ENTHUSIASTIC drivers who besides demand a practical car are going to love the Ford Focus ST estate.

Information technology combines a performance that's guaranteed to put a smiling on your face with plenty of creature comforts and room for the family and the holiday luggage. In fact, I had such nail at the cycle of the bluish oval badged machine that I forgot it was an manor I was driving.

Under the bonnet of the test car was a two.3-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, developing a very salubrious 280PS and 420Nm of torque, mated to a highly satisfying short-throw six-speed manual gearbox.

This powertrain can burn the Focus to 62mph in a rapid five.8 seconds and on to 155mph, so everyday overtaking and cruising is a doddle. Yet it can boilerplate 34.4mpg.

The Ford Focus ST Estate

A special sport suspension set-up that caters for a loaded wagon, continuously controlled damping and an electronic express slip differential all combine for dynamic agility, superb responsiveness to commuter input and confidence-inspiring grip.

Adding to the feel are the three standard drive modes – slippery/wet, normal and sport – that adjust the likes of damping, slip diff, steering and throttle response, every bit well every bit the frazzle/engine soundtrack.

Most owners will want the £250 Ford Performance Pack that adds a track mode, shift indicator and rev-matching for downshifts, launch control to deliver the best acceleration off the line and multi-colour ambience lighting.

All this electronic and engineering wizardry makes the Focus ST estate superb fun to throw around challenging country roads, nonetheless it is too capable of existence an accomplished tourer and more refined around town.

The Ford Focus ST Estate

It looks the part, likewise, with hit grilles and foglight housing, flowing lines, sporty bodystyling kit, a large rear spoiler, and eye-catching LED front and rear calorie-free clusters.

Then there are smart gray 19in alloys with ruby-red restriction calipers, pronounced ST badging and twin tailpipes either side of the rear diffuser that have the benefit of allowing towing capability.

Racy design cues go along inside – starting with the figure-hugging Recaro fractional leather blackness seats with cool grey piping and stitching that are wonderfully comfortable and heated upward front end.

The Ford Focus ST Manor

So at that place are the blend pedals, special ST floor mats, a nighttime headliner, carbon-fibre-effect finishing trim and a chunky perforated-leather sports steering wheel (also heated) that proudly wears an ST badge and has a special red push to put the car into sport fashion.

The manor offers plenty of head, shoulder and legroom for four adults or a family of five and the 728-litre kick is practically shaped and easily able to swallow suitcases for a week away. Fold the back row and you've a 1620-litre surface area to load your flat-pack article of furniture.

Sporty information technology may exist but the ST also has a plethora of goodies to brand life on the road enjoyable for all and easier for the driver.

Ford's acclaimed SYNC3 infotainment system is piece of cake to utilise through the eight-inch colour touchscreen atop the dash. It features total smartphone integration, sat nav, access to various machine functions, an emergency assistance characteristic and voice control.

The Ford Focus ST Estate

It is supported past a 675-Watt B&O audio organisation with 10 speakers for surround audio and a rear-view parking photographic camera.

The list goes on with dual-zone air con, adaptive car lights (including high axle) and wipers, keyless entry and start, intelligent speed limiter, commuter alert, lane proceed assist, adaptive cruise command with lane centring aid, and front and rear parking sensors.

Priced from £33,095 on the road, this petrol-powered Focus ST estate is going to tempt many motorists.

Factfile:

  • Model: Ford Focus ST estate ii.3L EcoBoost manual
  • Engine: 2.3-litre petrol
  • Power: 280PS
  • Pinnacle speed: 155mph
  • 0-62mph: 5.eight seconds
  • Boilerplate mpg: 34.4
  • CO2 emissions: 179g/km
  • Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles
  • Price: £33,095