FORD has always had a magic touch over producing family cars, but with its latest range of diesel Focus models it has excelled itself.
One in particular is instrumental in demonstrating why Ford is still a front-runner in this respect. It is the 1.5 TDCi ECOnetic, a car that delivers on all fronts in no uncertain terms.
The car's stats speak volumes. For instance the impressive 116mph top speed and 0-62mh sprint of 11.9 seconds are impressive enough but match them to a combined economy readout of 83.1mpg and CO2 emissions of just 88g/km then the true character of this car shines through.
And it is all orchestrated via some very impressive handling qualities.
In the early day of the Focus Ford bosses knew they had to pull some hefty rabbits out of hats to have the edge over cars like the Vauxhall Astra.
So handling became a priority and in the latest range these qualities have been further honed with some changes to the chassis.
The 1.5 TDCI is one of the latest range of engines that give the Focus such a wide appeal. It features a torque factor of 270Nm with overboost and this gives an ideal mix of flexibility and punch when you need it.
And for its asking price of £19,145 this is a very well equipped car with Ford radio/CD with a 4.2 inch display screen with DAB capability and inputs for AUX and USB.
There is also air conditioning and much more to make this Ford a very civilised everyday transport.
There are also the usual driver aids including and electronic stability programme with electronic brake force distribution and emergency brake assist. A welome feature also is hill-start assist.
With a much better ride quality than its predecessor and there is a delightful balance of power and braking that is still rare on a car of this price.
There is plenty of room for five and their luggage with very easy access, and fine visibility.
Many say that it is impossible to produce the perfect all-round car and in a way I agree. But with the 1.5 ECOnetic Ford has gone a long way towards achieving this goal.