Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Ford Focus Estate review

The estate option adds another dimension to the fun-driving and family-friendly Ford Focus line-up

Overall Auto Express rating

4.5

How we review cars
RRP
£29,670 £40,455
Avg. savings
£2,794 off RRP*
  • Spacious
  • Stylish
  • Good fun to drive
  • Vignale models are pricey
  • Smallest engines feel sluggish
  • Some rivals are bigger
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
Advertisement

It’s a sector that’s lost out in recent years thanks to the trend for SUVs, but the Ford Focus Estate model is here to remind us that the original family-friendly format still has a lot to offer. More handsome and stylish than you might expect, the Focus Estate combines practical load-lugging ability with a fun-to-drive factor you’ll struggle to find in a top-heavy compact SUV or MPV.

Advertisement - Article continues below

With solid build quality, loads of efficient engine and gearbox options plus trim levels to suit every pocket, it’s only the fickle finger of fashion that stands between the Focus Estate and soaring sales.

About the Ford Focus Estate

The Ford Focus has been a staple of the European car market for twenty-odd years, and an estate variant has always been a part of its success story.

We’re now up to the Mk4 Ford Focus Estate, and the post-facelift version at that. In 2021 Ford refined its offering with sharpened looks, the latest SYNC4 infotainment system, a range of 48-volt mild-hybrid engines and some clever updates to the load area of the estate designed to make it even more user-friendly. 

You can buy a Focus as a regular five-door hatch if you don’t need the full load-lugging capacity of the estate model, but for just over £1,000 the boot-space upgrade from 375 litres to 575 litres will seem like a sound investment to many buyers.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The trim level range is the same as for the hatchback Focus with Trend opening proceedings followed by the popular Titanium models, sporty ST-Line and the Active spec. The Active cars feature a raised ride height and pseudo-SUV styling with protective cladding around the wheelarches. They are an effort to counter the lure of all those fashionable SUV options that have been stealing estate car sales in recent times.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Above the entry level Trend specification there is also the option to add the Vignale pack to your Ford Focus Estate. Vignale used to be a standalone trim level but no longer. The resulting Titanium Vignale, Active Vignale and ST-Line Vignale models give a more premium look and feel to the Focus with improved materials in the cabin and styling tweaks outside, including bigger wheels. All of which only leaves the hot hatch ST model to serve-up the Focus Estate’s most focused driving experience.

The engine range tops out with the four-cylinder, 276bhp 2.3-litre EcoBoost unit in the ST, but the main focus of the modern range is the more restrained three-cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost powerplant. This is available in a base 123bhp form with a six-speed manual gearbox or with 48-volt mHEV mild-hybrid technology and either 123bhp or 153bhp. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

With the hybrid engines there’s the choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed Powershift automatic transmissions, the latter being a DCT dual clutch arrangement. The only other option currently available is the four-cylinder 118bhp 1.5-litre EcoBlue diesel that comes exclusively with an eight-speed torque converter automatic controlled by a rotary selector instead of a lever.

Ford has always offered two different suspension set-ups with the Mk4 Focus with more powerful versions getting multi-link rear suspension and the lesser engined versions getting a torsen beam. These days, all the Focus Estates have the multi-link setup and the five-door hatches get the cruder option - with the exception of the Ford Focus ST hot hatch.

The SUVs may have taken over the car market but there’s still a lot of life left in the estate car sector, and the Focus Estate faces an array of highly competitive rivals. The list includes the Hyundai i30 Tourer, SEAT Leon Estate, Skoda Octavia Estate and the Volkswagen Golf Estate. These cars present a lower-riding alternative to mid-size SUVs like the Peugeot 3008, SEAT Ateca, Nissan Qashqai and Skoda Karoq.

For an alternative review of the Ford Focus Estate, visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk...

Skip advert
Advertisement

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    1.0 EcoBoost Hybrid mHEV Titanium 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • RRP
    £29,670
Select car

Most Economical

  • Name
    1.0 EcoBoost Hybrid mHEV Titanium 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • RRP
    £29,670
Select car

Fastest

  • Name
    2.3 EcoBoost ST 5dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Auto
  • RRP
    £40,455
Select car
Head of digital content

Steve looks after the Auto Express website; planning new content, growing online traffic and managing the web team. He’s been a motoring journalist, road tester and editor for over 20 years, contributing to titles including MSN Cars, Auto Trader, The Scotsman and The Wall Street Journal.

Our latest car deals

Ford Focus

Ford Focus

RRP £27,920Avg. savings £2,794 off RRP*Compare Offers
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £36,645Avg. savings £2,892 off RRP*Compare Offers
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £29,735Avg. savings £5,267 off RRP*Compare Offers
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,710Avg. savings £2,338 off RRP*Compare Offers
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

More on Focus Estate

Car Deal of the Day: Get this Ford Focus Estate for only £213 per month before it disappears from showrooms
Ford Focus estate

Car Deal of the Day: Get this Ford Focus Estate for only £213 per month before it disappears from showrooms

The Ford Focus Estate bows out in 2025, but our Deal of the Day for 19 October means you can bag one at minimal cost
News
19 Oct 2024
Ford Focus Active Estate: long-term test review
Ford Focus Active long termer final report - header

Ford Focus Active Estate: long-term test review

Final report: there’s much more to the Ford Focus Active Estate than the SUV-style additions
Long-term tests
15 Feb 2023
New Ford Focus Vignale Estate 2019 review
Ford Focus Vignale Estate - front

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?
Road tests
13 Feb 2019
New Ford Focus Estate ST-Line X 2019 review
Ford Focus Estate - front

New Ford Focus Estate ST-Line X 2019 review

Can the new Ford Focus Estate ST-Line X make the Focus Estate a class leader? We find out...
Road tests
23 Jan 2019
Ford Focus Estate vs Skoda Octavia Estate vs VW Golf Estate
ford focus estate vs skoda octavia estate vs vw golf estate header

Ford Focus Estate vs Skoda Octavia Estate vs VW Golf Estate

Not everyone wants an SUV, so we see if Ford’s practical new Focus Estate can chop down VW and Skoda rivals
Car group tests
21 Jan 2019
New Ford Focus Estate 2019 review
Ford Focus Estate - front

New Ford Focus Estate 2019 review

The new Ford Focus Estate is more spacious than ever before, but is it now a class leader?
Road tests
11 Dec 2018
New Ford Focus Active Estate caught on camera
Ford Focus Active Estate - front

New Ford Focus Active Estate caught on camera

Due on sale in 2019, the Ford Focus Active Estate has been spied testing with its 4x4-esque design elements
News
7 Sep 2018
New Ford Focus ST-Line Estate 2018 review
Ford Focus ST-Line Estate - front

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…
Road tests
29 Jun 2018
Ford Focus Estate (2011-2018) review

Ford Focus Estate (2011-2018) review

The Ford Focus Estate is practical and drives brilliantly, but isn't the best load-lugger out there
In-depth reviews
12 Feb 2016
Ford Focus Estate vs SEAT Leon ST & Peugeot 308 SW

Ford Focus Estate vs SEAT Leon ST & Peugeot 308 SW

Can Ford’s Focus Estate close the gap on the best load-lugging family cars? We find out as it meets the SEAT Leon ST & Peugeot 308 SW
Car group tests
22 Jan 2015
Ford Focus Estate 2014 review

Ford Focus Estate 2014 review

Updates have improved Ford Focus Estate's tech and efficiency, but we’re not sure about the boot
Road tests
12 Sep 2014
Skip advert
Advertisement
Ford Focus Edge ECOnetic 88g/km estate review
Ford Focus Estate Edge Econetic 88g 2013 front tracking

Ford Focus Edge ECOnetic 88g/km estate review

This new Ford Focus Estate is one of the greenest estate cars out there, and it drives well too
Road tests
21 Oct 2013
Ford Focus Estate: Third report
Ford Focus Estate

Ford Focus Estate: Third report

A specialist spring clean takes the winter dirt off our long-term Focus Estate
Long-term tests
2 Apr 2013
Ford Focus Estate: Second report
Ford Focus Estate front static header

Ford Focus Estate: Second report

Only a trained ear can detect the three-cylinder engine of our EcoBoost car
Long-term tests
14 Jan 2013
Ford Focus Estate: First report
Ford Focus Estate front static

Ford Focus Estate: First report

The efficient Ford Focus Estate 1.0-litre EcoBoost joins our fleet
Long-term tests
7 Nov 2012
Ford’s lightweight future
Ford Focus prototype carbon fibre bonnet

Ford’s lightweight future

Ford has developed a carbon-fibre bonnet for the Focus, which cuts weight and boosts efficiency
News
9 Oct 2012
Ford Focus 1.6 EcoBoost Zetec S Estate
Ford Focus 1.6 EcoBoost Zetec S Estate front action

Ford Focus 1.6 EcoBoost Zetec S Estate

Ford Focus Estate gets a sporty makeover with Zetec S trim and a more powerful EcoBoost petrol engine
Road tests
2 Aug 2012
Ford Focus Estate
Ford Focus Estate

Ford Focus Estate

It's bigger but is it better? We test the estate version of the new Ford Focus in 177bhp EcoBoost trim
Road tests
3 Jun 2011