Ford Focus Hatchback (2011 - 2018) 1.6 TDCi (115bhp) Titanium X 5d (2011/61) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

I don't know, but it certainly doesn't say beige trousers and garden centres like my last one did!

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

My son wanted it in Yellow so on that basis he doesn't like it, but then he is only 3 so his oppinion doesn't count. My neighbours thought I'd downgraded because it replaced an S40, but my neighbour is old and drives a Senic so I don't really care.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Yes, but I would opt for the bigger engine. It's completely different to the competition - not quite as sensible and grown up as a Golf, not quite as bland as an Astra. Also, the quality of the interior is great in comparison to the competition.

What are you likely to buy next?

I don't know as I have this one for another 4 years and 10 months.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchised

Did you buy this car new?

Yes

What price did you pay?

£0

When did you buy the car?

September 2011

Did you get a good deal and why?

The car is leased and in comparison to similar sized cars like the Golf and Astra, the Focus delivered much better value.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Company Lease car that I'm going to have for up to 5 years. It was new, offered lots of kit and had an excellent leasing cost.

What was the dealer like?

The leasing company dealt with the dealer, my only experience was when the dealership delivered the car. I'm sorry to say upon arrival the car was dirty, the paintwork was marked on the drivers wing and there were scratches on the bonet. The interior looked as if it could have done with cleaning too. I was a little dissapointed with this I have to admit, particularly as the delivery driver basically just gave me the keys, got his form signed (complete with damage notes) and left.

What's it like to drive?

On the motorway, its really good. Get up to speed, slot it into 6th, set the cruise control and your good to go. The cabin is quiet at speed, the Sony branded stereo is fantastic. 80ish mph is around 2200 rpm, the engine is quiet, really good. Hill start assist is really useful in town as is the auto start stop, which is not intrusive at all. The car can be a little jumpy at lower speeds, but its easy to get used to.

What's it like to park?

Parking sensors on this car are essential! You can't see anything past the top of the bonet and the rear window might as well not be there. Parking assist makes paralell parking a breeze as the car does it for you. I find that I do use the parking sensors when pulling into a space - even going forward because the front of the car is so difficult to judge. The lock on the steering is also pitiful and feels like it needs an extra half a turn. I don't know if this was effected by my choice of 18" wheels, but you do notice it.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Nothing has gone wrong with it as such, however, Fords MPG figures should be taken with a huge pinch of salt. This car apparently can do more than 70mpg on the extra urban cycle and 65+ combined. Even driving like a saint I've never managed more than 47 just on the motorway or 44 on an 80% motorway 20% urban mix. I was really dissapointed in this as its worse than the 2.0D Volvo S40 it replaced and I did expect more.

What's most practical about your car?

The boot is big enough to swallow everything associated with a small child, the seats are extremely comfortable for long distance driving, the driving position is great and the ability to switch off the rear power windows is really useful. Particularly with small kids about.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The multi colour interior ambient lighting is fantastic. It lights up the door pockets, footwells, door handles and grabs. It comes in blue, green, purple, red, pink, white and my sons favourite - orange! Brilliant toy! The Xenon lights really light up the road which is great on the motorway and the semi automatic parking features gets the car into some really tight spaces; allbeit, you do have to keep check on it if your parking next to something tall.