Ford Focus 2005 review
The boot is being put into the Ford Focus. The company is completing the range with a saloon.
Buyers in the market for a small saloon would be making a good choice with the Focus four-door. It has the same all-round ability and solid build quality found in the hatchback, although more discerning buyers may find its looks a little disappointing.
The boot is being put into the Ford Focus. With hatchback and estate variants already available, the company is completing the range with a new saloon. After relatively slow sales of the original four-door, hopes are high the newcomer will build on the strengths of the family hatch.
From the nose to the C-pillars, the saloon is identical to the five-door. The addition of the boot adds 146mm to its length, and visually it's similar to the larger Mondeo saloon.
The load area can swallow 526 litres of luggage, which is on a par with rivals such as the Renault M�gane, and the boot lip is usefully low, which makes for easy loading.
Behind the wheel, the saloon feels identical to other Focus versions. The ride is comfortable in town and at speed, while handling is the best in class, thanks to accurate steering and plenty of grip.
With a 2.0-litre TDCi diesel under the bonnet, performance and refinement are superb. Rear visibility is also fine, although the boot can't be seen from the driver's seat, making reversing tricky.
