Best Compact Family Car

	As well as having a solid, classy interior, the latest Focus is still great on the road, with a superb blend of refinement and involvement

For a car that’s used to winning awards, it has taken the Focus a while to triumph in the Used Car Honours. Honda’s Civic has made this sector its own with four straight wins, but it was toppled by the big-selling Ford this year.

Last time round, there weren’t enough examples of the new Focus on the second-hand market for it to be considered, yet 12 months down the line it’s everywhere – and you could have one from around £6,000. The original created a stir when it replaced the Escort in 1998. And while the second-generation Focus hasn’t ignited passions in the same way, it’s still a tempting proposition.

Even at the end of its life, the previous car remained one of the class leaders, so the newcomer faced a difficult task. But Ford took on board criticism regarding cabin quality and boot space, so the latest model has a solid, classy interior, and its 364-litre load area is a big improvement.

It still excels on the road, too, balancing refinement and involvement superbly. The handling and ride ensure that while the Ford is a sensible option, it doesn’t skimp on fun. There is an array of engines, with a pair of great 1.6-litre units. And although the 98bhp petrol can return 42mpg, if you choose the slower 89bhp 1.6 TDCi diesel you can hit 60mpg.

Unless you pick lowly Studio trim, luxuries such as air-con are standard, while five-door models will set you back around £400 more than three-door variants. Ford isn’t renowned for its build quality, but a 19th place finish overall for the Focus in our Driver Power 2007 owner survey proves there’s more to the car than tidy handling and a decent cabin.

Models which didn’t make the shortlist in this crowded sector include the Toyota Prius and Volkswagen Golf. The hybrid offers significant savings for anyone who has to enter London’s Congestion Charge zone regularly, but it’s pricey to buy. And while the VW is classy, it’s an expensive choice, too.

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