2019 (191) Ford Focus

The Ford Focus is as ubiquitous on Irish roads as potholes and there are good reasons behind its popularity for the last twenty years. The fourth generation Focus is now longer, lower and lighter than ever before. This has led to improvements in areas such as the boot where there are now 375 litres of space, putting it on a par with its rivals. There is also plenty of space inside for passengers to stretch their legs and a lower transmission tunnel for the middle passenger to manage. Specification is equally generous with the all models getting alloy wheels, cruise control and a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple Car Play and Android Auto. Importantly for a family car, there is also a decent level of safety specification that includes lane-keeping and pre-collision assist. There is a choice between a 1.5 litre diesel and a 1.0 litre turbocharged Ecoboost petrol, with the latter variant finding most favour thanks to its punchy power output and frugal economy.