Ford Focus Estate (2014 – 2018) Review

Ford Focus Estate (2014 – 2018) At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
For those who need a capable all-round car that is both family-friendly and enjoyable to drive, the Ford Focus Estate is a good bet – but competition is stiff.

+Broad range of engines, practical load area, good to drive.

-Load area not as large as in Golf or Octavia, higher trim grades are expensive.

Insurance Groups are between 10–26
On average it achieves 73% of the official MPG figure

The Ford Focus Estate is one of the key players in the compact estate market. It might not be as dominant as the hatchback, but it is still a crucial contender in Ford’s battle with the likes of the Volkswagen Golf Estate, Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer and the Skoda Octavia Estate. It also brings the key plus points from the hatchback, namely that it is arguably the best in class in terms of the driving experience. Add to that a decent amount of space for passengers and luggage, and the Focus Estate is worthy of careful consideration as one of the best compact estates in the segment.

The Ford Focus Estate takes all of the traits of the smaller hatchback model but adds a dose of extra practicality thanks to a large, flat boot with a wide-opening tailgate. It’s good to drive, affordable to run and is available with some of the best modern safety technology, making it a great choice for a growing family.

Boot space in the estate is up from 316 litres in the hatchback to 476 litres with the seats in place, but that can be expanded to a hefty 1,502 litres if you fold the rear seats down. The load area is wide and flat, and you get handy features like lashing eyes and a 12V power outlet, but in terms of outright volume it lags a little behind the Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia.

That’s not to say the Focus Estate is small though. Far from it, the load area is more than capable of swallowing up large boxes, big suitcases or sacks of rubbish for the tip, so unless you absolutely have to have the biggest boot space available, you shouldn’t rule it out on this alone. Besides, the Focus Estate makes up for its space deficit with some very impressive handling – it’s one of the most enjoyable cars in its class.

The steering is very nicely weighted and gives good feedback, plus there is plenty of grip. Through corners the Focus Estate feels almost as balanced and as nimble as the hatchback. Despite there being little in the way of body roll, it rides well over most surfaces. Things only get slightly uncomfortable over very rough or potholed roads, but for the most part the balance between ride and handling is first rate.

There are lots of engines to choose from, including the impressive 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol with 100PS or 125PS outputs and a 1.5-litre Ecoboost with 150PS or 182PS. The car suits a diesel engine best if you are planning to carry heavy loads on a regular basis - thankfully there are plenty to choose from, with outputs ranging from 95PS to 185PS in the hot ST.

The trim range is broad and even basic Style models get air conditioning, a misfuelling prevention system, Bluetooth and USB connectivity. Upper trim levels gain luxuries like a reversing camera, keyless start, cruise control, automated parking and the improved Sync 2 infotainment system, although the price does start to rise when you get to the top of the range models.

The SEAT Leon ST is more nicely finished and as good to drive, while the Skoda Octavia estate is more practical. Even so, there is a lot to like about the Ford and it's an ideal family estate.

Ford Focus Estate (2014 – 2018) handling and engines

Driving Rating
Regardless of engine, the Focus Estate is a good car to drive. The steering gives a decent level of feedback and is very nicely weighted, as are the pedals and gear change

Ford Focus Estate (2014 – 2018): Handling and ride quality

Through corners the Focus Estate can be either relaxing and easy or involving and fun, thanks to well-judged suspension that is comfortable yet keeps body roll in check.

Those who value enjoyment over comfort can opt for a Zetec S model, which gets a slightly stiffer and sportier suspension set up.

There is also a much more driver-focused ST model on offer with performance to match its handling. ST models get either a 250PS petrol or a 185PS diesel engine, both of which give swift 0-62mph times of just over eight seconds.

Ford Focus Estate (2014 – 2018): Engines

The Ford Focus Estate has a broad engine range, as is typical for Ford models. There are six petrol engines with outputs ranging from 100PS to 250PS in the hot ST, plus there are seven diesel options ranging from 95PS to 185PS. The latter, again, is available in the high-performance ST variant.

The basic petrol is an ageing 1.6-litre Duratec and best avoided – the 1.0-litre Ecoboost is a better bet in either 100PS or 125PS outputs.

These are fine for drivers who don’t tend to drive their car fully laden, but if you regularly tow trailers or stack the boot to the roof the more powerful 1.5-litre Ecoboost engines, with 150PS or 182PS outputs, are better.

And even better still are the diesel options. The 2.0-litre TDCi with 150PS makes light work of towing, thanks to peak torque of 370Nm. But for most, the lesser 1.5-litre diesel with 95PS, 105PS or 120PS is the perfect choice for the Focus Estate. It blends good everyday performance with impressive economy and low CO2 emissions.

In 105PS Econetic form the 1.5-litre TDCi is officially capable of 83.1mpg, with emissions of 88g/km. However we’d go for the more powerful 120PS 1.5-litre TDCi. It is free to tax, yet it’s perfectly capable of hauling along a Focus Estate even when loaded, with relatively little noise entering the cabin and enough torque to make light work of motorway slip roads or long distance driving.

Ford Focus Estate (2014 – 2018): Safety

Euro NCAP tested the Ford Focus in 2012 when this generation model was first launched and was awarded an impressive five star overall rating, with the 92 per cent for adult protection being a particularly high score. Child protection was given an 82 per cent score, with pedestrian mitigation at 72 per cent and safety assist at 71 per cent, a strong performance in all categories.

Available as an option on lesser models but standard on Titanium and Titanium X models is Active City Stop, Ford’s name for autonomous emergency braking, which is a big boost for active safety.

Further optional extras include traffic sign recognition and enhanced parking systems, including an automated system that is able to park the car automatically in parallel or bay parkin

Ford Focus Estate (2014 – 2018): Towing

Towing capacity for the Focus Estate depends both on the engine choice and the gearbox, ranging from 650kg unbraked and just 700kg braked for the 1.6-litre petrol Duratec manual up to 735kg unbraked and 1500kg braked for the 2.0-litre diesel models.

Engine MPG 0-62 CO2
1.0 EcoBoost 100 59 mpg 12.7 s 109 g/km
1.0 EcoBoost 125 59 mpg 11.2 s 110 g/km
1.0 EcoBoost 125 Automatic 51 mpg 12.2 s 125 g/km
1.0 EcoBoost 140 57 mpg 10.6 s 114 g/km
1.5 EcoBoost 150 50 mpg 9.1 s 128 g/km
1.5 EcoBoost 150 Automatic 46 mpg 9.4 s 140 g/km
1.5 EcoBoost 182 50 mpg 8.8 s 128 g/km
1.5 EcoBoost 182 Automatic 46 mpg 8.8 s 140 g/km
1.5 TDCi 105 ECOnetic 83 mpg 12.1 s 88 g/km
1.5 TDCi 120 74 mpg 10.7 s 98–99 g/km
1.5 TDCi 120 Powershift 74 mpg 11.0 s 99–109 g/km
1.5 TDCi 150 71 mpg 9.0 s 105 g/km
1.5 TDCi 150 Powershift 64 mpg 8.9 s 115 g/km
1.5 TDCi 95 74 mpg 12.2 s 98–99 g/km
1.6 47 mpg 12.5 s 139 g/km
1.6 Powershift 45 mpg 11.9 s 149 g/km
1.6 PowerShift 45 mpg 11.9 s 146–149 g/km
1.6 TDCi 115 67–74 mpg 10.8–12.2 s 98–109 g/km
1.6 TDCi 95 47–67 mpg 12.5 s 109–136 g/km
2.0 TDCi 150 71 mpg 9.0 s 105 g/km
2.0 TDCi 150 Powershift 64 mpg 8.9 s 115 g/km

Real MPG average for the Ford Focus Estate (2014 – 2018)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

73%

Real MPG

29–68 mpg

MPGs submitted

258

Ford Focus Estate (2014 – 2018) interior

Interior Rating
It might not match other estates for outright volume, but there is still plenty of practical space. With the seats folded the load area is completely flat, which makes loading and unloading very easy.
Dimensions
Length 4556–4560 mm
Width 2010 mm
Height 1484–1505 mm
Wheelbase 2640–2649 mm

Full specifications

Ford Focus Estate (2014 – 2018): Practicality

Versus a Focus hatchback, the Estate variant has an additional 160 litres of load space with the rear seats in place (472 litres in total). With the rear seats folded the load capacity rises to 1502 litres, which is more than enough for most typical estate car jobs like airport runs or camping holidays. That said, it is some way behind rivals like the Skoda Octavia, which has a maximum capacity of 1740 litres.

There is also a 12V outlet for keeping things charged in the back plus lashing eyes to keep heavy items from sliding around. Aside from the larger boot, the Focus Estate is fundamentally the same as the hatchback. That means there is a fairly spacious back row with room for adults and a much improved cabin up front.

Ford Focus Estate (2014 – 2018): Quality and finish

Material quality is good, with soft touch plastics on the dashboard and durable plastics elsewhere, plus there is a neat centre stack in place of the mess of buttons on the 2011-2014 model.

The important touch points are good quality and soft underneath your fingers; leather on the steering wheel helps here, but there’s also a lot of grey and black in the cabin and you don’t have to venture too far to find harder plastics that are less appealing. It’s never going to be as plus as a Volkswagen Golf, but it’s broadly on a par with the rest of the class.

Ford Focus Estate (2014 – 2018): Infotainment

Basic versions still get a good infotainment provision with DAB, USB and AUX input as well as Bluetooth for telephone and audio streaming. The display screen on lower-spec models is quite small and requires quite a bit of button prodding to navigate, but otherwise it’s a fine system.

Top Titanium and Titanium X trim levels get the latest Ford touchscreen system, called Sync 2. This is a clear and generally user-friendly system, though some of the on-screen text can be a little small.

Thankfully it responds better than most infotainment systems when it comes to voice commands, so it lets drivers keep their eyes on the road.

Ford Focus Estate (2014 – 2018) value for money

Value for Money Rating
Thanks to a range of (mostly) modern engines the Focus Estate is capable of impressive fuel consumption, although the official figures are from the more generous NEDC era.

Ford Focus Estate (2014 – 2018): Prices

The third-generation Ford Focus was replaced in 2018, so if you’re set on a Focus Estate from this era then you need to look at a used example. The good news is that most generations of Focus were very popular, so you should be able to find plenty of examples at a range of price points.

We had a look in the classified ads and found lots to choose from, with several examples from late in the production run which are frequently the best of the bunch. We found a 1.0-litre EcoBoost in sporty ST-Line trim with under 20,000 miles for less than £13,500.

As for the earliest examples, these are now well into bargain territory. The earliest example we found from 2014 still only had 50,000 miles on the clock, and was a 1.6-litre Powershift automatic in Zetec trim at just over £7000. A little more money would get you a smart TDCi model in high-spec Titanium trim for just over £7500 too.

 

Ford Focus Estate (2014 – 2018): Running Costs

The 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrols claim 58mpg and 51mpg respectively for the 105PS and 125PS versions, so as long as you’re sensible with the accelerator you should be able to get 40mpg on a regular basis.

Even the bigger 1.5-litre EcoBoost claims up to 50mpg for the 150PS version, so you can have the performance and still creep into 40mpg territory.

It’s the diesels that steal the headlines though, with the most frugal 1.5-litre TDCi Econetic claiming aremarkable 83mpg combined. You’ll do well to hit that on a regular basis, but you can expect 60mpg and more with relative ease, even 70mpg if you try hard.

It might be a mid-sized car with the option of relatively powerful engines, but a combination of low repair costs and good security systems contribute to the Focus Estate featuring relatively low down on the insurance group ratings. Remarkably, the 1.6-litre petrol drops into group 6 - lower than some city cars, although this is not the engine of choice.

The 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrols are around group 11 and the 1.5-litre diesels only climb as high as group 16, and even the top 2.0-litre diesel squeezes under group 20.

 

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Ford Focus Estate (2014 – 2018) models and specs

Style models come with roof rails, air conditioning, Easy-Fuel misfuelling prevention, hill start assist, electric front windows, 16-inch steel wheels, DAB radio, AUX in, USB in and Bluetooth connectivity.

Zetec trim adds 16-inch alloy wheels, Quickclear windscreen, heated door mirrors and front fog lights.

Zetec S trim adds 17-inch alloy wheels, styling kit, sports pedals, sports suspension, keyless start, LED running and rear lights.

Titanium trim comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, SYNC2 touchscreen, active city stop, auto lights, auto wipers, an auto-dimming rear view mirror, rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate control plus cruise control with speed limiter.

Titanium X adds 17-inch alloy wheels, enhanced park assist, with front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, xenon headlights, part-leather seats, heated front seats, power-operated driver’s seat along with LED ambient lighting.

Dimensions
Length 4556–4560 mm
Width 2010 mm
Height 1484–1505 mm
Wheelbase 2640–2649 mm
Miscellaneous
Kerb Weight 1300–1471 kg
Boot Space 476–1502 L
Warranty 3 years / 60000 miles
Servicing 12500 miles
Costs
List Price £17,545–£28,490
Insurance Groups 10–26
Road Tax Bands A–F
Official MPG 44.8–83.1 mpg
Euro NCAP Safety Ratings
Adult -
Child -
Pedestrian -
Overall 5

On sale until November 2018

Estate
Version List Price MPG 0-62
1.0T 100 Titanium EcoBoost 5dr £22,640 58.9 mpg 12.7 s
1.0T 100 Titanium X EcoBoost 5dr £24,640 58.9 mpg 12.7 s
1.0T 100 Zetec Edition EcoBoost 5dr £21,240 58.9 mpg 12.7 s
1.0T 125 St-Line EcoBoost Auto 5dr £24,160 51.4 mpg 12.2 s
1.0T 125 St-Line X EcoBoost Auto 5dr £25,560 51.4 mpg 12.2 s
1.0T 125 Titanium EcoBoost 5dr £23,140 58.9 mpg 11.2 s
1.0T 125 Titanium EcoBoost Auto 5dr £24,410 51.4 mpg 12.2 s
1.0T 125 Titanium X EcoBoost 5dr £25,140 58.9 mpg 11.2 s
1.0T 125 Titanium X EcoBoost Auto 5dr £26,410 51.4 mpg 12.2 s
1.0T 125 Zetec Edition EcoBoost 5dr £21,740 58.9 mpg 11.2 s
1.0T 125 Zetec Edition EcoBoost Auto 5dr £23,010 51.4 mpg 12.2 s
1.0T 140 St-Line EcoBoost 5dr £22,910 56.5 mpg 10.6 s
1.0T 140 St-Line X EcoBoost 5dr £24,310 56.5 mpg 10.6 s
1.5 TDCi 120 St-Line X 5dr £24,990 74.3 mpg 10.7 s
1.5 TDCi 120 St-Line X Powershift 5dr £26,240 74.3 mpg 11.0 s
1.5L 182 St-Line X EcoBoost 5dr £25,535 50.4 mpg -
1.5L 182 St-Line X EcoBoost Auto 5dr £26,825 46.3 mpg -
1.5T 150 St-Line EcoBoost Auto 5dr £24,700 46.3 mpg 9.4 s
1.5T 150 St-Line Nav EcoBoost 5dr £22,905 50.4 mpg 9.1 s
1.5T 150 Titanium EcoBoost 5dr £23,660 50.4 mpg 9.1 s
1.5T 150 Titanium EcoBoost Powershift 5dr £24,820 46.3 mpg 9.4 s
1.5T 182 Titanium X EcoBoost 5dr £26,385 50.4 mpg 8.8 s
1.5T 182 Titanium X EcoBoost Powershift 5dr £27,545 46.3 mpg 8.8 s
1.5TDCi 105 Style ECOnetic 5dr £21,320 83.1 mpg 12.1 s
1.5TDCi 120 St-Line 5dr £23,590 74.3 mpg 10.7 s
1.5TDCi 120 St-Line Powershift 5dr £24,840 74.3 mpg 11.0 s
1.5TDCi 120 Titanium 5dr £23,840 74.3 mpg 10.7 s
1.5TDCi 120 Titanium Powershift 5dr £25,090 74.3 mpg 11.0 s
1.5TDCi 120 Titanium X 5dr £25,840 74.3 mpg 10.7 s
1.5TDCi 120 Titanium X Powershift 5dr £27,090 74.3 mpg 11.0 s
1.5TDCi 120 Zetec Edition 5dr £22,440 74.3 mpg 10.7 s
1.5TDCi 120 Zetec Edition Powershift 5dr £23,690 74.3 mpg 11.0 s
1.5TDCi 95 Zetec Edition 5dr £21,940 74.3 mpg 12.2 s
1.6 125 Titanium Nav Powershift 5dr £22,995 44.8 mpg 11.9 s
2.0 TDCi 150 St-Line X 5dr £26,350 70.6 mpg 9.0 s
2.0 TDCi 150 St-Line X Powershift 5dr £27,640 64.2 mpg 8.9 s
2.0TDCi 150 Titanium 5dr £25,200 70.6 mpg 9.0 s
2.0TDCi 150 Titanium Powershift 5dr £26,490 64.2 mpg 8.9 s
2.0TDCi 150 Titanium X 5dr £27,200 70.6 mpg 9.0 s
2.0TDCi 150 Titanium X Powershift 5dr £28,490 64.2 mpg 8.9 s

On sale until December 2017

Estate
Version List Price MPG 0-62
1.0T 125 St-Line Nav EcoBoost 5dr £22,385 58.9 mpg 11.2 s

On sale until May 2017

Estate
Version List Price MPG 0-62
1.0T 100 Style EcoBoost 5dr £19,145 58.9 mpg 12.7 s
1.0T 100 Titanium EcoBoost 5dr £21,945 58.9 mpg 12.7 s
1.0T 100 Titanium X EcoBoost 5dr £23,945 58.9 mpg 12.7 s
1.0T 100 Zetec EcoBoost 5dr £20,195 58.9 mpg 12.7 s
1.0T 100 Zetec Nav EcoBoost 5dr £20,495 58.9 mpg 12.7 s
1.0T 125 St-Line EcoBoost 5dr £21,945 58.9 mpg -
1.0T 125 St-Line EcoBoost Auto 5dr £23,195 51.4 mpg -
1.0T 125 Style EcoBoost Auto 5dr £20,895 51.4 mpg -
1.0T 125 Titanium EcoBoost 5dr £22,445 58.9 mpg 11.2 s
1.0T 125 Titanium EcoBoost Auto 5dr £23,695 51.4 mpg -
1.0T 125 Titanium X EcoBoost 5dr £24,445 58.9 mpg 11.2 s
1.0T 125 Titanium X EcoBoost Auto 5dr £25,695 51.4 mpg -
1.0T 125 Zetec EcoBoost 5dr £20,695 58.9 mpg 11.2 s
1.0T 125 Zetec EcoBoost Auto 5dr £21,945 51.4 mpg -
1.0T 125 Zetec Nav EcoBoost 5dr £20,995 58.9 mpg 11.2 s
1.0T 125 Zetec Nav EcoBoost Auto 5dr £22,245 51.4 mpg -
1.5T 150 St-Line EcoBoost 5dr £22,445 50.4 mpg -
1.5T 150 St-Line EcoBoost Auto 5dr £23,825 46.3 mpg -
1.5T 150 Titanium EcoBoost 5dr £22,945 50.4 mpg 9.1 s
1.5T 150 Titanium EcoBoost Auto 5dr £24,195 46.3 mpg 9.4 s
1.5T 182 Titanium X EcoBoost 5dr £25,670 50.4 mpg 8.8 s
1.5T 182 Titanium X EcoBoost Powershift 5dr £26,920 46.3 mpg 8.8 s
1.5TDCi 120 St-Line 5dr £22,645 74.3 mpg -
1.5TDCi 120 St-Line Powershift 5dr £23,895 74.3 mpg -
1.5TDCi 120 Style 5dr £20,345 74.3 mpg 10.7 s
1.5TDCi 120 Style Powershift 5dr £21,595 74.3 mpg 11.0 s
1.5TDCi 120 Titanium 5dr £23,145 74.3 mpg 10.7 s
1.5TDCi 120 Titanium Powershift 5dr £24,395 74.3 mpg 11.0 s
1.5TDCi 120 Titanium X 5dr £25,145 74.3 mpg 10.7 s
1.5TDCi 120 Titanium X Powershift 5dr £26,395 74.3 mpg 11.0 s
1.5TDCi 120 Zetec 5dr £21,395 74.3 mpg 10.7 s
1.5TDCi 120 Zetec Nav 5dr £21,695 74.3 mpg 10.7 s
1.5TDCi 120 Zetec Nav Powershift 5dr £22,945 74.3 mpg 11.0 s
1.5TDCi 120 Zetec Powershift 5dr £22,645 74.3 mpg 11.0 s
1.5TDCi 95 Style 5dr £19,845 74.3 mpg 12.2 s
1.5TDCi 95 Zetec 5dr £20,895 74.3 mpg 12.2 s
1.5TDCi 95 Zetec Nav 5dr £21,195 74.3 mpg 12.2 s
1.6 105 Style 5dr £18,630 47.1 mpg 12.5 s
1.6 125 Style Powershift 5dr £20,195 44.8 mpg 11.9 s
1.6 125 Titanium Powershift 5dr £22,695 44.8 mpg 11.9 s
1.6 125 Zetec Nav Powershift 5dr £21,495 44.8 mpg 11.9 s
1.6 125 Zetec Powershift 5dr £21,195 44.8 mpg 11.9 s
1.6 85 Style 5dr £17,545 47.1 mpg -
1.6TDCi 95 Style 5dr £19,295 67.3 mpg 12.5 s
2.0TDCi 150 Titanium 5dr £24,485 70.6 mpg 9.0 s
2.0TDCi 150 Titanium Powershift 5dr £25,735 64.2 mpg 8.9 s
2.0TDCi 150 Titanium X 5dr £26,485 70.6 mpg 9.0 s
2.0TDCi 150 Titanium X Powershift 5dr £27,735 64.2 mpg 8.9 s

On sale until April 2017

Estate
Version List Price MPG 0-62
1.0T 125 Zetec S EcoBoost 5dr £21,695 58.9 mpg 11.2 s
1.0T 125 Zetec S EcoBoost Auto 5dr £22,945 51.4 mpg -
1.0T 125 Zetec S Nav EcoBoost 5dr £21,995 58.9 mpg 11.2 s
1.0T 125 Zetec S Nav EcoBoost Auto 5dr £23,245 51.4 mpg -
1.5T 150 Zetec S EcoBoost 5dr £22,195 50.4 mpg 9.1 s
1.5T 150 Zetec S EcoBoost Powershift 5dr £23,575 46.3 mpg 9.4 s
1.5T 150 Zetec S Nav EcoBoost 5dr £22,495 50.4 mpg 9.1 s
1.5T 150 Zetec S Nav EcoBoost Powershift 5dr £23,875 46.3 mpg 9.4 s
1.5TDCi 120 Zetec S 5dr £22,395 74.3 mpg 10.7 s
1.5TDCi 120 Zetec S Nav 5dr £22,695 74.3 mpg 10.7 s
1.5TDCi 120 Zetec S Nav Powershift 5dr £23,945 74.3 mpg 11.0 s
1.5TDCi 120 Zetec S Powershift 5dr £23,645 74.3 mpg 11.0 s
1.6 125 Zetec S Nav Powershift 5dr £22,745 44.8 mpg 11.9 s
1.6 125 Zetec S Powershift 5dr £22,445 44.8 mpg 11.9 s

On sale until October 2015

Estate
Version List Price MPG 0-62
Style 1.6 125 S6 Powershift Auto 5dr £19,945 44.8 mpg 11.9 s
Style 1.6 TDCi 95 S5 5dr £19,295 67.3 mpg 12.5 s
Titanium 1.6 TDCi 115 S5 5dr £22,295 67.3 mpg 10.8 s
Zetec 1.6 TDCi 115 S5 5dr £20,795 67.3 mpg 10.8 s
Zetec S 1.6 TDCi 115 S5 5dr £22,045 67.3 mpg 10.8 s

Model History

March 2014

Revised Focus revealed

Among the changes are updated engines with improved fuel efficiency on many versions compared to the current model thanks to new powertrain options.

The new Focus will be the first vehicle in Europe to offer the fuel efficient new 1.5-litre EcoBoost (150PS and 180PS) petrol engine and also will be offered equipped with the new 1.5-litre TDCi (95PS and 120PS) diesel engine. The Focus will continue to be offered with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine (100PS and 125PS) that last year was chosen by a third of Focus customers, and was named the 2012 and 2013 International Engine of the Year. There will also be a new version of the 99 g/km CO2 1.0-litre EcoBoost, the first non-hybrid petrol family car in Europe to offer sub-100 g/km CO2 emissions.

The 120PS 1.5-litre diesel PowerShift automatic that will be introduced next year will offer a 19 per cent improvement compared to the equivalent-powered current Focus. The new Focus equipped with the automatic transmission and 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine that also will be introduced next year will offer a 17 per cent improvement over the equivalent powered engine it will replace. A 150PS 2.0-litre TDCi diesel model will show a 14 per cent improvement when specified with a manual gearbox.

The new Focus also will be available with paddle-shift controls that enable drivers to control gear changes while keeping their hands on the steering wheel. Paddle-shift controls will be available as an option with all automatic and PowerShift transmissions, both diesel and petrol.

Ford also has improved its popular Active City Stop collision avoidance system, which pre-charges the brakes and – if the driver still does not respond – reduces engine torque and automatically applies the brakes to reduce the impact of collisions. It has been enhanced to operate at speeds of up to 50 km/h, compared to 30 km/h with the current version.

September 2014

Revised Focus prices announced

Prices for the new Ford Focus, in dealerships from November 2014, will start from £13,995 - the same as today’s Focus, with top Titanium and Titanium X versions costing £100 less than the current equivalents.

The new Focus range retains a six-series line-up of Studio (from £13,995), Style (£16,795), Zetec (£18,295), Zetec S (£20,045), Titanium (£19,795) and Titanium X (£21,795).

The advanced new Ford Focus builds on its reputation for technology, which since 2011 has featured automated parallel parking, Active City Stop low-speed collision avoidance, Traffic Sign Recognition to monitor and record road signs and Blind Spot Information System, as optional equipment.

The new Focus is the first Ford to offer Perpendicular Parking, an additional hands-free parking technology to help drivers reverse into spaces alongside other vehicles. Today’s Ford Focus debuted Active Park Assist that, at the push of a button, uses ultrasonic sensors to locate parking spaces and steer the vehicle while the driver controls the accelerator and brake. The addition of new sensors to the rear enables Perpendicular Parking to operate in the same way.

June 2016

Focus ST-Line launched

Gets a honeycomb design for the trapezoidal front grille, fog lamps with dark surrounds and a rear diffuser element along with a large rear roof spoiler.

Other styling extras include a black beltline beneath the windows, deep side-skirts and ST-Line exterior badging on the front wings plus unique 17-inch in alloy wheels in Rock Metallic Grey. Inside there are sport seats with red stitching and a perforated leather ST-style steering wheel with grey stitching along with an ST-style gear knob, a dark woven headliner and ST-Line scuff plates

The Focus ST-Line comes with the 125PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost delivering from 108g/km CO2 and 60.1mpg or there's the 150PS and 182PS versions of the 1.5-litre EcoBoost delivering from 127g/km CO 2 and 51.4mpg.

Ford’s 1.5-litre TDCi diesel produces 120PS delivering 99g/km CO 2 and 74.3mpg, or 2.0-litre TDCi with 150PS delivering from 105g/km CO 2 and 70.6mpg are available on the Focus ST-Line with six-speed manual and six-speed PowerShift automatic transmissions. The Focus ST-Line will also feature steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters when an automatic transmission is specified.

What to watch out for

01-01-0001:

28-09-2018:

Report of intermittent fault with instrument cluster of 2014 Ford Focus Edge estate whereby the clocks and dials, etc. will shut off and suddenly come back on, re-setting the trip an av mpg. etc. This seems to be getting worse and most recently it shut off for a few minutes. (We have heard that this can be due to the brittle solder used in manufacturing the instrument clusters.)

13-03-2019:

Problem with severely out of date mapping in Fords's Sync 3 satnav (in this case in an April 2017 Kuga) fiinally cured by an update. If you visit https://www.ford.co.uk/owner/resources-and-support/sync-bluetooth/update#/status/ and enter your chassis number it tells you an update is required. It needs to be downloaded onto a USB stick and then loaded into the car.This takes a long time because the file is massive approx. (25GB). Enter chassis number bottom right, then it’ll find map update required and click ‘prepare maps download’ and then take it from there. This afflicts all Sync 3 sat navs to date.

What does the Ford Focus Estate (2014 – 2018) cost?