Car reviews

Small saloons have never caught on in the UK. Unlike the rest of mainland Europe, British buyers prefer hatchbacks and it's easy to see why. The Focus saloon is a perfect example - it's not as practical as the hatch version, nor as good looking and although the boot is a good size, it can't cope with large or bulky items. The range of engines is slimmed down (there's no low emissions ECOnetic version) but from behind the wheel there's no difference from the standard car, the Focus saloon handles well, is easy to drive and has an excellent interior. In early 2008 the model was facelfited with a new front end and a much improved interior. It' still the same price as the five-door hatch, but unless you must have a boot, there seems little reason to choose one.