Car review: Ford Focus ST-Line 1.5 TDCI 6-spd manual

Re-incarnated for the fourth time, the latest Ford Focus is probably one of the most important cars being launched this year.

Two decades on from the radical original’s appearance, the new one, perhaps inevitably, won’t cause such a stir. It’s stronger, more specious, especially in the back, and generally more efficient than before. Its styling, which has a few BMW 1 Series undertones, is pleasant but no longer cutting edge.

One big change is the adoption of twist beam rear suspension for some versions instead of the previous generation’s multi-link system. That will now only be used in 1.5 petrol and 2.0 diesels.

We drove a 1.5 diesel ST Line with the simpler suspension. It handled tidily, gripped well and rode firmly – sometimes harshly on grotty surfaces - and any blunting of precision will probably only be noticed by a few driving purists. Most buyers won’t care.

In both six-speed manual and eight-speed self-shifting versions the Focus is lively and nice to use. Some wind and road roar aside this is a refined car with excellent seats, a good driving position, and easy, paired down controls. Ford has culled the button quotient by 50 per cent.