Ford Focus

It’s common, but huge supply makes Focus a bargain. Interior is well built, and as long as you do usual checks, TDCi is reliable.

Auto Express Car Reviews

November 2008

Like most people, I’ve always rated the Focus. I praised it to the hilt while judging the Auto Express Used Car Honours 2008 – and it won!

Some argue the Ford badge isn’t as desirable as German rivals. But again, your cash goes a long way, with this nearly new 2007 example of the top-of-the-range variant.

The Focus 1.8 TDCi Zetec has all the goodies you could hope for on a family car: ABS and EBD, sports suspension, alloys, front foglights, CD, loads of airbags and much, much more! I found this one with 17,000 miles for only £8,600 – a saving of £7,780 on its price new last year! There’s no need to worry about space, either, as the Focus has bags of room front and rear, plus a generous 385-litre load area.

It’s fun to drive, with active rear suspension giving great handling. The 137g/km CO2 output means new tax rules will barely affect you, and 54.3mpg fuel returns are impressive, too.