Ford Focus Active review - another string to versatile Focus's bow

It’s sometimes hard to keep up with Ford and its ever-expanding range of cars.

Just when you think you’ve got to grips with every variant of every model, another new version pops up.

This is never more true than when it comes to the Focus, which now has spin-off trims for its spin-off trims.

A quick glance at the brochure for the 2020 car reveals four “standard” trim levels - Style, Zetec, Titanium and Titanium X - before you get to the more specialised models. Above Titanium X there’s the lux Vignale.

It’s the Active that we’re concerned with here - a slightly more rugged variation of the Focus aimed at the sort of people who own a paddle board and a springer spaniel but don’t fancy something as bulky as the Kuga SUV.

In the Focus’s case that brief means a hatchback or estate body with a 3cm suspension raise, thicker tyres, protective cladding around arches, sills and bumpers, roof rails, and only the more powerful versions of the available engines.

It’s not going to conquer the Dakar Rally but it’s the sort of extra clearance and protection that might come in handy if you’re bouncing down a beach access road or crawling along forestry tracks to mountain bike trails. To help in such pursuits, the Active also gets an extra “slippery & trail” driving mode to adjust the traction control and throttle but there’s no four-wheel-drive option.

Inside, the Active gets unique and curiously appealing hard-wearing upholstery with Active details, privacy glass as standard and some shiny scuff plates.

Apart from those details, it’s the same layout as every other Focus, with clear, easy-to-use controls and decent ergonomics and space. Even after all these years the VW Golf might have it licked on quality but the Focus can hold its head up high among other rivals.

If you’re serious about practicality, the tested estate offers 575 litres of luggage space with seats up, 1,620 with them down, with a wide-opening tailgate for easy access and a clever adjustable boot board for keeping different sizes and shapes of load secure.