Ford Focus Review

Everybody knows the Ford Focus. It has long been one of Britain’s best-selling cars, seen on the roads in considerable numbers. Originally launched in 1998, the Focus is now on its third generation. The current model made its debut in 2011.

Here is a rather more exclusive Focus than most. The Zetec S is Ford’s ‘warm hatch’ Focus, featuring a sporty trim package introduced at the end of 2011. The car comes with enhanced performance, beefed-up suspension and a cosmetic upgrade inside and out. It has a sporty body kit, special 17-inch alloy wheels, extra kit in the cabin, a starter button instead of a slot-in key, and a roof-mounted spoiler. There are aluminium-look pedals, more sporty seats and a high-grade raised centre console.

In this guise, with its Zetec S specification, the Focus is available with a choice of petrol or diesel engines, and is offered with either a manual or automatic gearbox. The Focus Zetec S comes only as a five-door car, there is not a three-door version. Prices range from £18,745 to £22,595. The Zetec S is priced, model for model, at £750 above the equivalent Focus Zetec. The car we test here is the two-litre TDCi diesel.

This car is a fun drive. The two-litre TDCI engine’s peak power is 161 bhp at 3,750 rpm, and its maximum torque is 251 lb ft at 2,000 rpm. The top speed is 135 mph and 0-62 mph acceleration is in 8.6 seconds. The engine feels nice and torquey on the move and has an appealing urgency under foot.

Considering the car’s vibrancy, fuel consumption is not too bad at around 56 mpg. Keep the engine on song under a heavy right foot, though, and the economy nose-dives quite rapidly. Our test car has the six-speed manual gearbox, but there is also the option of having Ford’s well-regarded six-speed PowerShift automatic.