Asked two dealers this question:

Can you get a Focus ACTIVE Estate (Thinking of an Active X or Vignale Edition) with a 1.5 or higher engine in Petrol Auto? I have seen reviews on YouTube mentioning that there is a Petrol 1.5 in the excellent OSV review. I have downloaded the latest Focus brochure and it only seems to list the  1L 1.25ps Petrol or mPHEV 1.0 with 125ps/1.55ps. I do not want a Diesel due to low mileage and DPF failures.

Two dealers have assured me I only need the 1L Ecoboost as this has the power of a 1.5 140ps, not sure how they know what I need but they are salesmen after all! And if Ford state power as 125ps I don't see how it can have 140ps as well. At present I have a well specced Skoda Octavia Estate DSG nearly 6 years old but with only 21k on the clock and am having ideas about changing to something newer, but I do not like the new reliance on touch screens in order to do anything, okay in the showroom but possibly dangerous on the road.

I sometimes carry 4 people and luggage and find the Octavia 1.4 with 140ps has just enough umph when overtaking from around 50mph using Sport mode, but doubt the 125ps has the grunt when loaded.

I have also been advised the Auto is a CVT box, I tried a Toyota with CVT but didn't like it, it held the revs too high for too long and was quite noisy under acceleration. Again the dealer only new it was an auto not what type of auto.

If anyone has one would you kindly give me your thoughts on the car, good, bad or whatever. Niggles or things to look out for or avoid like strong lane assist?

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Alan.

 

The 1.5 has been pulled due to emissions regs as far as I understand.  It was 150bhp though, so the 155ps 1.0 should be equivalent.  Roughly 250Nm torque which is more than the 1.4 TSi I think.

There are still loads of 150s and 182s listed in Ford stock:

 

https://www.ford.co.uk/shop/price-and-locate/inventory/showroom#config=ACMAA_VS-D5,DGADE_DR--C_EN-YZ_TR-E8,Focus

Thanks Guy. Never knew this link existed.

The last Ruby Red Vignale looked perfect, except for one option I would seriously miss, adaptive speed control. (Also a spare wheel which did not seem to be mentioned). I could live without the B&O and interior coloured lighting though.

40 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

The 1.5 has been pulled due to emissions regs as far as I understand.  It was 150bhp though, so the 155ps 1.0 should be equivalent.  Roughly 250Nm torque which is more than the 1.4 TSi I think.

Thanks for your post Tom.

The torque is nearly the same at 250Nm Skoda and 240 Ford but only with and added electric motor, without it 190. 0-62 is slower at 9.7 instead of 8.6 in the Skoda hardly noticeable though. Adding the electric does increase the cost a lot and of course the batteries weight does not help. I have discounted the PHEV Octavia as the fuel tank is tiny, the interior volume has decreased (The batteries have to go somewhere) and the price is of course higher. Tax on my car is £30 so not much above the £0 of the Skoda PHEV.

I think I will have to borrow a 1L Focus and try it out, I am skeptical about the claims but you don't know until you try!

Just now, ajw1100 said:

240 Ford but only with and added electric motor, without it 190.

I think the difference in the 240/190Nm is with/without overboost, not with electric assistance or not. Ford usually quote max torque figures in this format, mild hybrid or otherwise.. 

The 48v battery on the Ford MHEV is pretty tiny and I think the whole system including the combined starter/generator only adds about 30kg.

It will be interesting to see what you think on a test drive - "proof of the pudding" etc!😀

 

14 minutes ago, ajw1100 said:

I have discounted the PHEV Octavia as the fuel tank is tiny, the interior volume has decreased (The batteries have to go somewhere) and the price is of course higher. Tax on my car is £30 so not much above the £0 of the Skoda PHEV.

 

Is a PHEV £0?  I thought it was only full electrics that are £0 tax after the first year?  Normal cars are £150, hybrids are £140 I think.

Bit annoying as I'm now looking at 1.5 EcoBoosts which would have been £125 on the old system, pre 2017.  

 

1 minute ago, TomsFocus said:

Is a PHEV £0?  I thought it was only full electrics that are £0 tax after the first year?  Normal cars are £150, hybrids are £140 I think.

I think you're right on that Tom. Whole thing has got into a bit of a mess now, depending on when cars were first registered. Just taxed the Mrs's 64 plate for £20. My 18 plate is lower CO2 but will be £150 when I next tax it in March - unless they alter it again!😠

Just now, Eric Bloodaxe said:

I think you're right on that Tom. Whole thing has got into a bit of a mess now, depending on when cars were first registered. Just taxed the Mrs's 64 plate for £20. My 18 plate is lower CO2 but will be £150 when I next tax if in March - unless they alter it again!😠

You should be alright for March.  It'll probably go up a fiver in April after the budget comes out.

It is annoying though, I've had £30 tax cars for the last 6 years!  

You are right gentlemen. tax on the 150 Petrol Auto is Band H, £215. Co2 at 146G/KM. According to the Ford website.

Aren't they all expensive tax for the first year?

11 hours ago, ajw1100 said:

You are right gentlemen. tax on the 150 Petrol Auto is Band H, £215. Co2 at 146G/KM. According to the Ford website.

Not sure if you're aware but tax is now calculated differently for any car registered since April 2017.

The first year of tax is based on emissions and is expensive on pretty much everything.  It's often included in the sale price though so always worth checking.

After the first year, tax is then paid at a flat rate for every car - £0 for full electric, £140 for hybrid, £150 for petrol or diesel.

3 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

Not sure if you're aware but tax is now calculated differently for any car registered since April 2017.

The first year of tax is based on emissions and is expensive on pretty much everything.  It's often included in the sale price though so always worth checking.

After the first year, tax is then paid at a flat rate for every car - £0 for full electric, £140 for hybrid, £150 for petrol or diesel.

My records are a bit out of date, you are spot on.