Ride and handling
Once rolling, the new car’s firmer bushes and tighter setup are immediately obvious – the car feeling taut but pliant over cracks and drain hole covers.
When pressing on, the suspension does a good job of flattening out uneven surfaces but avoids going so far as becoming wallowy, instead allowing a communicative amount of body roll. Naturally the car pushes into understeer, and takes a safe, predictable line through corners. Really attack a corner and the rear of the car does begin to hint at play, but unlike the more dynamic Fiesta, the Focus remains planted.
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A welcome arrival is more responsive steering, the EPAS having been finely tuned so the wheels react more rapidly to inputs, and the result is a feeling of added agility. Whilst the electric system lacks feel, it’s consistent and precise enough to effectively combine with that sure-footed chassis.
The heavier estate (admittedly it’s only 40kg heavier) is almost indistinguishable from the hatch, despite its 198mm longer body. Even when fully loaded, the Focus estate’s body control impresses.
