Motoring: Smooth operator

The verdict: Not a great looker, but a sure-footed mover - Michael Booth and four readers are seduced by the Ford Focus

Motoring journalists do sometimes get it right. They may have been caught napping with the Mercedes A-Class (not noticing that it fell over when going round corners), they may bleat on about "performance envelopes" and "ride compliance", and they may all wear ill- advised designer sunglasses, but they have at least been unanimously spot- on about the 1999 Car of the Year, the new Ford Focus. It is a brilliant motor car. A remarkable feat considering this is Ford's replacement for the titanically crappy Escort.

So the 1.6 litre, five-door version of this critical and popular success arrives at my house. But despite the rave reviews, I'm sceptical. First, this is by no means a good-looking car. Though Ford's designers have tried to conceal its gargantuan bulk with a variety of bulges and slashes to the bodywork, the Focus still looks clumsy in a Frankenstein's monster sort of a way. The saloon is even more of an aesthetic blunder. Second, I had recently driven Ford's new coupe, the Cougar, which shares the Focus's much-trumpeted "New Edge" styling that I'd liked about as much as I like stone-washed denim.

But then I experienced the now famous 50-metre epiphany. Ford claims that anyone new to the Focus will realise within 50 metres of driving the car that it is tangibly better than its rivals. And they're right. Via inputs from the pedals, steering, seat and my bristling senses, I could tell that the Focus is an exceptional car before I'd reached the end of my street. The sensations began with the firm but comfortable seat, worked down my arms to the smooth steering and then on to the tips of my fingers as they negotiated a superbly weighted and fluid gear change. Meanwhile, my feet were telling me that the brake, accelerator and clutch pedals were all operating at the same frictionless pace.

Then I pulled away from the kerb and began to notice the cavernous cabin and the modish but ergonomically sound dash. By the 20-metre mark, I'd discovered that the stereo controls felt equally well oiled and even the indicator stalks were nicely damped. A few miles more tells you that the 1.6 litre engine is no neck snapper but that, again, progress is smooth and silent. Equipped with independent, multi-link rear suspension, the Focus can cope with pretty much any camber or road surface you throw at it, remaining composed and comfortable throughout. One of our young testers did complain of travel sickness while sitting in the rear, but I think that had as much to do with the claustrophobic feeling in the back than the soft ride. That aside, with the arrival of the Focus, I can't think why anyone would now need to buy a Mondeo.

Except for one thing. Unlike Mondeos, which are largely bought as fleet cars, people are more likely to spend their own money on a Focus, which makes depreciation a crucial issue. Sadly, though the Focus beats the leader in its class, the VW Golf, in almost every department - and, at around pounds 13,500, is much cheaper to buy - in the long term it remains to be seen whether it can match the German car's buoyancy in the second-hand market

Road test If you would like to take part in a test drive, write to The Verdict, The Independent Magazine, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5DL, giving a contact phone number, your address and details of the type of vehicle, if any, you drive. For most cars, participants must be over 26, and have a clean driving licence.

Susan Thomas, 50, housewife, from Wyddial, Hertfordshire. Currently drives a Vauxhall Astra

"I do a lot of hospital driving so need a four-seater like this, and I deliver meals-on-wheels so the boot would be great. Economy is very important to me, too, so the car would definitely be very practical. It's obviously a lot quieter and smoother than my Astra, but it's a long time since I had a Ford - the late Seventies - and I really didn't like that one. The seats wrap around you in quite a sporty way, but they're comfy. Visibility is not that great out of the back - but you sit quite high, so it's not such a problem."

Eric Bridgestock, 43, management consultant, and his children Sally, 15, and Tim, 13, from Hertford, Hertfordshire. Currently drive a Peugeot 406 estate

Eric: "This feels big for an Escort replacement, and it looks more like a Fiat than a Ford, but it certainly captures the attention. It instantly struck me as an easy car to drive, quieter and smoother than my Peugeot - but the rear pillars are a bit chunky, so you can't see so well out of the back. The gearbox is excellent, everything is light. I think Ford's rep-mobile image has gone these days: their product line-up has changed and this is a huge leap forward for them." Tim grumbled about the rear legroom, but Sally applauded the car's lack of roll around corners.

Stephen Brent, 32, systems administrator, from Hertford, Hertfordshire. Currently drives a Vauxhall Cavalier

"I think people are a bit fed up with bland styling, whereas this is quite a change. The more I see of them, the more I like them. The gearbox immediately stands out as being very good, and I like the little touches such as the leather-trimmed steering wheel: they make it feel nice. On the whole, the car seems softer on the inside than out. I doubt whether it would be big enough for all occasions, especially if you have children and go on holiday in your car. I wouldn't say the acceleration was lightning quick - it's not as sporty as my Cavalier and there's more wind and road noise - but generally the more you drive it, the better it gets."

Chris Cardell-Williams, 52, Janet Cardell-Williams, 47, both graphic designers, and their children Matthew, 8, and Lucy, 11, from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire. Currently drive a Renault 21 Savannah

Chris: "Ford does still suffer from the fleet-driver image, but it certainly produces good cars these days. I'm very satisfied with the feel of the Focus, but it doesn't seem to have much power. Inside it's a little too Japanese, like a Sony CD player, but it's nice that the exterior styling is a little bit different." Janet: "It's certainly not overpowered. The designer would seem to have used a Spirograph rather than a set square on the interior - it takes a bit of getting used to. Outside it looks as if it has its underwear on too tight!" Matthew applauded the Focus's middle seat belt in the rear, though later felt a little car sick.