What_Car_UK_-_August_2020

FordFocusEstate

Notasspacious

orclassyasthe

Octavia,butsharper

todriveanda

quietercruiser.

ToyotaCorolla

TouringSports

Petrolhybridis

similarlyeconomical

butevencheaper

forcompanycartax.

RIVALS

10 August 2020 whatcar.com

and the graphics look sharp and sophisticated.

The home and menu shortcut buttons are a bit

of a stretch to reach on the far left side of the

screen, though. All models come with a fully

digital instrument panel that’s clear and easy to

control from the new two-spoke steering wheel

and gives plenty of layout and content options.

However, the change in the layout of the

air conditioning controls definitely isn’t

a step in the right direction. Rather than

being simple buttons and knobs (as in the

old car), the controls are now located on the

touchscreen, where they’re fiddlier and more

distracting to operate while driving. At least

the temperature control icons are always

accessible in the bottom corners of the screen,

although finer control of the system means

going into the climate menu. Meanwhile,

adjusting the volume of the sound system isn’t

as straightforward as turning a knob; you now

have to slide your finger along a horizontal

panel below the touchscreen or use the

steering wheel controls.

The driver’s seat is comfortable even after

several hours at the wheel, while there’s

plenty of reach and rake adjustment for the

steering wheel, so finding an ideal driving

position is easy. A height and length-adjustable

armrest between the front seats is a welcome

touch, too. To help alleviate parking worries,

SE First Edition trim comes as standard with

rear parking sensors, while the others also

get sensors at the front.

Interior space is virtually unchanged

compared with that of the outgoing estate –

which is to say it’s plentiful. In the rear, a six-

footer will have no trouble sitting behind a

similarly tall driver, with loads of leg and head

room to spare. Only a large central hump blots

its copybook, although you’ll still find decent

space for three side by side in the back.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone

mirroring, while SE Technology and range-

topping SE L First Edition trims get a larger,

10.0in screen with built-in 3D navigation that

is clear and easy to follow. Helpfully, the screen

is positioned higher in the dashboard than

before, so you don’t have to take your eyes

quite so far off the road to see it.

The on-screen icons are large, so you can hit

them relatively easily on the move, while the

screen responds instantaneously to inputs

FIRST DRIVE

‘Interior space is

virtually unchanged

compared with that

of the old car – which

is to say it’s plentiful’