83 MOTORING ROAD TESTS BY NICK FLETCHER
OUR MOTORING COLUMN, BY THE EXPERIENCED AND AWARD WINNING LOCAL MOTORING JOURNALIST NICK FLETCHER, HELPS OUR READERS CHOOSE THE BEST OF THE LATEST CARS.
FORDE FOCUS ZETEC
FORD FIRST LAUNCHED ITS FOCUS MODEL BACK IN 1999 AND SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS BECOME A GLOBAL BEST-SELLER AND, MORE THAN 20 YEARS ON AND AGAINST GREATER COMPETITION, IS STILL ABLE TO ATTRACT A NEW GENERATION OF BUYERS. With a variety of petrol and diesel engines, eight
different trim levels and a wealth of upgrade options, the Focus can be tailored to suit almost all customer requirements, and prices start at £20,935. The entry model offers adequate basic features but
many buyers move up to the better-specified Zetec version which has standard kit which includes air- conditioning, cruise control, heated windscreen, power windows front and rear, smartphone mirroring and safety features including auto-emergency braking and lane-keep assist. My test model was a Zetec with the popular 1.0 litre 125 hp Ecoboost petrol engine and 6-speed manual gearbox – an 8-speed automatic option is available on most models. The 0-60 mph time is 10.0 seconds, top speed 123 mph and average fuel economy 57.6 mpg. Emissions are 111 g/km. This version costs £22,210. Rivals include the Volkswagen Golf but the Focus has plus-points of its own, most notably its ride and handling which are widely regarded as best in class. With precise intuitive steering feedback and supple ride quality, the Focus is a joy to drive, poised on the corners,
KIA XCEED
refined on the motorway and nimble in the city. The car is sleekly styled and the latest versions offer
THE FOCUS IS STILL A GREAT
PACKAGE WORTHY OF ITS TOP-SELLING STATUS
greater leg-room in the rear. The dashboard is set out for maximum ease of use with clear placement of dials and switchgear and the driver can get a good position thanks to multi-adjustable steering wheel and centrally-aligned pedals. Ford has upgraded the cabin materials
for a smarter look which works well, and with more rooms for occupants and bootspace of 375 litres near-identical to that of a VW Golf, the Focus scores well for practicality. And when the rear seats
are folded, the available load space of 1,354 litres is actually greater than that of the Golf. While you do have to move up the trim grades to get some of the kit that may be standard on rivals, there is no doubt that overall, the Focus is still a great package worthy of its top-selling status.
FIAT 500X CROSS PLUS
THE TINY FIAT 500 IS AN ICONIC CITY CAR FIRST LAUNCHED IN THE LATE 1950S BUT WHILE MILLIONS LOVED ITS CHIC PERSONA, THERE ARE THOSE WHO WISHED IT WAS JUST A LITTLE LARGER AND MORE PRACTICAL. So Fiat created the 500X, a much bigger version which while retaining cute styling echos of the original 500, has its own distinct character. With prices starting at £18,895, a choice of varying-output petrol engines from 1.0 litre upwards and with three trim levels, the 500X has made a significant impact in its sector with sales already topping 500,000. All models get a touchscreen infotainment system
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