Ford Focus Hatchback (2005 - 2011) 2.0 TDCi Titanium 5d (08) Owner Review

I really like this car. It's surprisingly affordable to insure for a young driver, and it has enough power to catch other commuters off guard.

There is noticeably more wind and road noise at motorway speeds compared to premium cars, but it easily keeps up with them. The six-speed gearbox is a big plus—cruising at 70mph sits comfortably below 2,000 RPM, which keeps things smooth and efficient.

Repairs are cheap, too. I've had a few minor bumps, and each time the repair cost was much lower than expected. I think it helps that there are loads of Ford Focuses in scrapyards, so replacement parts are easy to find and don’t always have to be new.

The infotainment system is definitely outdated. Even on the higher-spec models, don’t expect features like Bluetooth—it's pretty bare-bones by today's standards.

Mine’s red, and the paintwork on the metal panels has held up well so far—no signs of fading. That said, some of the plastic trim has started to go pink.

Fuel economy is solid. Driving economically, I get around 54 mpg. If I’m a bit heavier on the throttle, it drops to about 49. On my 30-mile commute, I usually average around 53.

The steering can be set to “Sport” mode, and when it is, the car becomes even more enjoyable to drive, comparable to good modern hatchbacks and far better than disconnected SUVs.