THE Ford Focus has to be one of the most rewarding family hatchbacks to drive that money can buy.
That’s especially the case if you opt for it in high-end, sporty ST-Line X Edition specification with a mild-hybrid EcoBoost petrol engine to power it along.
I’ve recently been testing just such a machine from the blue oval badge marque and felt it ticked so many boxes, with dynamic looks, loads of on-board goodies and a pleasing performance.
The Focus in this guise has instant kerbside appeal thanks to the racy bodystyling kit that is part of the package.
This includes menacing black upper and lower grilles framed by striking fog light housings, pronounced air intakes, and sleek headlights.
Side on, sharp creases are enhanced by pronounced sills and you can’t help but notice the 18in black and silver alloys with red brake calipers.
The rear doesn’t disappoint, either, with a big body-coloured upper spoiler, sizeable twin tailpipes and a large diffuser.
The cabin is just as sporty, with a sculpted, flat-bottomed steering wheel, alloy pedals and chunky aluminium gear knob.
The partial faux-leather upholstery features masses of red stitching, while carbon-fibre effect finishing and a dark headliner complete the look.
This is a hatchback with good room for four adults or a young family of five and 341 to 1320 load capacity should cater for most families’ needs.
There are plenty of practical storage spaces on board and a decent build quality includes soft-touch finishing where you want it, including centre console knee pads.
Ford never ceases to amaze me for the levels of equipment you get for the money – my test car costs from £27,155 on the road.
Families will love the Ford SYNC 3 infotainment system featuring a prominent, three-way split, eight-inch touchscreen so you can see the map, music and phone details at once.
The set-up includes on-board wi-fi for up to 10 devices, intelligent sat nav with live traffic updates, an automatic emergency assistance call function and a wireless charging pad.
I also appreciated the fully digital 12.3in instrument cluster, which has a glowing start-up graphic and changes appearance depending on the driving mode – more of which later.
Other creature comforts and driver aids include heated front seats and steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, auto LED lights and rain-sensing wipers.
Then there are the likes of cruise control with speed limiter, front and rear parking sensors, keyless entry and start, a collision avoidance system with autonomous emergency braking and lane-keep assist.
On top of this is the driver enjoyment offered by this particular Focus, which has a sports-tuned suspension for a more connected feel to the road.
Power comes from Ford’s three-cylinder EcoBoost 1.0-litre petrol engine, mated to a satisfying six-speed manual gearbox, and mild hybrid technology that works seamlessly alongside it.
The hybrid gubbins consists of a small electric motor and 48-volt battery to boost the engine when needed, while energy created during driving or braking recharges the battery.
Three driving modes selected by a simple push of a button – normal, eco and sport – make a noticeable difference.
So you can choose to make the most of the fuel economy or enjoy a more peppy performance from the 155PS powertrain, with a top speed of 131mph and 62mph coming up in just 9.2 seconds.
The steering feedback is top-notch and the car is a delight whether manoeuvring through town traffic or negotiating challenging country roads.
And the thrum of the three-pot engine is also pleasing when you press on, while the brakes respond smoothly and efficiently.
This hybrid powertrain also brings other benefits, with an average mpg of 52.3 and CO2 emissions of just 122g/km.
Ford certainly knows how to make cars that will please family motorists for all sorts of reasons.
Factfile:
- Model: Ford Focus ST-Line X Edition 1.0T EcoBoost Hybrid 155PS
- Engine: 1.0-litre petrol/electric mild hybrid
- Power: 155PS
- Top speed: 131mph
- 0-62mph: 9.2 seconds
- Average mpg: 52.3
- CO2 emissions: 122g/km
- Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles
- Price: £27,155
