Ford are making headlines at the moment. The new S-Max is probably still the benchmark for the keen driver’s seven-seat SUV, and the Fiesta is winning rave reviews. In fact, some are saying that the Fiesta ST is one of the all-time great hot hatches and will be talked about in future in the same breath as the Peugeot 205 1.9 GTI. Time will tell.
You can now even buy a right hand drive Ford Mustang in the UK, and you don’t even have to have a V8!
It was these thoughts in my mind that I approached my recent stint with the Ford Focus 1.6 Petrol EcoBoost. 182 bhp, 192 lb ft. Crikey it could move!
The build quality was very impressive, there were plenty of toys – nav, all round parking sensors – and a really modern and easy to use interior.
From the outside the Focus looks really cool too. I was very taken with its looks. My Octavia Scout looked far too frumpy parked up next to it!
Focuses have always handled well. This one perhaps not quite as well as some recent models, but easily well enough to keep up with and ahead of most of the similarly priced opposition. In fact, as you can probably tell, I thoroughly enjoyed it in almost every way. As a VAG group fan, I was very pleasantly surprised with the Focus.
In summary, I’d say the latest Focus is challenging the Mk 7 VW Golf as the best all-round car money can buy! Don’t buy a family hatchback without considering it.
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