Used Ford Focus Estate for sale: everything you need to know
Ford has offered estate versions of every generation of its Focus family hatchback, and did so for the Escort that preceded it too. It’s not difficult to understand why - the brand’s family cars have always sold well, but there will always be those who want just a little more space for life’s paraphernalia, without the compromise of a much larger car.
The latest Focus Estate arrived in 2018, and was updated in 2022, which is the model we’re concentrating on below. Ford has announced the Focus will cease production in 2025, but that means there should still be plenty of choice on the used market for many years to come, where you can add even better value to the car’s list of talents. Read on below to find out more about the Focus Estate.
Should you buy a Ford Focus Estate?
The estate car isn’t dead yet. The Ford Focus Estate is a great example of the breed, and still has plenty to offer over the crossovers and SUVs that are increasingly taking the estate’s place. It keeps all the qualities of the Focus hatchback, already one of the best family hatches around and a perennial best-seller, and throws some extra space into the bargain.
That extra space is welcome, since the 358 litre boot of the regular Focus isn’t all that competitive, but the Estate gets 593 litres, with little compromise to the way the car feels from behind the wheel - it’s maybe a touch trickier to park, but in city driving, on a country road, or on a motorway, the Focus still rides and handles very well and is generally refined too.
One model that rides more firmly is the high-performance ST, but this is a tradeoff buyers will be happy to make for one of the most entertaining estate cars around. Other Focus engines are slightly more subdued but economy and performance are up to class standards whichever you opt for. The cabin design is a bit busy, but it feels well-built - and you should focus (no pun intended) on later models if you want the best infotainment systems.
Other estates to consider in this class include the large and practical Skoda Octavia Estate, plus its slightly smaller but equally fine-driving Volkswagen Golf Estate and SEAT Leon Estate siblings. The Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer, Peugeot 308 SW, and Kia’s Ceed Sportswagon and Proceed are all worth a look too.
What’s the best used Ford Focus Estate model to buy?
Not all trim levels and engines are available across the Focus Estate lineup, so depending on the age of the car you’re looking at, some of the details we’ve listed below may not apply. However, the 1-litre Ecoboost is an evergreen choice, with good performance, refinement, and fuel economy - just keep an eye out for plenty of evidence of servicing, as this engine has a mixed reliability record. Diesels are best for high-mileage drivers, while the ST is great fun - and one of very few hot estate cars outside of much more expensive, premium models.
Used Ford Focus Estate fuel economy and performance
- Ford Focus Estate 1.0 Ecoboost 125PS: Widely used across Ford’s range, the 125PS 1-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol gets from 0-62mph in 10.5 seconds (with a standard six-speed manual), and offers 52.3mpg.
- Ford Focus Estate 1.0 Ecoboost mHEV 125PS: Mild hybrid assistance gives you no more power, and no better economy either, but it does manage that with a seven-speed automatic gearbox, and 0-62mph is a tenth quicker at 10.4 seconds.
- Ford Focus Estate 1.0 Ecoboost mHEV 155PS: There is a more powerful mild hybrid, this time getting 155PS, with manual and automatic gearbox options. The auto is quicker (8.6 seconds to 62mph, compared to 9.1), but the manual is more fuel-efficient (54.3mpg, to the auto’s 53.3mpg).
- Ford Focus Estate 1.5 Ecoblue 115PS: Ford offered a few diesels in the Focus over the years but later cars got a 115PS 1.5-litre. In eight-speed auto form, 0-62mph came up in 12.1 seconds, and economy was 57.6mpg combined.
- Ford Focus Estate 2.3 Ecoboost 280PS: Standing alone at the top of the range, the ST’s 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder produced a hefty 280PS. Both manual and automatic models got from 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds, with 35.3mpg for the manual and 35.8mpg for the auto.
What used Ford Focus Estate trim levels are available?
The list of trim levels below looks a little daunting but it makes more sense if you think of it as being three trim levels - a standard Titanium, off-road inspired Active, and sporty ST-Line - which then get better-equipped ‘X’ versions on top. At the sharp end of the range, there’s then the hot Focus Estate ST, a genuine performance model with its own unique features.
- The Ford Focus Estate Titanium came with 16-inch alloy wheels, electric and heated door mirrors, a heated windscreen, auto lights and wipers, fabric seat trim, a 13.2-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and dual-zone climate control.
- The Ford Focus Estate Titanium X got larger 17-inch alloys, plus privacy glass, Sensico artificial leather upholstery, a 10-speaker B&O audio system, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless phone charging, and 60/40 split rear seats with a ski hatch.
- The Ford Focus Estate Active had a different 17-inch style of alloy wheels, unique front and rear bumpers, badges, side skirts and wheel arch trim, raised suspension for more ground clearance, and blue and black fabric trim.
- The Ford Focus Estate Active X upgraded to 18-inch alloys, plus all the equipment you’d find on the Titanium X.
- The Ford Focus Estate ST-Line featured a sporty ST styling package, plus 17-inch alloys, black fabric trim with red contrast stitching, a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel, and an ST-Line gearknob with an aluminium finish.
- The Ford Focus Estate ST-Line X went an inch larger with the alloys at 18 inches, and got alloy pedals, red painted brake calipers, a rear spoiler, and the same equipment as the other two ‘X’ models.
- The Ford Focus Estate ST brought 19-inch alloys, specific front and rear bumpers, matrix LED headlights, sports suspension, a rear-view camera, an ST exhaust, and Ford Performance seats in artificial leather and artificial suede.
Used Ford Focus Estate dimensions and boot size
The Ford Focus Estate’s dimensions are:
- Length: 4693mm
- Width: 1825mm (without mirrors, Active 1844mm), 1979mm (with mirrors)
- Height: 1494mm (Active 1532mm, ST-Line and ST 1485mm)
The Ford Focus Estate’s boot size is:
- 593 litres
- 1620 litres with the rear seats folded
Used Ford Focus Estate road tax
With the exception of one or two highly-specified ST Estates which cost slightly more than £40,000 brand new, the majority of the Focus Estate range will cost you either £180 per year in VED (for the hybrids), or £190 a year for petrol and diesel models. That handful of more expensive Focus ST Estates will set you back £600 per year until the car’s seventh year on the road, when it drops to a lower tax rate.
How much is it to insure a Ford Focus Estate?
Most of the Focus Estate range can be found in groups 13-19, with a 1.0 Ecoboost Titanium at the bottom of that range, and the Titanium X, Active X, and ST-Line X in 155PS mild hybrid form at the top. Again the Focus ST Estate is the exception, which finds itself in group 27. No Focus should be especially cheaper or more expensive to insure than equivalent rivals though.
