Skip advert
Advertisement

New Ford Focus Vignale Estate 2019 review

We like the new Ford Focus Estate and we like the new Focus Vignale, but does combining the two make it one of the best cars in the range?

Overall Auto Express rating

3.5

How we review cars
Avg. savings
£2,397 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

We love the Ford Focus Estate, and we rate the Vignale pretty highly. However, this car’s sluggish engine and lazy gearbox lets it down. If you’ve cash to splash, do it properly; the 1.5-litre petrol auto is a much better fit.

We already rate the new Ford Focus Estate among the very best family cars on sale, and following our first drive of the range-topping Focus Vignale, we declared it the most convincing posh Ford yet. So, does combining the two make this car here the best Focus to date?

Advertisement - Article continues below

It certainly isn’t short on appeal. The Vignale is just as practical and versatile as the standard Estate, with a big boot and cabin. The load bay measures 608 litres with the seats up, or 1,653 litres down; not far shy of the biggest cars in this class.

Best estate cars on sale

Standard kit includes LED lights, dual-zone climate control, a reversing camera and SYNC 3 with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The glorious Panorama roof (£995) floods the interior with light, but limits headroom.

Elsewhere, it looks and feels just like the hatch we tried last year. The thick leather chairs are comfortable, and the dashboard is solidly built, if not all that dissimilar to the conventional Focus. There are scratchy plastics lower down, but everything you touch feels like its built without cutting corners.

Speaking of corners, this is where the Focus Vignale sets itself apart from its rivals. Even as an Estate it drives sweetly, with well-weighted steering and tight body control. Tyre noise on the Vignale’s 18-inch wheels is still an issue, however.

But our biggest objection on this specific car is the engine and gearbox combination. We like the three-cylinder EcoBoost in the normal Focus, but mating it to the eight-speed auto makes the Estate feel sluggish – both from a standstill and on the move.

But while it fits in a Focus Zetec, or even a mid-spec Titanium, you expect more when spending this much on the leather-lined Vignale. The more powerful 180bhp 1.5-litre EcoBoost Auto is just £23 per month more on identical terms, and seems a smarter fit in this specific model. If push came to shove, that’s where our cash would go.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Deputy editor

Richard has been part of the team for over a decade. During this time he has covered a huge amount of news and reviews for Auto Express, as well as being the face of Carbuyer and DrivingElectric on Youtube. In his current role as deputy editor, he is now responsible for keeping our content flowing and managing our team of talented writers.

New & used car deals

Ford Focus

Ford Focus

RRP £20,955Avg. savings £2,397 off RRP*Used from £6,995
Vauxhall Astra

Vauxhall Astra

RRP £26,090Avg. savings £4,629 off RRP*Used from £13,400
KIA Ceed

KIA Ceed

RRP £19,965Used from £6,895
Ford Puma

Ford Puma

RRP £21,035Avg. savings £2,371 off RRP*Used from £10,576
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range
MG IM5 - Goodwood front

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range

The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up
News
10 Jul 2025
New MG Cyberster Black is a dark sign of things to come for the brand
Cyberster Black - front 3/4

New MG Cyberster Black is a dark sign of things to come for the brand

MG boss thinks special editions like this might be the ticket to keeping up demand for the electric sports car
News
10 Jul 2025
New Mazda CX-5 revealed with fresh looks, more space and far fewer buttons
Mazda CX-5 - front

New Mazda CX-5 revealed with fresh looks, more space and far fewer buttons

The Mazda CX-5 has been revolutionised to take on the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson
News
10 Jul 2025