Day-to-day running costs are going to be typically affordable. Although depreciation will always be a factor in this class, improvements over the previous model mean it should hold its value better. Economy is generally impressive and insurance bandings reasonable.

Focus is an environmentally friendly model. With an average of 154g/km CO2 across the line-up, its emissions are relatively low for a small family estate. There’s an ECOnetic version available which uses the 1.6-litre TDCi engine, but through special fuel-saving measures and aerodynamic tweaks emits 114g/km of CO2 and can return 66mpg. In late 2009 the engine was tweaked to improve the ECOnetic model with emissions dropping to 104g/km of CO2.

It has been on sale since 2005 and no significant problems have yet appeared. Owners have reported to us that this Focus is very reliable – much like the previous model.