Ford Focus

By our assessment, Ford Focus is the plain compact car people pick for daily commuting, first ownership, and fleets. It is good at steering feel, sensible packaging, and the fact that it has long been one of the standard names in the class. The downside is familiar too: a car this mainstream rarely feels special, and the newer it gets, the more it depends on trim and engine choice to avoid seeming plain. In use it is the sort of car that disappears into errands, parking spaces, and motorway miles without asking for drama. Compared with bigger crossovers it usually feels lower, lighter, and easier to place on the road. By our assessment, it is a safer bet than an image purchase, and that is exactly why many people reach for it.