Ford Focus is going to have a tough fight on its hands to make an impact in the compact family car class.
is going to have a tough fight on its hands to make an impact in the compact family car class. We found out exactly how difficult that would be when the EcoBoost-powered hatchback took on our class favourite, the SEAT Leon, and was narrowly beaten here. Now, it’s the turn of the Focus Estateto prove its mettle.
For this test, we’re going for diesel power, and in the Focus, it’s the new 1.5-litre TDCi that’s making its debut. This new engine promises a decent combination of efficiency and performance. However, the Focus will need to be something special to have the measure of its two rivals here.
First up is the SEAT Leon ST. It doesn’t have the biggest boot around, but it makes up for it with practical touches. Plus, the Leon’s sharp handling remains, even in the guise of the fuel-efficient Ecomotive model tested here.
Then there’s the Peugeot 308 SW. It has the largest boot in the class and the lowest CO2 emissions from its 1.6 BlueHDi diesel, while the cabin has a premium feel that will be hard for the Focus to match. So, for the second time of asking, can the new Ford take top honours?
Click on the links above to read full reviews of the cars in this test, and scroll down to see which load-lugger takes the win in this test...
Head-to-head
Boot space
The 308 SWleads the space race: it has a boot capacity of 660 litres with the rear seats up and 1,775 litres when they’re folded. Plus, the bases collapse as you fold the seats in one move.
There’s 587 litres available in the SEAT, and 1,470 litres when the seats are down. The Ford only has 476 litres with the seats in place, but this jumps ahead of the Leon with them folded, as there’s a 1,502-litre maximum capacity.
LED headlights
LED headlamps are standard on the Peugeot, while SEAT’s free Technology Pack upgrade means the Leon gets the glitzy lights, too. You can add LED daytime running lamps to the Focus Zetec for £600, but the headlights are standard halogens – xenons only come with the top-spec Titanium X models.
Company car tax
Ford’s new Focus sits in the 15 per cent Benefit In Kind bracket, while its rivals are one position lower at 14 per cent. And despite their higher list prices, the SEAT and Peugeot bring lower tax bills, with the Leon costing higher-rate fleet users £1,168 a year. Those who go for the Ford face a £1,232 bill.
Verdict
1st place: SEAT Leon ST
It’s a close verdict, but the Leon narrowly edges ahead in this test. While it doesn’t have the space of the 308 SW, it makes up for it with practical touches, and you can splash out on some neat options and still undercut the Peugeot on price. Add in decent performance from the eco diesel, a combination of entertaining handling, cruising comfort and great value, and the Leon STwins.
2nd place: Peugeot 308 SW
The 308 SWis a roomy and practical estate, while the Allure model looks very attractive as it has plenty of big car goodies. Plus, the 1.6 BlueHDi is an excellent diesel, which delivers punchy performance and super-low running costs. However, we found the cabin isn’t quite as user-friendly as its rivals here, and the higher list price also counts against it.
3rd place: Ford Focus Estate
The revised Focus Estatehas closed the gap on its rivals, but not quite enough. While the exterior redesign has given it a new lease of life and the updated dash is more user-friendly, the car’s fundamental layout has remained unchanged, so boot space still isn’t as good as the Peugeot’s. The 1.5 TDCi isn’t as efficient as rivals’ units, while the lack of kit is another drawback.
Key specs: SEAT Leon ST 1.6 TDI (110) Ecomotive SE Peugeot 308 SW 1.6 BlueHDi (120) Allure Ford Focus Estate 1.5 TDCi (120) Zetec On the road price/total as tested £20,920/£24,305 £21,945/£23,450 £20,595/£20,595 Residual value (after 3yrs/36,000) £9,247/44.2% £8,515/38.8% £8,850/43.0% Depreciation £11,673 £13,430 £11,745 Annual tax liability std/higher rate £584/£1,168 £613/£1,226 £616/£1,232 Annual fuel cost (12k/20k miles) £1,309/£2,181 £1,268/£2,114 £1,652/£2,753 Ins. group/quote/road tax band/cost 14/£344/A/£0 21/£336/A/£0 16/£350/A/£0 Cost of 1st/2nd/3rd service £480 (3yrs/30,000) £468 (3yrs/35,000) £570 (3yrs) Length/wheelbase 4,535/2,636mm 4,585/2,730mm 4,560/2,648mm Height/width 1,454/1,816mm 1,472/1,863mm 1,492/1,823mm Engine 4cyl in-line/1,598cc 4cyl in-line/1,560cc 4cyl in-line/1,498cc Peak power/revs 109/3,200 bhp/rpm 118/3,500 bhp/rpm 118/3,600 bhp/rpm Peak torque/revs 250/1,500 Nm/rpm 300/1,750 Nm/rpm 270/1,750 Nm/rpm Transmission 6-spd man/fwd 6-spd man/fwd 6-spd man/fwd Fuel tank capacity/spare wheel 50 litres/repair kit 53 litres/space saver 53 litres/space saver Boot capacity (seats up/down) 587/1,470 litres 660/1,775 litres 476/1,502 litres Kerbweight/payload/towing weight 1,280/470/1,000kg 1,300/570/1,300kg 1,368/532/1,200kg Turning circle 10.1 metres 10.8 metres 11.0 metres Basic warranty (miles)/recovery 3yrs (60,000)/1yr 3yrs (unlimited)/1yr 3yrs (60,000)/1yr Service intervals/UK dealers Variable/128 16,000 miles (1yr)/300 12,500 mi (1yr)/781 Driver Power manufacturer/dealer pos 24th/32nd 14th/9th 25th/27th Euro NCAP: Adult/child/ped./stars 94/92/70/5 (2012) 92/79/64/5 (2013) 92/82/72/5 (2012) 0-60/30-70mph 10.2/9.8 seconds 9.7/9.3 seconds 10.4/10.5 seconds 30-50mph in 3rd/4th 5.0/7.2 seconds 4.3/6.9 seconds 4.3/5.9 seconds 50-70mph in 5th/6th 9.7/14.0 seconds 8.4/15.8 seconds 7.9/10.7 seconds Top speed/rpm at 70mph 124mph/1,800rpm 121mph/1,600rpm 120mph/2,000rpm Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 47.1/34.5/9.0m 49.4/35.4/13.0m 45.6/32.9/8.7m Noise outside/idle/30/70mph 63/46/61/67dB 66/48/60/68dB 66/49/62/69dB Auto Express econ (mpg/mpl)/range 50.1/11.0/551 miles 51.7/11.4/603 miles 39.7/8.7/463 miles Govt urban/extra-urban/combined 72.4/91.1/85.6mpg 78.4/88.3/85.6mpg 65.7/83.1/74.3mpg Govt urban/extra-urban/combined 15.9/20.0/18.8mpl 17.2/19.4/18.8mpl 14.5/18.3/16.3mpl Actual/claimed CO2/tax bracket 151/87g/km/14% 146/88g/km/14% 191/98g/km/15% Airbags/Isofix/park sensors/camera Seven/yes/£270/no Six/yes/yes/yes Six/yes/£225/£165 Automatic box/stability/cruise control No/yes/yes No/yes/yes No/yes/£250 Climate control/leather/heated seats £355/£1,520/£355 Yes/£1,500/£1,500 No/no/no Metallic paint/LED lights/keyless go £530/£1,000/no £525/yes/£415 £525/no/no Sat-nav/USB/DAB radio/Bluetooth £930/yes/£405/yes Yes/yes/yes/yes £500/yes/yes/yes