2002 Ford Focus LX TDdi Estate review from UK and Ireland

Auxiliary belt squeals for a minute or so after a cold start (worn belt - will be sorted at the next service).

Blown brakelight bulb.

The Focus needs no praising from me in light of the rave reviews it has had from every magazine on the planet, but suffice to say they are all right. Even in "boring" TD estate form, it handles superbly, steers with feel and accuracy that some sports cars would kill for, and performs more than adequately.

The old 90PS TDdi lump is getting on a bit now, and it is a bit gruffer than the modern common-rail units, but you really can't argue with what it does. Boost comes in at just 1500 RPM, and the wave of torque (200 Nm of the stuff) shoves the car hard right through to 4750, 250 RPM into the redline incidentally. This is a huge useable rev range for a turbodiesel powerplant, and means the Focus is rarely found wanting for power in real road situations. I've driven a 1.6 petrol version of the same car which is said to develop 100PS, but the diesel variant would leave it for dead.

Onto the more boring aspects - the load bay with the seats down is vast, and the car copes well when laden. On a recent run to the dump one Sunday, it swallowed a lounge and dining room carpet, complete with underlay and six large binliners full of rubbish in one go with room to spare, and the fuel economy refuses to drop below 45 mpg whatever it is used for, and however it is driven. With a light right foot, 50 mpg is easily achievable.

Being a later model mine has the revised grille with the projector style headlamps. Finished in Panther Black metallic and with the optional 15" alloys, it's quite a looker as estate cars go. Inside, it's comfortable, and the funky looking dash has the usual excellent Ford control layout with everything in a logical place. Well made too - nearly 60,000 miles and it doesn't squeak or rattle, and cleans up as new.

So to summarise it's a good looking, practical, reliable and comfortable car with decent performance and superb economy. Where it scores over it's rivals is that it can still entertain when the roads and the mood dictate. Having driven a 306 for two years, this was an essential requirement, and although the Focus isn't quite as agile, it is a lot more driver focused (no pun intended) than any current rival. I recommend the car to anyone.