Ford Focus

Ford’s fourth-gen Focus is set to usher in a return of the dynamic greatness that made the original the darling of the UK motoring press, when the new compact Blue Oval arrives in November. Equally importantly in today’s ultracompetitive small-car landscape, the all-new Focus brings the model up to date in terms of safety and infotainment technology. With Ford fifth on the sales charts and without a model in the top 20 as we write, the brand needs a sales star, and the Focus (with help from a hitherto unseen brilliant Ford marketing campaign) could be that car. Led by the lively, charming, efficient turbo threepot version, the Focus might just have the measure of Corolla, Mazda 3 and i30.