Ford Focus 1.0T 125PS EcoBoost Titanium 5dr business car test review

Review: Ralph Morton

What is it?

WAIT a minute. If you thought that the only business car worth having these days was a diesel for reasons of fuel cost and company car tax, then prepare to have your world turned upside down.

By Ford.

Ford’s latest Focus – the Ford Focus 1.0T EcoBoost – now has an innovative and lightweight petrol engine that has just a 1.0 litre capacity and only three cylinders but with a turbo to boost power. In fact, it’s so small, the engine block just about covers a sheet of A4 paper.

Not convinced yet?

OK, the power output is 125PS – that’s the same as a standard 1.6 petrol Focus. But it’s efficiency is far greater: there’s 56.5mpg fuel economy and CO2 emissions of 114g/km. For those thinking of potential company car tax, that’s a 13% banding in 2012/13 tax year.

There are in fact two versions of this engine, a lower powered 100PS model with even fewer CO2 emissions (109g/km) and greater economy (58.9mpg), which is combined with a five speed gearbox.

But the car we are testing is the 125PS version with six speed manual gearbox in the five door hatchback Focus.

This 125PS Ford Focus 1.0T EcoBoost model is available in Zetec, Zetec S, Titanium and Titanium X trim both as a five door hatchback or estate model. We tested the Titanium hatchback model, which costs £18,995 on the road.

What’s hot?

• Size doesn’t matter – the engine gives nothing away to bigger units
• Phenomenal torque – that feeling of low down surge
• …it’s 170Nm available at very low revs – with an over boost to 200Nm
• And there’s the hushed cruising or near silence at standstill
• But a pleasing off-beat urgent warble under acceleration
• Over 56mpg official fuel economy – we saw 42mpg on our test run
• Low CO2 emissions for company car tax purposes: 13% in 2012/13
• Diesel fuel economy, but no 3% diesel surcharge on company car tax
• Plus petrol is cheaper on the forecourts, so fill ups cost less
• There’s the usual attributes Ford Focus attributes, too…
• …Excellent ride, practicality, running costs plus excellent Driver Assistance Pack (£750)

What’s not?

• Perception that the engine is too small to be serious
• Fuel economy will suffer if you fail to use the torque…
• …or enjoy that characterful engine to the full!
• …we saw a worst average of 37mpg (mainly uphill)
• Lack of engine braking means you need to modulate the middle pedal carefully to prevent sudden brake grabbing
• Steering could do with more feel

What you need to Know