Well, that year has gone very fast, as it only seems like yesterday that I was taking delivery of my bright blue Focus. I’m really going to miss it when it goes.
The past few weeks of running our long-term Focus has been difficult, and that’s because I have been itching to get behind the wheel. I love driving, and throughout this pandemic, it hasn’t been easy resisting the temptation to just go for a spin around the block. Lockdown means lockdown, and aside from essential travel to the supermarket and for exercise, we’re all cooped up indoors. And as I’m rated as a ‘higher risk’ due to the fact that I lost my spleen in a nasty car accident back in 2003, I’ve been self-isolating and haven’t been out any further than the garden.
2020 Ford Focus Estate ST-Line X 2.0 Ecoblue Automatic
Compared to the Focus that came before it, this fourth-generation car has really upped its game, both visually and in ability. While some road testers have said that it doesn’t quite feel as sharp as its predecessor, I have to say that I haven’t noticed any shortcomings. In fact, far from it, as our 148bhp 2.0-litre EcoBlue edition has a generous amount of torque for swift overtakes, the steering is responsive, and the chassis feels nimble and agile. There’s a planted feel to the way that the Focus goes about its day-to-day business, and ride comfort is phenomenal, even with the 19-inch alloy wheels that come as standard on our ST-Line X specification car. The eight-speed automatic transmissions swaps ratios smoothly and cleanly, and although we still can’t get fully used to the rotary dial on the console, instead of a proper gear lever, it all works slickly.
The cabin of the Focus is roomier than before.
In its predecessor, taller occupants may have been wanting more space, but there’s none of that in the latest car. I have the driver’s seat in the furthest back position, and yet I can still sit behind myself. The design of the interior is neat and stylish, and while many have criticised the position of the touchscreen and labelling it as an afterthought, in daily use it’s actually well positioned, and the display is within your eye-line, meaning you don’t have to take your eyes off the road for very long. The sports seats have a huggy nature, keeping you in place when hustling along a country lane. I love the heated steering wheel in the winter months, as it’s a quick way of getting warm when stepping into a frozen car. Ford was the pioneer of the heated front windscreen, way back in 1985 on the executive-class Granada, and ever since has saved owners the need to get ice scrapers out in order to clear Jack Frost’s best work. Coupled with heated seats, our Focus has it covered in the winter months to get moving quickly and warm through its occupants. One of the main reasons for buying an estate is the loadbay, and the Focus delivers lots of space in a relatively compact footprint.
With all of the seats in use, there’s 575 litres of cargo capacity, which compares well to rivals like the Megane and Astra, however, most of the Focus’ other competitors offer more capacity, particularly when the rear seats are folded down. That said, I’ve never found the Focus to be left wanting, and it has swallowed up all kinds of paraphernalia, including a teenagers’ bike, and more visits to DIY stores and recycling centres than is strictly necessary. The seats fold down easily thanks to a pair of levers close to the boot opening. The sill is quite low, too, so you don’t have to have won an iron man competition, just to load items into the back, like you would with an SUV.
As I wave goodbye to my Focus estate after a year on the Robertson driveway, would I recommend buyers to choose one? Like a shot, for definite, however, I’m not sure that I would spend out the additional cash on some of the options that came fitted to my Focus. In fact, I’ve not only recommended this Focus, my brother and sister-in-law have purchased an identical looking Focus Estate ST-Line X in the same colour, but with the 1.5-litre diesel engine in place of our 2.0. There’s no greater endorsement than that!
WHAT’S HOT +
The Focus puts the sexiness back into estate cars.
WHAT’S NOT –
While the engine is made in Dagenham, Essex, it’s a shame that Ford no longer builds any entire cars here in the UK.
SPECIFICATIONS
Price (new) | £29,355 Price (now) | £30,025
Price (as tested) | £35,450
Main dealer trade in price | £18,200
Main dealer forecourt sale price | £20,190
Colour | Desert Island Blue
Built in | Saarlouis, Germany
Codename | C519E Platform | Global C
Bodystyle | 5-door estate, 5-seats
Powerplant | 1,996cc, 4-cylinder, 16-valve, turbo diesel
Transmission | 8-speed automatic
Layout | Front-wheel-drive
Stop-start | Yes SCR | Yes
Max power | 148bhp @ 3,500rpm
Max torque | 273lb ft @ 2,000rpm
Top speed | 127mph 0-62mph | 9.5secs
CO2 emissions (NEDC correlated) | 122g/km (Euro-6d Temp)
Economy (WLTP combined) | 45.6- 49.6mpg
Economy (On test) | 39.8mpg
Fuel tank size | 47 litres
Range | 621 miles
Insurance group | 18 BIK rate | 33%
Size (length/width with mirrors) | 4,667/1,979mm
Boot space (min/max) | 575/1,620 litres
Kerb weight | 1,559kg
Max towing weight | 1,600kg
Euro NCAP test rating |
Date arrived | 26th April 2019
Costs | £20 (AdBlue) Faults | None
STANDARD EQUIPMENT
18-inch alloy wheels with Michelin
Pilot Sport 3 235/40 R18 tyres and
space saver spare wheel
60/40 split/fold rear seats
Alarm system
Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and
Bluetooth smartphone compatibility
Anti-lock brakes and brake assist
Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
Automatic headlights
Autonomous emergency braking system
with pedestrian and cyclist detection
Cruise control and speed limiter
DAB radio with 8-inch touchscreen,
6-speakers, 2 USB sockets, voice
control and steering wheel controls
Drive mode selector
Driver, passenger, side and head
airbags with passenger side
de-activation switch
Dual-zone climate control
Electric and heated mirrors with
power folding
Electric driver’s seat
Electric park brake
Electric windows front and rear
Electronic stability programme
Heated front seats
Heated front windscreen
Hill start assist
ISOFIX child seat safety fasteners for
rear outer chairs
Keyless start
Lane keeping assist
Leather and cloth upholstery
Leather flat-bottomed steering wheel
LED daytime running lights
LED front fog lights with cornering
functionality
Metal pedals MyKey
Navigation system
Parking sensors front and rear
Partial electric front seats
Rain sensing wipers
Rear privacy glass
Remote central locking Roof rails
Sports body kit
Sports suspension
Traction control Trailer sway control
Tyre pressure monitors
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT FITTED TO TEST CAR
Adaptive front lighting system (£1,050)
B&O audio system with 360-degree sound and 10 speakers (£550)
Blind spot monitor with cross traffic alert and braking (£400)
Convenience pack – rear wide-view camera, door edge protectors, active park assist 2 (£500)
Driver assistance pack – traffic sign recognition, auto high beam, adaptive cruise control, lane centring assist and stop and go (£500)
Exclusive body colour – Desert Island
Blue (£700)
Hands-free tailgate (£600)
Head-up display (£400)
Heated steering wheel (£150)
Keyless entry (£250)
Openable panorama roof (£995)
