FORD Focus     

For The Focus is the best in its class to drive

Against It has a firm low-speed ride

Verdict The Focus pretty much has it all

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What's it like?

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. The dash should serve as 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.

What are the 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 petrol, the 113bhp 1.6, returns 43.8 mpg on the combined cycle, while the 1.6 diesel gives 65.6mpg. Service and repair costs are good, too, and figures from warranty provider Warranty Direct 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.

What should I look out for?

The previous-generation Focus is renowned as a durable car, and the second generation is living up to that expectation. It’s still a little early to find out how the car will fare long-term, because most faults have been covered under warranty. Certainly initial reports from owners are predominantly positive. Most love the way the car drives, and are impressed with the car's quality. However, some owners have suffered engine issues, predominantly on the diesel models, and water leaks into the cabin. There have been a few recalls effecting the Focus, with the most important concerning a power steering fault, a rear wheel hub and the fuel return pipe, which could degrade and cause fuel leakage.

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