Ford Focus review: after 25 years it still impresses
Fun and engaging to drive, the Focus has been treated to a mid-life update

As it approaches its 25th birthday, the Ford Focus has been treated to a mid-life update involving subtle changes to the styling, a huge boost to the in-car tech and a new power train line-up, said Auto Express. It remains fun and engaging to drive, with sharp steering, keen handling and plenty of grip. It’s a little firmer over bumps than some of its rivals, and it can be a bit noisy at higher speeds, but overall it still impresses.

There are a bewildering 33 models in the Focus range, said The Daily Telegraph, including an economical 1.5-litre diesel, three petrol options all with 1.0-litre engines, a 123bhp non-hybrid and a 153bhp model both available in manual and automatic iterations. Most versions now have the cheaper twist-beam rear suspension that feels less mobile, but the Focus remains just as exciting as other cars in its class, if not more so.

All but the base-spec Trend trim get a giant 13.2in infotainment system for navigation, media and phone connectivity, said Top Gear. It is responsive and has good graphics, though some might miss having proper buttons for climate controls; these are now on the bottom of the screen. The front seats aren’t the most comfortable, but the rear is impressively roomy, and with the seats up the boot is a useful 375 litres. UK price from £23,500.


A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Can the NBA survive FBI’s gambling investigation?Talking Points A casualty of the ‘sports gambling revolution’
-
How are ICE’s recruitment woes complicating Trump’s immigration agenda?TODAY’S BIG QUESTION Lowered training standards and ‘athletically allergic’ hopefuls are getting in the way of the White House plan to turn the Department of Homeland Security into a federal police force
-
What is a bubble? Understanding the financial term.the explainer An AI bubble burst could be looming
-
Roasted squash and apple soup recipeThe Week Recommends Autumnal soup is full of warming and hearty flavours
-
6 well-crafted log homesFeature Featuring a floor-to-ceiling rock fireplace in Montana and a Tulikivi stove in New York
-
Film reviews: A House of Dynamite, After the Hunt, and It Was Just an AccidentFeature A nuclear missile bears down on a U.S. city, a sexual misconduct allegation rocks an elite university campus, and a victim of government terror pursues vengeance
-
Book reviews: ‘Gertrude Stein: An Afterlife’ and ‘Make Me Commissioner: I Know What’s Wrong With Baseball and How to Fix It’Feature Gertrude Stein’s untold story and Jane Leavy’s playbook on how to save baseball
-
Rachel Ruysch: Nature Into ArtFeature Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, through Dec. 7
-
Music reviews: Olivia Dean, Madi Diaz, and Hannah FrancesFeature “The Art of Loving,” “Fatal Optimist,” and “Nested in Tangles”
-
Gilbert King’s 6 favorite books about the search for justiceFeature The journalist recommends works by Bryan Stevenson, David Grann, and more
-
Ready for the apocalypseFeature As anxiety rises about the state of the world, the ranks of preppers are growing—and changing.