Ford Focus Estate Review 2024

Ford Focus Estate At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
They may have become a niche choice now, but there are still plenty of very good reasons to consider buying a midsize estate car. And there are few better options than the Ford Focus Estate.

+Family-friendly space and practicality. Great to drive. Impressive tech. Strong value for money.

-Lower seating position than an SUV. Not the biggest boot for this type of car. Less powerful engines labour under a heavy load.

New prices start from £26,755, brokers can source from £23,636
Insurance Groups are between 12–17
On average it achieves 78% of the official MPG figure

Estate cars are a dying breed as ever more buyers switch to SUVs. They may not have the raised seating position and road presence that make SUVs so desirable, but estates still have plenty to offer if you need a car that can carry lots of stuff. The Ford Focus Estate is one of the best, and a worthy alternative to a Volkswagen Golf Estate, Peugeot 308 SW or Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer.

Let’s start in the Ford Focus Estate’s boot – which is, after all, the main point of such a car. It’s 575-litre capacity isn’t the biggest, but it’s still more than enough to cover most people’s needs. It’s certainly more space than you get in any midsize SUV. The boot’s flat and square, and the opening is huge, which makes it easy to load really big stuff. It’s relatively close to the ground as well, all the better for dogs to jump in and out.

Fold the back seats down and there’s enough space to accommodate a flat-pack furniture shopping trip.

There’s pretty generous space inside for people, too. Four tall-ish adults can fit comfortably, even five at a push, so a typical family is unlikely to have any complaints. The only potential negative compared to an SUV is that the seats are lower down, which isn’t ideal if you have to lift kids in and out.

Everyone has a good view out, though, which is an increasingly rare thing in the car world. Indeed, the Ford Focus Estate is generally a nice vehicle to travel in. Its ride is smooth (if a little on the firm side in ST-Line models), refinement is good, and the seats are super-comfy and supportive. The materials used in the interior aren’t up to the standards of premium-badged rivals, but it feels pretty plush and is very well-made.

The tech is impressive, too. The centrepiece is the huge 13.2-inch touchscreen display on the dashboard, which houses Ford’s latest SYNC 4 infotainment screen. The user-friendly system includes sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone connectivity, DAB radio, Bluetooth and a whole lot more besides.

On the road, the Ford Focus Estate feels fantastic. Whatever sort of journey you’re going on and whatever approach you have to driving, the experience is really rewarding and satisfying. That’s because the car feels light and poised and completely trustworthy. You feel connected to it. Indeed, the Focus does it all: it’s easy to park, a relaxing cruiser, and huge fun on a country road.

There are four trim levels to choose from: Titanium, ST-Line, Titanium X and ST-Line X. They all come equipped with the aforementioned SYNC 4 infotainment system, cruise control and front and rear parking sensors. The X pack adds plush Sensico leather-style upholstery and a large digital driver’s display.

Ford also sells SUV-style Active and hot-hatch-inspired ST versions of the Ford Focus Estate. We’ve covered those separately.

Engine choices include several versions of Ford’s brilliant 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol motor, plus a 1.5-litre EcoBlue diesel. The 155PS petrol engine offers the best compromise between performance and efficiency. It has the muscle to haul a heavy load, too. The diesel is still a good option if you do lots of long-distance motorway journeys, though.

At the time of writing, prices for the Ford Focus Estate start at around £28,000 and stretch to just under £34,000. That’s in the same ballpark as most other midsize estates, which we reckon makes the Ford decent value for money.

The Ford Focus Estate is more practical and better to drive than the average midsize SUV, and will serve the needs of most families very well. More than that, the Ford Focus Estate is simply a good car that’s very enjoyable to use and own.

Ask Honest John

I want an estate car for a growing family and mostly short trips. Should I go hybrid or petrol?

"I have a Skoda Fabia 1.0-litre 110PS - which is great for my school run and occasional longer trips, but due to growing kids and a dog, I need a bigger car. I'm not a fan of SUVs so fancy an estate car. I have a budget of £20,000 and quite fancy a Toyota Corolla Estate but is the 1.8 hybrid worth the extra money over the 1.2 petrol? I cover about 6000 miles a year - which is mainly short trips of 10 miles with the occasional trip to London (from Manchester). Are there any other estates you would recommend. I don't want a VW Group car with a 1.5-litre petrol engine due to all the issues it seems to have."
The Toyota Corolla Touring Sports is an excellent estate car. We'd recommend the 1.8 hybrid - the 1.2 lacks guts and it sounds like a hybrid would suit your requirements well. The hybrid will hold its value better, too. Also, consider the Kia ProCeed (or Ceed Sportswagon) or a Ford Focus estate.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Which estates have flat floors with the rear seats folded down?

"I own a Mk6 Volkswagen Golf Estate. I want my next car to have a flat floor too. However, after viewing a few new estates, I see that many don't offer a completely flat boot with the seat folded down. Would you please recommend any estate cars that have the flat floor after folding seats? Thank you very much."
Take a look at the latest Ford Focus Estate. It has a pretty flat floor with the rear seats dropped and there isn't much of a lip for lifting items over, either. We'd also recommend the Kia Ceed Sportswagon.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Should I run my 2014 Focus into the ground or sell it while it's still got some value?

"My 2014 Ford Focus already has about 61,000 miles and I'm considering whether I should sell and buy a used or new car, or run the Focus into the ground instead. Fuel efficiency hasn't been great as it's an automatic petrol (40mpg). I go about 120 miles on the motorway on normal working days and, for a family with two little ones, it's starting to feel a little tight with space with the kid's car seats. I'm not a keen on a manual or diesel car, but would consider either automatic petrol or petrol/hybrid. Any suggestions? "
It sounds like your family's outgrowing the Focus. I'd be tempted to upgrade while it's still got some value. Don't dismiss diesels - they make a lot of sense for 120 motorway miles a day. I'd be looking for a diesel crossover SUV like a Skoda Karoq - it'll be very practical, efficient and comfortable for motorway driving. Also consider a Peugeot 3008 or, if you'd prefer an estate, perhaps a Ford Focus Estate or Kia Ceed Sportswagon.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Can you recommend a small estate car that doesn't have all the gadgets under the bonnet that cost serious money to repair?

"I currently own a Skoda Octavia 1.6 TDI having bought in used from the main dealer. I have suffered a new clutch and DMF (fortunately under warranty) at 40k miles and now I have to fork out for an EGR valve at 70k. I'm getting some clutch judder again too. I longed for an Octavia but now can't wait to get shot of it. I will be doing about 18k a year with a lot of trips on motorways. I'm thinking diesel is no longer an option for the sake of the environment, my pocket and my sanity. Can you recommend a small estate car, probably petrol, that is economic, comfortable and reliable without all the gadgets under the bonnet that cost serious money to repair? I will likely buy used."
I wouldn't necessarily dismiss diesel despite the issues with your Octavia - it sounds like it'd suit your mileage well. I'd suggest looking at the latest Ford Focus estate or Kia Ceed SW - both very good cars. The Kia comes with a seven-year warranty when new, and this is transferable to the second owner so should put your mind at rest.
Answered by Andrew Brady
More Questions

What does a Ford Focus Estate cost?

Buy new from £23,636(list price from £28,500)