ESTATE WITH FOCUS (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_fordfocusestate_2023

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 73

The fourth generation Ford Focus Estate was given a proper working over in this final post-2022 updated form, with greater practicality, sleeker looks, a much improved 'SYNC 4' infotainment system and extra technology. There was also impressive efficiency beneath the bonnet thanks to the higher-tech range of petrol and diesel engines. It's not the biggest or the cheapest estate in its sector from this era, but it might be the most appealing all-rounder.

Modelsword count: 10

[petrol] 1.0, 1.5 & 2.3 EcoBoost / [diesel] 1.5 EcoBlue

Historyword count: 440

Such is the pull of small SUVs that the estate car seems to have had its last rites read time and again, yet still they struggle on. The reason why they refuse to die? They're a good idea. What's more, if people were honest about why they really needed a vehicle, an estate car would make more practical sense. They carry just as much as many SUVs, yet they're better to drive, they're lighter and more aerodynamic which means better efficiency - and they're usually cheaper to buy too. Ford's brought us some brilliant estates down the years but as much as customers have warmed to the Focus hatch, the five-door estate never occupied a huge slice of the overall Focus sales pie chart. Here, we look at the final version of Ford's combustion Focus Estate, a car introduced for the 2022 model year. By then, a lot had changed in this segment since this fourth generation model had first arrived in 2018. Estate versions of Vauxhall's Astra and Volkswagen's Golf had become more avant-garde, Hyundai's i30 and Kia's Ceed station wagons were better value and Skoda's Octavia Estate was more spacious. On top of that, quite a few rivals by 2022 offered much more efficient Plug-in Hybrid or full-Hybrid options in this class, technology that this fourth generation Focus still did without. What it did have was less effective 48V mild hybrid tech, which for this MK4 model update could be matched with the company's improved 7-speed dual clutch Powershift auto gearbox, plus a raft of new camera safety and driver assistance features were available. And the estate body shape got a more practical load area. The biggest change across the range though, could be found inside, where quality improved and most models got a class leadingly-large 14.2-inch central infotainment screen. Which with plush trim could be paired with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. So back in 2022 we wondered whether all that and a bit of a visual update would be enough to rejuvenate this model's fortunes in this segment. It had after all, been such a definitive car for Ford since the original arrived back in 1997, which was followed by a second generation version in 2005 and a MK3 model in 2011, seven years before the MK4 version first arrived in 2018, a car which sold right until mid-2026. But was at its best in this 2022-onwards-era facelifted form. In this guise, this was the highest quality Focus Estate model ever - so should it still be high on your compact family estate shopping list if you're looking for a used model from the 2022-2024 period?

What You Getword count: 516

With this updated MK4 model, the styling usefully evolved but still looks a touch conservative in this station wagon guise. Versions of this improved C519-era Focus Estate are marked out by smarter LED headlamps with built-in fog lights. plus the brand badge was moved from the bonnet to the front grille. And the darker rear tail lamps gained a smarter 'loop light' illuminating signature. Bigger changes were reserved for the cabin, which with most versions gained a larger 13.2-inch 'SYNC 4' central touchscreen. In a controversial move, Ford decided that this monitor should incorporate the ventilation controls, giving the dashboard a cleaner, less cluttered look. We're not sure that this was actually a step forward but the infotainment system's ability to in this form accept over-the-air updates certainly was; as a result, you'll get into your Focus Estate one morning and find it able to do something it couldn't do the day before - which is rather cool. As before, rear seat space isn't exemplary, but there's decent room for a couple of adults. Since this is an estate though, the emphasis needs to be on the luggage bay, which really is a lot bigger than it is in the hatch, plus plusher versions gained a gesture-controlled powered tailgate. A typically-specified estate model fitted with a mini-spare offers up to 575-litres of capacity - or as much as 728-litres if you load to the roof. As part of the changes made to this revised version of the MK4 model, Ford enhanced this station wagon's cargo area for greater practicality, responding to customer feedback. The luggage space gained a high-quality cropped carpet which not only delivered a premium feel but used short fibres that made it easier to clean. An additional side load net is ideal for storing smaller items that could otherwise move freely around the load space while travelling, and twin LED lights provide clearer illumination in low-light conditions. The adjustable load-floor became twin-hinged with this update, allowing it to be folded to create a vertical divider that locks into place at a 90-degree angle, creating two separate spaces to keep items more securely in place. The load area also gained a lower wet zone, with a waterproof plastic load-floor liner inserted into the space to provide water resistance against items such as wet suits and umbrellas. The water-resistant liner can be removed from the space for easy draining or cleaning, and the area can be enclosed from the rest of the boot with floor folded down, or separated with the vertical divider to create wet and dry zones. If you need more room and want to push forward the 60:40-split rear bench, then you'll be pleased to find that auto-folding 'Easy Fold' rear seat backs came as standard (operable via cargo sidewall-mounted catches). With everything flat, up to 1,653-litres of space is on offer, thanks to the 175mm of extra loading length and extra 43mm of roof height that was incorporated from the beginning into this fourth generation model, an increase apparently calculated so as to enable owners to comfortably accommodate a dog crate.

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