Category: Small Family 
Price Range: £16,700 to £23,345
Smooth, quick changes; low carbon dioxide emissions.
Only available on Zetec and Titanium; ride deteriorates with sports suspension; pricey.
The best car in its segment finally has an equally impressive auto offering.
The Ford Focus Mk II has been in production for three years and that should be long enough for Ford to have ironed any problems. Glitches have failed to materialise and it's fair to say that this has proved to be a very reliable car.
Ford has tried hard to match the quality of some of its German competitors and, to a large extent, has achieved its goals. The top of the dashboard and upper areas of trim are finished in soft-touch plastics, oval air-vents have chrome-effect surrounds and fit and finish is good. Lower down, though, and the plastics seem thinner and cheap looking.
The substantial centre console - rather than just a gap between the seats - makes the cabin feel more cockpit-like and snug, lifting the perception of quality.
The facelifted 2008 models benefit from a new classier instrument panel and centre console, although some unattractive switchgear still remains.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Ford Focus
wrote on 05 10 2007
wrote on 19 09 2007
wrote on 12 09 2007
wrote on 26 07 2007