This is a very good all round package with lots of space as well as the great driveability that you'd expect from a Focus.
Ireland hasn't traditionally been a strong market for estates unlike the Continent but there does seem to be a growing interest here in these models for their extra versatility, particularly for families.
From the outside, the car looks very stylish and well balanced, with a striking front bonnet and grille, nice lines along the sides and with chrome edging along the base of the windows.
But people buy estates mostly for their cargo area and in the Focus Wagon this space becomes 1,516mm3 when you fold the rear seats down flat. Below the floor is a skinny spare in case you have a puncture which to my mind, is far better than a sealant repair kit for a family car.
The new Focus Wagon is available with a 1.6 litre petrol or diesel engine and a 2.0 litre diesel automatic.
I've driven Focus cars at home and abroad so I know they handle beautifully. This wagon is no different. When you get going, there's good mid-range power from the engine; you get a great response from the steering wheel. The suspension is somewhat softer than the last model, but absolutely no problem with that as it makes for a nice, everyday type of driving experience.
I got a nice position behind the wheel after yanking the seat forward to 'fit'. Seats are brilliant, comfy yet offering great back support and a boon to those who have to travel long commutes.
All instruments are clearly visible. The speedometer is on the right with well spaced white numbers on black and the landmark 120km/h is at the very top. The trip computer inbetween shows how many kilometres are left in the tank, as well as your average fuel consumption. Mine showed 6.5 L/100kms which equates to 43mpg in old terms.
I've not been a great fan of the central console in the Focus as for me, it's a bit fussy with all those slants for the phone and radio controls. I prefer to use the remote controls on the steering wheel.
The entry level Focus Wagon is priced from just below €22,000. The test car was the top Titanium specification priced at €25,235 plus delivery charges but it didn't include Bluetooth and USB connectivity; for that you'll have to pay an extra €204. As these come as standard in many competitor cars, I think they should be included in the basic price for this top spec model.
The new Focus, launched last March, was the top selling car here last year. I'm sure this wagon version will have a very positive impact of Focus sales here for this year as it is a very functional, practical family car.
