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Focus on all-time favourite

Wednesday 16th April 2008

FORD’S 2005 Focus had one of the toughest tasks faced by any family car. It had to reprise the success of its ground-breaking predecessor. Not only that, but it was faced with a whole host of rivals who had taken the previous generation Focus apart, copied its technology, employed its development engineers and done all they could to try to one-up Ford.

While it’s true that the 2005 model year Focus no longer enjoys the huge gulf in capability over its rivals that its predecessor could indulge in, it’s still one of the very finest family hatches around and, from a driver’s perspective, is still the one to have. The styling may have become a little lower key but the Focus has, in most of the key areas that count, become a markedly better car. Used examples are now appearing in meaningful numbers and make very decent buys.

A good deal more conventional in outward appearance to the striking original, some saw this as a sign that Ford had lost their edge when it came to product development, but a short spell behind the wheel would dispel this myth for good. Despite rivals like the Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Astra closing the gap, the Focus was still the best value package in its class and sales soon ramped up to very encouraging levels.

An estate version followed within a couple of weeks of the three and five-door hatches appearing and in March 2005, a very handsome four door saloon version appeared, erasing memories of the rather awkward-looking first generation Focus saloon.

Although prices are now settling fast, £6,850 is currently the kick off point for a second generation Focus, that sum buying you a 1.4-litre Studio hatch in top condition. The 1.6-litre Zetec three-door is just dipping under £7,300 for average mile examples.

Published Friday 11th April 2008, Motoring Post.