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Ford Focus Estate

It's bigger but is it better? We test the estate version of the new Ford Focus in 177bhp EcoBoost trim

Ford Focus Estate

By Thomas Geiger

June 2011

The Ford Focus family is growing in more ways than one. This is the new estate, which joins the five-door hatch in the line-up – and the extra dimensions mean it adds even more practicality to the already impressive package.

 

Ford has confirmed there will be no three-door, so it expects the estate to mop up 15 per cent of Focus sales in the UK, and 30 per cent in Europe. It commands a £1,100 premium over the equivalent hatch, but is it worthy of the price hike?

The wheelbase is exactly the same, at 2,648mm, so rear leg and headroom are identical. But the load carrier is 198mm longer, at 4,556mm, and it’s this that adds the extra boot space. With the rear seats in place, there’s 476 litres to play with – that’s 24 litres less than in the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer. Fold them, and you get a completely flat, 1,502-litre space. Thanks 
to a more inclined suspension layout, the floor is as low as 
possible, and the load area 
can accommodate objects up 
to 119mm wider than the hatch.

As you’d expect, an array of options helps you maximise this practicality. They include mats to protect the carpet, luggage nets to hold your shopping in place and a dog guard. Polished 
aluminium roof rails are 
also fitted as standard.

While the hatch’s styling 
has become a contentious issue, the chunky wheelarches, angular grille and bold headlights have been translated well into the estate. To ensure the vertical 
rear end doesn’t appear too mundane, a spoiler has been neatly integrated at the top.

Our car is one of the range’s top performers, with its 179bhp direct-injection EcoBoost turbo engine. The unit is incredibly smooth, with huge mid-range punch. Most of the time it barely seems turbocharged, such is the urgency of the throttle response. And because the estate weighs only 24kg more than 
the hatch, its acceleration feels identical from behind the wheel, even though the official claimed 0-62mph time is two-tenths slower, at 8.1 seconds.

The six-speed manual 
gearbox is a slick as ever, while ride and refinement are excellent, which makes this Focus feel more grown-up and marginally less fun than the version it replaces. This is a criticism 
that’s been levelled at the 
hatch already, although in 
the more family oriented 
estate it’s a plus point.

The engine line-up is the 
same as for the five-door, which means a wide range of petrol and diesel options. All 1.6 TDCi and 1.6 EcoBoost units feature stop-start as standard, with the most efficient oil-burner putting out only 109g/km of CO2.

While the Focus estate is already on sale in the UK, this 179bhp EcoBoost model doesn’t arrive until November. And when it does, it will be badged Zetec S. That means a bodykit, bigger wheels and firmer suspension will all come as standard.

For an alternative review of the latest Ford Focus Estate visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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6 Comments

Boot not big enough

If you're paying the premium for the estate, its because you want a big boot. Ford should have increased the overhang more.
1,502ltr space is considerably less than my Kia Ceed SW (same sector) at 1,664 ltrs. The new Focus has some nice technology, but very bland styling.

By mpwox11 on 7 June, 2011, 8:12am

No Mk1

I'm sorry, in my opinion, this is not a patch on the Mk1 Focus design. The front is just not coherent and the dashboard, whilst being very user friendly, looks like it's been copied from an 1980's ghettoblaster.

By hsbcgeoff on 7 June, 2011, 8:16am

@hsbcgeoff: "The front is just not coherent and the dashboard, whilst being very user friendly, looks like it's been copied from an 1980's ghettoblaster."

Not so much ghetto-blaster as Transformers -- front lamps, rear cluster but more so the central section of the dash is inspired by Transformers movie.

By Salimpatel on 7 June, 2011, 1:18pm

overhangs and numbers of doors

mpwox11 is spot on about overhangs; when will this obsession with curtailed rears and limited luggage compartments end?

As to the Focus itself: no three-door - good news! no four-door - more bad news!

By DerekGBevan on 9 June, 2011, 9:08am

No 3 door?

So, has Ford finally realised that the 3 door Focus has never been different enough to a 5 door to be a big seller?

As to no 4 door, shame.

By dastardly01 on 13 June, 2011, 11:49am

Why no sportier 3 dr?

Ford are missing a trick by not developing a sportier looking 3dr as Vauxhall and Renault do. Also no convertible, although looking at the styling of the previous Focus cc, it's probably for the best. Ford's stylists are an unpredictable bunch.....the Fiesta (world car) is spot on, yet while the new Focus is more interesting to look at than the previous model, it should have been a bit more adventurous like the Mk1 Focus (although the estate and saloon versions were diabolical). The new C-Max is ok for a small people carrier but the Grand version is an absolute abomination. It follows the next generation Fiesta will be dull as ditchwater as Ford seem incapable of progressing their more adventurous designs (Sierra to Mondeo and Focus Mk1 to Mk2).

By erly5 on 19 June, 2011, 10:10pm

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FIRST OPINION

    Good looking, very spacious and fun to drive, the new Focus Estate is a fine addition to the range. It’s not clever like the C-MAX MPV – the rear seats simply fold flat to increase boot space – but it is big. And this simple, grown-up, useful and comfortable car will be a huge hit. Our model’s flagship EcoBoost engine is a peach, but it’s pricey – so the sweet spot will be lower-powered 1.6-litre petrol and diesel versions.

 

AT A GLANCE

    Price: £23,000 (est)
    Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl turbo
    Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
    Power/torque: 179bhp/240Nm
    0-62mph: 8.1 seconds
    Top speed: 138mph
    Econ/CO2: 47mpg/139g/km
    Equipment: Bluetooth connectivity, climate control, cruise control, rear parking sensors, leather seats, alloy wheels, stop-start, park assist
    On sale: November
     
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