The leather featured throughout the cabin is of good quality. There’s even a leather panel at either side of the centre console where your knee rests, which is a lovely touch. The upmarket ST-Line X not only enjoys man-made Sensico imitation leather on the outer sections of the seats, but the central fabric takes on a pattern involving some racy-looking jagged lines. Neat. ST-Line Vignale Premium Sensico With Metal Grey Stitching The cabin is greatly improved in terms of both quality and design. The plastics are soft-touch, with a nice variety of textures and finishes. On the motorway the 8-speed auto brings further benefit; keeping the revs to a minimum. Coupled to a hefty amount of noise insulation the Focus is incredibly quiet. You can barely hear the diesel rattle from up front, and can converse with fellow passengers at 70mph without raising your voice at all.

If you want your Focus ST Line X to go anything like the way it looks, then the 1.5 EcoBoost will be the obvious choice: 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds and a top speed of 138mph. And if you’re really looking for a performance Ford Focus, then join us in eagerly awaiting the arrival of the ST. Visibility is great, and parking is no problem at all. And if you still don’t believe us, you can opt for Active Park Assist which will do the job for you! There are four engines available in the new Focus ST Line X: 1.0 and 1.5 EcoBoost petrol engines with 125PS and 182PS respectively, and 1.5 and 2.0 EcoBlue diesel engines with 120PS and 150PS respectively. All are available with a choice of 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic gearboxes. Other available options include opening panoramic roof, B&O premium sound system, heated steering wheel, active park assist (self-parking), an adaptive damping system and keyless entry.

2022 Ford ECOSPORT

The noticeable downsizing comes with the boot width: you might struggle to get a set of golf clubs in it, and if your buggy is on the larger side that too could be an issue. Pearlescent/Mica = As above, only instead of metal, ceramic crystals (known as ‘mica’) are added to the paint. These not only reflect light but refract it too, giving one colour different appearances in different levels of light. They’re normally as expensive as or pricier than metallic paints. The 1.5 EcoBlue diesel engine featured in our Ford Focus ST Line X is the most economical of the bunch. It may not have the performance credentials of the 1.5 Ecoboost, but it would easily beat it on economy figures in a game of top trumps. This is one of Ford’s more drastic re-stylings, but it has worked a treat. The overall body shape is sleeker than the outgoing car, with softer, smoother lines. Our test car had the standard suspension setup, and we found it well-balanced. It was forgiving enough to absorb bumps and potholes, even on 18-inch rims with low-profile tyres.

Unlike its predecessor, this new Ford Focus has a host of impressive gadgets available as optional extras. But then again, it’s not all about speed. Some people will choose the ST Line X because it looks tremendous, but the 120PS diesel engine will be plenty. Here’s a detailed look at the paint palette available on the Ford Puma 5-seater crossover-SUV, which we hope will help you choose your perfect new car colour. You can also read our in-depth Ford Puma review for more details about Ford's exceptional crossover. And it’s because we spent so long looking at it that we noticed the rear door line is remarkably similar to a BMW 1 Series. Fitting really, because this new Focus is gunning for the likes of the BMW 1 Series, VW Golf and Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Interior Finish It’s worth noting that this is under the new WLTP testing regime, which seems to be producing more realistic economy figures.

Interior Finish

The boot is reasonably spacious. It does look a little smaller than the previous car, but its 273-litre capacity is only 4-litres less than before. To live with, the Ford Focus ST Line X is a great companion. Aside from a seemingly longer bonnet than before, it’s easy to judge while driving. Solid = A simple body colour with no additives in the paint. Usually comprises 3 coats, these being a primer, then the paint, then a clear, protective lacquer. Solid paints aren’t particularly shiny and are normally the only standard/no-cost colours offered by manufacturers. Though a Puma EV is on the cards, it’s not due until 2024, with the current line-up consisting of mild-hybrid petrol units and a sporty ST version. Your lump sum cash deposit you will pay at the beginning of your agreement which will reduce the amount to finance.