SLOWLY and surely, Ford is making its presence felt with the new Focus.

The Focus estate is the second body-style in the range and is tipped to significantly raise the percentage of sales which Ford has previously seen in this sector as buyers look for additional room over a hatchback but don't want to go into the larger MPV sector.

Ford predict the estate will account for 15 per cent of Focus registrations, up on the 12 per cent of the previous series as a result of this shift in buying styles which has been seen across all manufacturers.

Eventually ten Focus models around the world will be based on the same floorpan.

The seven engine choices include the 150ps 1.6 Ecoboost turbo direct injection petrol engine, which is made in Bridgend, as well as 105ps and 125ps 1.6 TiVCT petrols.

There are also 95ps and 115ps 1.6 TDCi together with 115ps, 140ps and 163ps 2.0 TDCi diesel engines.

Gearboxes are five or six-speed, depending on chosen engine and the estate comes in Edge, Zetec, Titanium and Titanium X specifications.

I tried the new 150ps 1.6 Ecoboost and it is a superb blend of performance, refinement and economy with low emissions if you are paying company car tax.

It starts pulls very strongly and even at higher revs it is fairly quiet and comes with the latest start/ stop technology to aid economy in heavy traffic.

Such refinement is more in keeping with a much larger engine and more than the four-cylinders under the Focus bonnet but it shows how far technology and engineering has progressed in just a few years.

The sophistication of the engine is matched by that of the six-speed manual gearbox.

The clutch pedal is light, the change action direct and easy and the ratios give strong pulling power with a load aboard and the promise of very good economy.

Mechanically, the Focus estate is the same as the hatch so it steers with precision, has a tight turning circle and the car stops quickly and undramatically with modest pedal effort.

Press on through sweeping sections of road and the Focus Estate stays glued to the ground, even when lightly laden which can sometimes challenge an estate.

With any estate the clincher is how easy it is to load and live with.

The new Focus Estate does not disappoint on either count. The tailgate opens from just below knee-height to reveal a carpeted flat floor with smooth sides behind a large opening and the door lifts up out of the way but not so far that a short person would have trouble closing it.

Roof rails are standard and there is a one-touch luggage cover, both features which will be appreciated by regular estate car owners. Capacity rises from 476 litres to 1,502 litres and the back seat has an offset split for maximum practicality.

Inside, the access to the cabin is good, the seats are well shaped, slightly firm and supportive. The front pair have a good range of movement, the back bench folds quickly and low.

Oddments room is good for a family car and visibility is clear all round thanks to a low waistline, good wipers and bright lights on the test model.

Secondary controls are sensibly spread out, the instruments clear, heating and ventilation comfortable and the fit and finish are impressive too.

Ford really has moved on the game with the Focus and the new estate builds on this appeal with added practicality for users.

As with so many Fords this is a car which is well placed to become the benchmark in its sector.