THIS is one cracking car. Period.

It’s always been a favourite of ours – see Ford Focus review New petrol engine kicks diesel into touch – but this new Ford Focus model just raises the bar.

There’s all the fun you could want behind the wheel when you get the chance on a twisty road – absolute composure, direct steering, unflustered brilliance and a crackling three-cylinder engine with better response from the new low inertia turbocharger.

And everything when you’re doing a long business journey – quietness, refinement, improved interior quality, and Ford’s Sync2 connectivity.

For company car drivers there’s also the prospect of benefit in kind company car taxation from as little as £43.73 (for the Zetec model) rising to only £51.89 for the topline Titanium X model.

Would the new 1.5 TDCi engine be better on company car tax though?

No, not at all. We’ve not had a chance to drive it yet, but it doesn’t stack up so well on benefit in kind tax – a Titanium X model would cost £57.23 for a 20% tax payer.

Where the new Ford Focus 1.5 TDCi does score is if you’re a high mileage driver – a 20,000 miles a year driver – then the superior fuel economy of the diesel would be a significant advantage.

But otherwise this new Ford Focus 1.0T EcoBoost model is a gem. And fine for business, even though it’s a petrol car.

Try it out. You’ll be hooked.

More on the Ford Focus

Read our review on the new Ford Focus here