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our test drives or view them all

Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Powershift Titanium auto

OWNERS of Ford Focus models are seeing red – but there’s no problem. Several times recently I’ve been asked: "Why does the main dash panel on my Focus glow red even after I’ve locked it?"

It’s nothing sinister – just a little electronic "style feature" built into the top mid-range best seller by Ford’s designers. The oblong panel should glow for no more than 10 minutes after you double-lock the car – longer still if you don’t lock the car.

This feature applies to all Focus models fitted with electronic dashboards. It was introduced in answer to a request from company car drivers some years ago to leave them with a mileage information display after they’d shut down the engine so they could make up their paperwork!

Now that’s a case of Ford listening to customers!

When I picked up the latest Focus 2.0 Duratorq TDCi Powershift automatic the glowing panel concerned me too – but it stayed lit for no more than 10 minutes after locking and draws so little current it’s not a threat to battery life.

The Powershift model is an interesting car. In Titanium guise it’s very well equipped and comes with a good sequential six-speed automatic transmission, alloys, central locking, front and side airbags, ABS, electronic stability control, alarm, immobiliser and power steering. It also gets powered mirrors and front windows, a split and fold rear seat and a superb Ford radio and CD system. It also comes with privacy glass – a sinister thing for any owner to want and far too dark on the Focus.

But for a truly luxurious finish you might want add a few toys – and that’s where the £20,045 Titanium gets pricey.

Leather costs £1650, sat-nav £750, cruise control £200, rear parking sensors £200, metallic £395, climate control £400 and an electric sunroof £500. That tots up to an expensive £24,000-plus – too much for a Focus. But if you are content with the basic Titanium package it is a good deal.

The five-door Focus is one of the best all-round family holdalls on the market – particularly in the updated guise that arrived early this year. Better trim and a quality feel has kept the Focus fresh and makes it a top contender alongside Volkswagen’s current Golf.

If turbodiesel is your thing, the 134bhp two-litre TDCi with standard DPF is a powerful member of Ford’s excellent oil-burning breed. But it’s not the most efficient.

There are far better diesels available in the Focus range with smaller capacities and lower emission levels.

The best of the oilers are undoubtedly the fine 1.6 litre Duratorq units – a TDCi that is lively and available in a variety of packages. Without doubt the most impressive and frugal is the outstanding ECOnetic 1.6 TDCi that costs £17,145 in five-door guise. This 90bhp version comes complete with energy-saving features, low weight, aerodynamic tuning, sports tuned suspension, 15-inch steel wheels and a PDF filter to get exhaust emissions as clean as it is possible to go with current technologies.

The ECOnetic Focus will average an amazing 65mpg and produces 115g/km of CO2. But if you want to combine the ECOnetic’s efficiency with a little bit more sparkle and some luxury, take a look at the 1.6 TDCi Titanium five-door that generates 110bhp from a chipped version of the ECOnetic power plant. It still manages an overall 62mpg, produces 119g/km of CO2 and costs £18,395.

Both 1.6 TDCi’s come as standard PDFs and a slick-changing five-speed manual transmission.

Confusingly you can also opt for a third five-door Focus TDCi – the £18,395 1.8 litre Zetec S. There’s nothing wrong with this “middle man” turbodiesel model apart from the fact that it does not have a PDF, produces just 5bhp more than the 110bhp 1.6, delivers much dirtier emissions at 137g/km and can average only 54mpg.

The Focus is a far better car than the new Mondeo. It’s cheaper, more compact, very practical, great to drive and not nearly as bulky as the flagship. At the same time it makes great use of interior space, has impressive standard safety features and a range of petrol and turbodiesel engines that will satisfy most needs. Body styles include three and five-doors, a saloon, a sporty ST range, attractive coupe-cabrio model and spacious estate.

No matter what your motoring needs there’s a very good chance Ford will be able to deliver it from the Focus family. It’s a sensible family holdall – and comes with Ford’s clever and simple Easyfuel capless filler system that prevents you accidentally topping up your car with the wrong juice. The acceptor fitted to diesel engined models will only accept a diesel nozzle or a narrower petrol nozzle if it’s petrol.

Despite the threat of the diesel/automatic combination blunting the driving experience I must say the Titanium Powershift was an enjoyable drive. There’s plenty of power for brisk overtaking that saw me get clear of the growing slow tailbacks that are becoming a daily feature of the dreadful A96.

The 4.3 metre long Focus handles brilliantly on its 2.64 metre wheelbase. Sure-footed and viceless front-wheel-drive make it an ideal family mount that’s light on the steering and offers good visibility all round.

Sweep into a corner too briskly and there’s a hint of safe understeer. And if you’re a little faster still the standard ESP cuts in to help you out of trouble. All family cars should be like this – undemanding, but fun.

The five-door Titanium has the same roomy body as the rest of the hatch family – a boot offering a useful 385 litres of space. Pity it’s flawed by a rather high sill though. But drop the split and fold rear seats flat and the Focus turns into a space ship with 1247 litres to swallow the family detritus we all need to carry from time to time.

If you are looking for best value in the Focus range, being petrol or diesel, three-door, five-door or estate version, the badge to look for is the Zetec. Well-equipped and with all of the basic attributes of the better specified Titanium it is priced from a modest £14,695 for a three-door with a 100bhp 1.6 petrol and tops out at £18,695 for a 2.0 TDCi six-speed manual estate with 134bhp and a PDF filter as standard.

Rating: 8/10

FINAL THOUGHT:

If you’re looking for fuel economy with a low emission level wrapped round a comfortable package, this luxuriously-appointed Focus is worth a close look. It’s not cheap, but you get a lot for your money. The new six-speed sequential automatic is a smooth changer and well-suited to the two-litre turbodiesel’s torque output – it’s a perfect combination for engine and the car and makes it a relaxing drive. But the cost factor is high. There are equally good-driving and frugal TDCi Focus models further down the range with excellent 1.6 turbodiesels. No matter what you choose you’ll be impressed by the latest incarnation of the Focus – it’s as good a drive as ever, well assembled and with a quality feel missing from the first generation. Best value lies in the Zetec trim level.

CAR FACTS – Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Powershift Titanium auto

• Price: £20,045
• Capacity: 1997cc
• Power: 134bhp (with DPF)
• 0-62mph: 9.6 seconds
  
• Maximum speed: 124mph
  
• Economy: Combined 48.6mpg; Urban 36.2mpg
  
• CO2 emissions: 154g/km
  
• ESP: Standard
• Insurance: Group 10