• Check out common Ford Focus problems

There’s a generously sized load area and rear seats offer the usual 60/40 split folding capability. It lacks the fold flat trickery of some rivals though but there are numerous storage areas front and rear including a front armrest with a cubbyhole. A new innovation for cars from 2008 is a system called Easyfuel which prevents you putting petrol into a diesel car and vice versa.

Ford Focus safety

Virtually all models get six airbags (the base model Studio has to make do without curtain airbags) while the Focus scored a maximum five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests for front and side impact.

Optional safety equipment includes adaptive headlights and a traction and stability control system called ESP. Originally a £250 option this was made standard on facelifted models from 2008.

Anti-theft measures should be pretty good with all models getting an immobiliser and an alarm is fitted on higher spec models.