The six-speed manual gearbox is excellent, with a smooth action and well-spaced ratios that make it a pleasure to use. Stop-start is standard with this engine, and generally works well, although heavy use of electrical equipment such as the air conditioning in hot weather can temporarily prevent it from working.
Ride and HandlingThe Focus Estate is a tough act for its rivals to match. It has to be considered the benchmark model for ride and handling against which other cars in the same size and price category have to be judged. It drives with an alert poise that makes it feel assured and confident. It has grippy cornering, class-leading handling and an absorbent ride that sops up all but the worst road undulations. There is a serenity about the Focus Estate's behaviour on the road that inspires confidence.
The steering is electro-mechanical. It does not have quite the same pin-sharp informative feel as the previous model enjoyed, but it communicates pretty well what is happening at the front wheels, and it is fast-reacting.
Ease of UseThe new Focus Estate is slightly bigger all round than its predecessor: 4,556 mm long, 1,858 mm wide and 1,482 mm high. It comes equipped with standard roof rails, so there is somewhere to carry extra luggage if the car’s cargo space cannot accommodate all you need to take with you. In most circumstances it should, though, with a standard boot capacity of 476 litres that stretches to a roomy 1,502 litres when the rear seats are stowed out of the way. Folding the back seats is an easy job: the seat bases hinge forward, and when the backrests fold down they leave a completely flat load space from behind the front seats to the rear boot lip.
The boot itself is a good clear, uncluttered shape with easy access and a reasonable load height, and the loading lip is nicely finished off with a fluted metal scuff plate. There is a roller-cover to conceal the boot contents from view. Lashing points are provided to secure a load.
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