Ford Focus review

Well, that depends on what spec you go for. The base-spec Trend edition starts at £23,500 but it still packs a fair amount of gear as standard, including an eight-inch infotainment system (complete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), front and rear parking sensors, heated windscreen, and several driver-assist systems.

One up from that is Titanium, starting from just over a grand more, which looks much like the Trend (save for the chromed front grille) but packs more as standard, including auto headlights and wipers, climate control, keyless start and the larger 13.2-inch touchscreen. It’s largely the same spec equipment-wise as the ST-Line, with the latter additionally adding 17-inch alloy wheels, sports tuned suspension, and a sportier bodykit. Expect to pay from £25,580 there.

Similarly priced to the ST-Line is the SUV-inspired Active edition, starting at the same £25,580. It sits 30mm higher than the standard Focus and has more of a ‘rugged’ look to it – i.e. lots of plastic exterior cladding. Are you realistically ever going to take your Focus off-road? No. Stick to one of the other trims.

There are plenty of option packs of course, or if you’re looking to throw the kitchen sink at your Focus you can have a Vignale version of the Titanium, the Active and the ST-Line. Be warned though, an ST-Line with a few options can quickly get well beyond the £30k mark.

On finance, there’s not a lot of difference between the various trims. Expect to pay somewhere around £350 for base-spec Trend and £400 for ST-Line, based on a three-year agreement with a six-month initial payment.

Our choice would be the ST-Line for the sportier looks and increased equipment, specced with either the 123bhp (£27,470) or 153bhp (only £26,960 with a manual, but £28,140 with a matching DCT ‘box) 1.0-litre EcoBoost mild-hybrid. Go manual and more power for the best Focus to drive. That’ll get you a claimed 54.3mpg, with the slower diesel not managing a huge amount better at 67.3mpg.

Worth noting that Ford’s guarantee is a handy three years/60,000miles too.