are very reliable, but can be pricey.

The Hyundai i30 is one of the best all-rounders out there; you could also check out its Kia Cee'd sister car. The VW Golf is the small  family hatch with everything- including much higher asking prices than for an equivalent Focus. Also consider the stylish SEAT Leon, which i s well equipped and fun to drive.

Verdict

THE Focus is a great new buy, but it makes even more sense second-hand, as it's such fine value for money. Thanks to savage depreciation, you' ll get a lot of car for your  money, not least because Ford doesn't skimp on the standard kit.

As there are so many cars on the used market, you can also home in on your ideal spec. The stronger engines and higher trim levels are most popular, so it's easy to get  something gadget-laden.
And thanks to a decent reliability record, a Focus is unlikely to let you down.

"Focus trails rivals on practicality, but scores on safety and kit, and as it's such a hit new, it's great value used"

Sensors

REAR parking sensors are part of the optional Convenience Pack. And they're a
must, as working out where the bodywork •ends can be tricky.

Spare wheel

A SPACE-saver spare wheel comes •3S  standard; a full· sized alternative is available from dealers for £ 75-this just slots into the wheel well.

Cooling

SOME engines can get through a lot of coolant. Thi s is usually because of a leaking thermostat housing, which is easily replaced.




Interior

A SUPERB driving position  and well equipped dash make long-distance driving a bree ze - for those in the front. In the rear, headroom is fine, but l egroom is tight. The boot isn't great,  either; there's 316 litres of  space with the seats up, or 1,101  litres with them down.

Alloys

THE 18-inch wheels aren't unusual and lookgood. T hey don't seem to harm the
rid elthe~although they do increase road noise noticeably.

Performance
0·60mph/top speed /12.3  secs/116mph


RUNNING COSTS
47mpg (1.6 105) / £71 fill-up

CO2 TAX
136g/km / £130

Recalls

THE Focus Mklll has yet to be recalled. That's impressive considering its predecessor was called back 16 times over everything from fuel leaks and failed cooling fans to brake servo problems, as well as hub retaining bolts working loose.  The Mkll's first recalls were issued within months  of the car's launch, but as the earliest Mkllls are now nearing their third birthday, it seems this model's development  was a bit more thorough.