Skip advert
Advertisement

New Ford Focus ST-Line Estate 2018 review

Ford Focus ST-Line Estate joins the all-new hatch in the line-up, and it could well be a class leader…

Overall Auto Express rating

4.5

How we review cars
Avg. savings
£2,484 off RRP*
Find your Ford Focus
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

While a run on UK roads proves a tough test for the new Focus Estate, this first drive suggests we may have a new class-leader on our hands. Attractive, spacious, comfortable and well-built, the Focus Estate already ticks the most important boxes – but it also offers the fun factor none of its rivals can quite match.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The conventional Focus hatchback is only part of Ford’s family car success story. The practical estate versions have also contributed to the two million Focus models sold in the UK since 1998.

Alongside the latest hatch, Ford is also launching an all-new Focus Estate. It costs £1,080 more than the equivalent five-door, is 290mm longer and a touch taller, too. Its wheelbase is identical, however, and front cabin passengers won’t notice any increase in interior volume – other than the rear window being slightly further from the rear-view mirror.

All-new Ford Focus 2018 review

Rear-seat passengers will notice the difference, though, with a little extra headroom. The real benefit is in luggage volume: the Focus Estate offers 608 litres with the rear seats in place, compared to 375 litres for the hatchback. With the seats folded there’s a similar improvement, with 1,653 litres of storage. Those figures are significantly greater than the old Focus wagon, and they’re bigger than those of the Volkswagen Golf Estate, too. You’ll still be able to pack more kit into a Skoda Octavia Estate, however.

Ford has managed to squeeze that volume into the car without resorting to boxy styling. The latest Focus isn’t quite perfect, but it’s more attractive than the car it replaces. The Estate is probably the pick of the current range in styling terms, too, particularly with the neat alloy wheels, rear spoiler and bodykit of ST-Line models.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Focus

2020 Ford

Focus

44,018 milesAutomaticPetrol1.0L

Cash £13,900
View Focus
Focus

2020 Ford

Focus

28,423 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £11,850
View Focus
Focus

2020 Ford

Focus

38,535 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £10,599
View Focus
Focus

2017 Ford

Focus

38,271 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £8,999
View Focus

It’s a similar story inside, where the new car takes a big step over its predecessor. The dashboard layout is intuitive and the new central touchscreen a big improvement over the slow, unresponsive screen in the old car. There’s good adjustment in the seats and steering wheel too, and while you’ll still find some scratchy plastics lower down, the Focus has definitely moved a few paces closer to cars like the Volkswagen Golf or Audi A3.

And dynamically, it’s right at the top of its class, too. You’d be hard-pressed to know you were driving an estate when you first thread the Focus down a twisty stretch of road - even driven back-to-back with the hatch you lose very little in terms of agility, grip or fun.

Estate models use a slightly revised suspension setup to their hatchback counterparts, but the end result is effectively the same. You’ll notice the identically precise, well-weighted steering, as well as the balanced and adjustable behaviour. In fact, no rival can match the Focus Estate for driver fun.

New Ford Focus diesel 2018 review

It rides well, too. The ST-Line is 10mm lower than other Focus models and is slightly firmer, as well – yet it brilliantly toes the line between compliance and tautness. It rarely feels troubled by rougher surfaces, and manages to resist roll in corners.

Ford’s 1.5-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost engine is as good here as it is in the lighter Fiesta ST, despite having less power. Responses are dulled below 2,000rpm, but past this point it pulls quickly and smoothly to its 6,000rpm power peak. At town speeds and on the motorway it’s as quiet as you’d want - and there’s relatively little wind or tyre noise either.

There’s load of different trims to choose from; the Focus Estate is also available as a luxurious Vignale variant, and will eventually be sold in rufty-tufty Active form. Throw in a wealth of equipment and safety technology, and it looks like the current class-leading Skoda Octavia Estate has a real fight on its hands.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Antony is a freelance motoring writer with more than 15 years of experience in everything from the latest wave of hybrid and electric vehicles, to sports cars, supercars and classics. You’ll find him covering a little of everything on Auto Express.

New & used car deals

Ford Focus

Ford Focus

RRP £20,955Avg. savings £2,484 off RRP*Used from £8,187
Vauxhall Astra

Vauxhall Astra

RRP £25,465Avg. savings £4,656 off RRP*Used from £14,188
Seat Leon

Seat Leon

RRP £24,125Avg. savings £5,279 off RRP*Used from £10,395
Cupra Leon

Cupra Leon

RRP £32,040Avg. savings £4,740 off RRP*Used from £20,600
* 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