Add intelligent headlamp dipping, voice-activated controls, DAB radio, rain-sensing wipers and traffic-sign recognition and you've got a premium car's equipment packed into a non-premium hatchback.

In the cabin, your immediate reaction is to wonder where all the space went. The dashboard stretches out like an Atlantic roller and the doors feel thick and intrusive. Once you're in though, the cabin feels spacious, with useful storage.

The front seats are cosseting and supportive. In the rear, you sit high up, but there's space enough for a six-footer to climb in easily with leg and headroom to spare - given the curved roof line, it's a clever trick.

Within a few miles at the wheel you feel at home and in charge. There's an immediacy about the chassis, with good on-centre steering feel and confidence-inspiring handling. The ride, too, is first rate. Not soft, but compliant enough to deal with potholes without crashing. Another trait is the extraordinary refinement, especially at speed, where tyre and wind noise are minimal and the car feels utterly stable.

Cornering is also refined, with the wheels riding well even when the passengers' coiffeurs are flying horizontally. Mechanical grip is excellent and there's a steady build-up of side loads through the chassis, ultimately mitigated by the stability control.

At one point, more than 1,500 Ford engineers were working on this project and it shows. On paper it looks good, but within 50 yards you can tell it's better than that.

The Focus is back with a bang, with the competition running scared and a driving pleasure that some BMWs can only dream about.

Review by Andrew English, The Daily Telegraph