Skip advert
Advertisement

Ford Focus Estate 1.6 TDCi Titanium

Do fresh looks and compact size give practical estate the edge?

As the blue oval’s compact family car, the Focus should be in its element in this test – but can it match its bigger and more versatile stablemates in the real world? With a practical estate car body and sharp new looks, the model is a stylish choice. Yet the Focus is also Ford’s biggest-selling machine, so it doesn’t have the wow factor of the Kuga, nor oddball appeal of the S-MAX.

Advertisement - Article continues below

In its favour, though, are compact proportions. Only the tall-riding Kuga is shorter than the Focus, and drivers used to small models will definitely prefer it to the big Mondeo and S-MAX.

The latter both have the potential to make parking in multi-storeys an ordeal because of their 4.77-metre-long bodies. Of our quartet, the Focus is also the narrowest so, once you’ve manoeuvred into a bay, getting in and out is less of a problem.

Lift the tailgate, and the Focus doesn’t sacrifice much space to its larger rivals, either. With the rear seats in place, there’s a 482-litre boot. That’s easily big enough to accommodate the weekly shopping and only 46 litres smaller than the supersized Mondeo’s capacity. Fold the seats for a 1,525-litre, wide, flat load area.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Qashqai

2018 Nissan

Qashqai

52,849 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £10,900
View Qashqai
5008

2022 Peugeot

5008

46,225 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £18,506
View 5008
Puma

2023 Ford

Puma

67,042 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £12,506
View Puma
EQC

2023 Mercedes

EQC

21,307 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £26,000
View EQC

For passengers, only the Kuga provides less rear room, yet tall adults can still fit in one behind the other in reasonable comfort in the Focus. The interior fittings might lack some of the polish and quality you’ll find elsewhere in our test, but the plastics are hard-wearing – essential in a family model.

Take to the road and the Focus is a talented and engaging car. It’s as adept at lugging you across country as it is capable of putting a smile on your face on the way to work. With a highly adjustable driving position and smooth ride, long-distance refinement is good. The 1.6-litre diesel is the smallest unit in our line-up, but doesn’t leave you feeling short-changed.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Against the clock the Focus took 11.1 seconds to sprint from 0-60mph, which ranks it behind its stablemates. However, the Mondeo was only two-tenths of a second quicker to complete the benchmark test, so there’s little between them. And the Focus really comes into its own at the pumps, with 38.8mpg fuel economy. Low CO2 emissions of only 119g/km also place it in the £35 road tax band, ensuring the Focus has the best running costs.

And you don’t have to go for expensive Titanium trim – the estate can be had for the lowest price here. It’s a frugal oil-burner and, on this evidence, a tough all-rounder to beat.

Details

Price: £18,945
Model tested: Focus Estate 1.6 TDCi Titanium
Chart position: 1
WHY: Is the top seller here the most sensible? The Focus Estate offers lots of space and low costs.

Economy

In Titanium trim, the Focus Estate will set you back only £200 more than the Mondeo ECOnetic – and you’ll quickly recoup this extra outlay. Firstly, you will save £85 on road tax, while insurance and maintenance are both cheaper here. It even trumps its economy-tuned big brother at the diesel pump with 38.8mpg. The only concern is its 35.5 per cent residual – the worst of our quartet, although the Mondeo will retain only 37.7 per cent.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £26,995Avg. savings £8,094 off RRP*Used from £13,199
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £2,721 off RRP*Used from £8,600
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,261 off RRP*Used from £13,211
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £13,895
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025