Ford Focus ST-Line Vignale review: We test drive the practical & reliable motor

YOU don’t mess with a winning formula.

Ask Coca-Cola. Ask KFC. Ask .

3

They’ve made something everybody loves – and stuck with it. I hope Ford remembers that with the Focus.

Because this simple beans-on-toast family car is still the best at what it does.

While everyone else is rushing out expensive electric crossovers that take too long to recharge, the Focus recipe gives us exactly what we need right now.

That’s a practical, reliable five-door hatchback or estate, petrol or diesel, or even mild hybrid, that’ll run and run and run.

Read More on Motors

D-MAX VALUE

Isuzu D-Max Utility's a bargain buy and the perfect pick-me-up pick-up

LIKE WHAT I C40

Excellent Volvo C40 Recharge is one of the most handsome EVs on the market

Not only that, it looks good, drives even better and was clearly designed by people who live in the real world.

By that I mean it does the simple things well.

Quick-clear heated windscreen (proper handy in winter).

Speedy refuelling (capless nozzle).

Most read in Motors

NEW DRIVE

Major car brand launches direct rival to the Range Rover with ultra-luxury EV

BIG WIN

UK 'Car of the Year' revealed - including best value for money & family motor

CAR CURIOSITY

Jaguar shares 'intriguing' image as they tease motor fans about re-brand

FORMER GLORY

Fully restored first edition of iconic Ford car to be auctioned for huge price

Adjustable cup holders (no Costa coffee spillage).

Pop-out door edge protectors (to, er, protect the doors in tight spaces).

Easy to live with. Easy to use.

The car you see here is the fresh-for-2022 Focus ST-Line Vignale. The exact car I’d have.

Fresh-for-2022 because every new Focus has a slightly restyled front end.

New technical headlamps with integrated fogs.

Ford badge shifted down from the bonnet lip to the grille. They have also smoked the tail lights.

ST-Line because it has a tauter suspension than standard, for a crisper drive. And a nicer body kit and alloys.

Vignale because you deserve little luxuries like heated front seats and steering wheel and wireless charging.

All trim levels from Titanium upwards get a new 13.2in touchscreen featuring the latest SYNC 4 software. Slick.

But you need to pay a bit extra for head-up display. I would.

There are no changes to the oily bits because, quite frankly, it didn’t need it.

All engines are willing and efficient, manual or auto.

The 1-litre mild hybrid in this test car has more power than a 2-litre Focus from ten years ago – 155hp compared to 145hp.

Real-world economy is well north of 40mpg and CO2 is just 121g/km.
Good numbers.

What’s not so good is the price. This car is £28k, with another £3k of extras loaded on top. Blimey.

Not so long ago, you could buy a Focus RS for that. The 280hp Focus ST is £34k.

To be fair, it’s not just Ford. New-car prices are crazy these days but they’re becoming more and more irrelevant. It’s all about the cost per month.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

TUNE IN

Freeview watchers warned of nine major changes coming to TVs across the UK TODAY

PAY OUT

Major update to car finance compensation scandal

Put all that together and Focus makes way more sense for one-car families than anything with a plug. Has done for years.

Keep them coming please, Ford.

3

3