Thanks once again to our short-term car rental and leasing specialists, Enterprise, for allowing us to demo and review this fantastic, family car option – the Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost 125 ST-Line Navigation 5dr Manual which is currently on special offer here @CarLease_UK.
This is a great, all-round vehicle to showcase and review as we have just launched some great 2 year deals on both the petrol (Browse Deals) and diesel options (Browse Deals). Which option would you choose?
So, is diesel dead? Given the political pressure and the media’s critique of the diesel vehicles, particularly after a number of high profile scandals from VW and Land Rover, you might consider that the diesel engine is not progressing much further in the industry.
However, we have not found that this is the case, as we are still selling/leasing diesel engine vehicles.
Where there has been improvement, is that customers are becoming more savvy on engines types, in that low-mileage users (those drivers covering 8,000 miles or fewer) are not procuring the diesel engine. For start/stop driving behaviour, a diesel engine is simply inappropriate. Where people have made a mistake, is that they see the combined MPG and presume a cost-effective decision is being reached. However, the driving style is not adequate for the diesel and this leads to issues pertaining to the DPF and cars not achieving the suggested MPG. If you are a high-mileage leasing customer (those drivers covering 20,000 miles or more), you do need to consider a diesel engine as you will see the benefit of the combined MPG particularly if you have long-distance/motorway style driving.
In terms of the car shown, the FOCUS 1.0 EcoBoost 125 ST-Line, this is based on the following configuration:
· Metallic – Deep impact blue
· Cloth – Charcoal black
· 17″ alloy wheels with rock metallic finish
The ST Line is very much the sport “middle” model within the Focus offerings, which consists of:
· Focus Style;
· Focus Zetec Edition;
· Focus Titanium;
· Focus Titanium X;
· Focus ST-2 and 3; and
· Focus RS (the supercar of the group!).
As such, you do get some great basic specification with the ST Line, including Quickclear windscreen, hill start assist, sports suspicion, floor mats, Sync 3 nav system / 8” screen, body coloured external features, fog lights, LED daytime lights,. Air conditioning, Thatcham Cat1 alarm, lumbar support, keyless start and the MyKey system. To get the most out your car consider the following factor options – rear privacy glass, rear parking sensors and the 18” alloys.
On the technical-front, company car drivers/fleet managers should note the P11d of £21,590.00 and CO2 at 108g/km. The 999CC 6 speed engine delivers 125ps which does offer a considered 60.1 MPG and 0-62 times of circa 11 seconds. Like many petrol engines, service schedules are every 12 months or 12,500 miles. As we do keep mentioning, this makes you consider the benefit of having a funder-maintained agreement, so that the cost of all servicing, tyres and maintenance are included.
So if the Ford Focus the leader in the hatchback leasing offers section? With great competitions including the Seat Leon FR, VW Golf TDI GT, Vauxhall Astra SRI Vx Line and Peugeot 308 GT Line, Ford really do have a fight on their hands.
Or also you may want to consider the Ford Focus RS...
Let us know your thoughts and comment below on which car you think is the best..?
