• Econetic diesel is the cheapest to run
• No electric version with ultra-low costs
• Petrol-engined ST is the priciest option.

Low running costs have long been a hallmark of the Blue Ovals compact load luggers and the Ford Focus Estate is no exception.

Diesels are understandably popular with the Econetic 105hp version of the 1.5-litre TDCi posting official claims of 83.1mpg figure, with CO2 emissions of 88g/km.

If you don’t cover the high annual mileage to warrant a diesel, then the manual-gearboxed 1.0T EcoBoost 100hp posts a figures of 58.9mpg and emissions of 109g/km of CO2.

There’s no headline-grabbing Focus Estate Electric to mirror the hatchback range, nor is there a flagship RS meaning the 2.0T EcoBoost fitted to the ST-2 and ST-3 is the dearest to run with a claimed economy of 41.5mpg and emissions of 159g/km of CO2.

• Just 88g/km of CO2 for the Econetic diesel
• Petrol-engined ST is the one to avoid at 159g/km
• No electric version of the Focus Estate

All barring one of the engines in the Ford Focus Estate range is turbocharged, ensuring performance isn’t strangled in the quest for low emissions.

Leading the charge is the 1.5-litre TDCi Econetic with 105hp, with Ford claiming figures of just 88g/km of CO2.

Lowest petrol is the 109g/km 1.0T EcoBoost 100hp, but there’s no electric version of the Focus Estate for zero emissions.

The range’s worst offender is 2.0T EcoBoost petrol fitted to the ST-2 and ST-3 producing 159g/km of CO2.

• Recall-free history for this generation
• Mechanical parts see service elsewhere
• Cabin feels high quality if not particularly special

Reliability has improved significantly with this generation of Ford Focus, although it still lags behind Hyundai, Kia and Toyota in this regard.

It’s a decently-built cars employing a number of high quality materials, so we don’t envisage many issues as the range ages.

Despite being on sale since early 2011 there have been no official recalls for the Focus according to the DVSA vehicle inspectorate.

We don’t believe that there’s much to worry about with the brisker ST models, either. Ford’s got an illustrious history of building robust performance versions of its top-selling cars.

Focus Estate owners have left positive reviews about their cars, mentioning only minor issues rather than expensive failings.