Conceptually the Ford Focus ST is refreshingly old fashioned - because it’s a car that’s designed to be fun. Ford has always been good at making mainstream cars entertaining, and the ST fits that template in a stuffed-with-technology 21st century way. We drove the responsive 2.3 litre turbocharged petrol (there’s also a 2.0 diesel) which is a bit lower and bulgier than the regular Focus. This is a powerful front-drive car so to get that power through the wheels without them thrashing about it uses an electronic slip differential - the electric bit makes it a design first for the model - and you can select various driving modes to adjust what the steering, suspension and engine do when the car is accelerating and cornering. I did not try the launch button for super-fast ‘getaways’, but colleagues who care about such things waxed lyrical about it. Although this is a 155mph motor car that will get to 62mph in under six seconds it’s actually a doddle to … [Read more...] about Car review: Ford Focus ST 2.3 petrol
Car reviews
Millions of us spend up to £3,000 on a car
Millions of first-time car buyers are purchasing a vehicle without checking it over, a study has found. Cars are traditionally one of the most expensive purchases to make, with motorists typically spending around £3,000 on their first set of wheels. Choosing the wrong vehicle can be costly as well as dangerous - but 63 per cent of new drivers failed to research their purchase properly or carry out relevant checks. Seven in 10 admitted they didn't really know what they were looking for when buying their first car while 40 per cent didn’t even test-drive the vehicle. Stephen widget View fullscreen Widget As a result, the study, commissioned by Parkers.co.uk , found 49 per cent of the 1,000 first-time car buyers polled regretted their purchase. Keith Adams, editor of Parkers.co.uk , the UK’s largest consumer advice and car review website, said: “Buying your first car can be very much a head vs heart decision, with drivers often excited and … [Read more...] about Millions of us spend up to £3,000 on a car
Review: Why the all-electric EQ ForTwo is a Smart choice
I've always had a soft spot for the Smart ForTwo. It's a cute and cool two-seater with famously diminutive proportions, unique road manners and plenty of trademark "quirks". This, the latest "EQ" model, heralds the the start of Smart's new future as it won't be long before the ForTwo and its larger ForFour sibling will only be available with an electric powertrain. And before you get all misty-eyed about the loss of its characterful three-cylinder engine and the odd clutchless manual transmission, I think it's a really good thing. I've just spent a week in the EQ version of the ForTwo and it feels so well suited to its electric propulsion. When you think about it, why shouldn't a small city car be among the first to banish its dirty fossil fuel-powered engine? Small cars have always worked well as electric vehicles and they're at home in the smog-filled urban metropolis - so the EQ sets a fine example. Let's cut to the chase though, and talk about range. Smart's sales literature will … [Read more...] about Review: Why the all-electric EQ ForTwo is a Smart choice
Which car models thieves commonly go for
It might surprise you to know that the most commonly stolen car in 2018, was not a luxury vehicle. The type of car more vehicle thieves opted for over anything else, was not a sports car or a flashy 4x4, it was in fact a Ford Focus. Yep, you read that right. According to police figures which have been analysed by GoCompare, the humble Ford Focus and several other models of Ford were the target of choice for those stealing cars in the UK, with a whopping 1,952 Fords stolen across the country. The research looked at Freedom of Information data from 17 of the 43 police constabularies across England and Wales, including Dorset, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. It showed that a total of 25,684 vehicles were reported stolen across these 17 constabularies last year - with Kent Police recording the highest number of vehicle thefts after 3,444 cars were taken. But despite this, it was an area in Staffordshire that was found to be one of the riskiest places in the UK to leave a car. A total of … [Read more...] about Which car models thieves commonly go for
Car review: Honda HR-V Sport
If you are looking for an engaging drive, chances are your first choice would not be an SUV. Too tall. So when Honda introduced a new sporty version of its smallest SUV, the HR-V, called the, er, HR-V Sport, most people were just expecting a bit more pep and perhaps the odd bit of red trim. In fact, the car’s handling came as a revelation. On twisty country roads near its international launch in Lisbon the Sport gobbled up corners like a greedy teenager and seemed to encourage the driver to give it an extra helping of beans. Armed with a 182PS 1.5-litre VTEC turbo engine it is not going to set your socks on fire, but there is easily enough grunt to make cross-country dashes plenty of fun. Whether the Sport has a slick six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed step-shifted CVT auto, it always feels eager to press on, but is equally happy to noodle around town at a snail’s pace. The driving position is spot-on, and both the steering and gearbox are a joy to use. I … [Read more...] about Car review: Honda HR-V Sport