Our cars: Ford Focus Estate
6 December 2011: The Focus-Do-It-All
The Details
| Mileage | 2486 |
|---|---|
| MPG | 36.8 |
So how does the Focus estate measure up to its rivals and is it worth going for an estate when the hatch itself is pretty roomy?
As you can see from the figures below, there's a noticeable difference between the hatch and estate, which means that the load-carrying version of the Focus remains an attractive option for those with a small business where running a van would be overkill.
| Make and Model | Boot Space (litres, seats folded) |
| Ford Focus Hatchback | 1101 |
| Ford Focus Estate | 1502 |
| Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer | 1550 |
| Volkswagen Golf Estate | 1495 |
Family buyers will be impressed with the useable space too. The on-paper figures tell one story, but it's not until you're able to put it to the real-world test that you get a sense of how much space there is. Compare it to the five-door and you'll find that it's 20cm longer, as 10cm more space between the wheel arches. With the seats up there's 476 litres of space - enough for the everyday needs of most families. Practical touches include the roller-blind parcel shelf, which is ideal for keeping the boot content cool or out of view, a 12V socket, hooks for carrier bags and lashing points on the floor.
My unexpected test came when we bought a new three-seater sofa. The day wasn't planned that way - we went out to get some bargains at the Habitat closing down sale and came back with this new sofa. Being a closing down sale, the sofa had to be taken there and then. Would the Focus be up to it?
After some frantic tape-measing, I figured out that although it would be a tight squeeze, it would just about fit. So I set about maximising the interior space. Normally the back seats don't fold entirely flat, but the squabs are hinged at the front, which means you can lift them up and fold the seat backs entirely flat. It was then a case of sliding the front seats forward as much as possible before gently gliding the sofa into the back. With a bit persuading, the entire sofa made it into the car. Though it did mean a return trip as all the passenger seat space was taken.
Since then, the Focus estate as proved itself time and time again as a practical workhorse. Whatever the task, it's been more than up to the job. There have been weekends away with large bags and cases, shopping trips and even having to deal with a theme park trips with three teenagers in the back and ll their bags.
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