For The Focus ST sounds great, has a flexible engine and fine high-speed handling. It keeps the practicality of the rest of the Focus range and is keenly priced.
Against It is a thirsty car - bank on 20mpg if you use the performance. It's not as sharp or as classy as the Golf GTI and has a poor turning circle.
You will enjoy driving it on a twisty road, if not having to pay the hefty fuel and tax bills.
The Focus range is so big that it really does provide everything from frugal runabouts to fire-breathing hot hatches, via practical estates and sexy coupe-cabriolets. These three- and five-door hatchbacks are the core of the range, however. The sheer number of used Focuses out there means that residual values aren’t strong, but the flipside is that you can get a big discount on the list price.
Entry-level models are a little short on power and kit, so we’d recommend moving up to Zetec trim if you can, because you’re then unlikely to have to add any optional extras.
Of the wide range of engines, the 1.6 TDCI is our pick. It’s flexible and refined, yet provides incredible fuel economy and emits very little CO2. The dearer diesel and petrol models push the price uncomfortably high, while the hot hatch ST model sounds great, but its five-cylinder engine is thirsty and it’s not as much fun as it should be.
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