2020 Ford Focus Estate ST-Line X 2.0 Ecoblue Automatic

2020 Ruben Mellaerts and Drive-My EN/UK

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

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)

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Additional Info
  • Year: 2020
  • Body: Wagon
  • Cd/Cx: 0.27
  • Type: Diesel
  • Battery: 48 volt
  • Engine: 2.0-litre L4
  • Fuelling: Direct injection
  • Aspirate: Turbo
  • Power: 148bhp @ 3,500rpm
  • Torque: 273lb ft @ 2,000rpm
  • Drive: FWD
  • Trnsms: 8-spd automatic
  • Weight: 1,559kg
  • Economy: 45.6- 49.6mpg
  • Speed: 127mph
  • 0-60mph: 9.5secs
  • Price: £35,450
  • Type: Diesel

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