They're all in there somewhere, but I'm blowed if I can find sixth gear in Ford's turbo diesel Focus. Try as I might, every time I attempted to slip into a long-legged sixth my two-litre Focus TDCi Titanium saloon was determined to give me fourth. It was a struggle to persuade the gearbox to deliver sixth with any regularity - an infuriating glitch that could have spoiled the Focus range's Cinderella model.But it didn't. Once I learned to overcome the reluctant selector by applying a powerful pull to the right when dropping into top, I more or less managed to hit the overdrive ratio every time. It was a disappointing start with a car I wasn't sure had a market.Ford launched the saloon version of its second-generation Focus in May. Why? No one buys four-door saloons these days. This appeared to be a model too far; a throwback to Cortina and Sierra Sapphire saloons which were about as stylistically exciting as shoeboxes, and almost as practical.But the more I lived with the saloon the more it appealed. For a start the new-look Focus works well with the modest bustle boot. It does little to upset the teardrop shape of the great-handling Focus hatch and is less bulky than the roomy estate. There's a subtle elegance about the latest booted Focus which makes it pleasant from the rear - something I could not say about the nasty saloon job which afflicted the Mark I Focus. That booted monstrosity really did look like an engineering afterthought.The new Focus saloon fares better. It genuinely works as a saloon. The boot is large but avoids having the "tacked-on" appearance of so many four-doors spawned from hatchbacks. With 526 litres of boot space and a flat floor, the cargo area is generous.The boot opening is more than a metre wide and the distance between the wheel arches, a limiting factor in so many family cars, is a useful 1048mm. Designers have extended the boot floor by 54mm compared to the old saloon which means loads up to 1058mm can be swallowed without having to drop the standard 60/40 split seat. With the seat folded there's enough room for cargo more than 1.6 metres long.The boot's only drawbacks are its high loading lip, caused by the need to create a strong rear-end anti-collision buffer, and the lack of storage under the flimsy floor panel, despite Ford's decision to equip the Focus with a spacesaver tyre and minimal toolkit.Creature comfort on the top-of-the-range Titanium model is excellent. Trim levels are generally good with quality-feel, soft-touch dash covering and plenty of storage cubby holes. But the plastic door caps on the rear doors are flimsy and cost-cutting moulding quality spoiled some other cabin panels.Rear passenger space is generous with more than adequate head and legroom and reasonable shoulder room for three adults. So often rear seats in volume production cars are poorly-designed and offer only minimal support. Not on the Focus. While lacking the ultimate comfort of the front seats the rear trio are well-shaped for each passenger, equipped with adjustable headrests and, while a little on the firm side, are good enough for a numb-free lengthy journey.Titanium trim delivers stylish alloys, air-conditioning, front, side and curtain airbags, ABS, four electric windows, remote locking and half-leather. But Ford has two stunning features which are also worthy of mention. First is the genius of the Quickclear front screen demisting system - a great safety benefit for all-year-round driving in damp Britain. The second is the excellent in-car entertainment packages. Ford leads the way in easy-to-use, reliable radio/CD systems with outstanding sound.Focus is already an accomplished family vehicle. The hatch is well-established, the estate an attractive mid-range cargo ship and the C-MAX a viable five-seat MPV. The saloon completes the line-up successfully with all the attributes of the hatch sales leaders and none of the styling drawbacks of some booted competition.Built at Ford's Spanish plant in Valencia, the Focus saloon is available only in well-specified trim levels - Ghia or Titanium. That makes them expensive, with even the base Ghia model with a 99bhp 1.6 litre petrol engine costing £14,970 - that's £1600 more than a well-equipped 1.6 LX three-door hatch.Engine choice includes a two-litre 143bhp petrol and a choice of fine TDCi turbo diesels in 1.6 (108bhp), 1.8 (113bhp) and two-litre (134bhp) guise. My test car had the latter - a superb Euro IV compliant unit with astonishing pulling power, low noise levels and exceptional pick-up. Economy is superb. The official figures suggest a combined 50mpg - on test in mixed conditions I consistently managed to average 53mpg and on one run of 107 miles saw 59mpg. What's more, the strong two-litre TDCi pulled effortlessly giving a relaxed 70mph at just 1900rpm in top.If I hadn't experienced that reluctant sixth-cog selection I'd be giving this turbo diesel saloon top marks. As it is, it's one of the best-value, best-handling four-doors in its sector. Engine 1997 cc, 4 cylinders Power 136 bhp @rpm Torque ib/ft @rpm Transmission 6 speed manual Fuel/CO2 50.5 mpg / 148 g/km Acceleration 0-62mph: 9.4sec Top speed 129 mph Price From £17498.00 approx Release date 01/05/2005
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