Ford’s advance in petrol power continues, as with this 100hp version of its diminutive 1.0-litre Ecoboost engine in the Focus, emissions drop by 5g/km on the 125hp iteration, down to 109g/km, with economy of 58.9mpg, up from 56.5mpg.
They may be small differences and you’re unlikely to notice on the economy front compared to the £500-more-expensive 125hp version, but they’re sufficient enough to nudge the Focus from a 15% to a 14% BIK bracket. Being a petrol, it doesn’t suffer the 3% penalty either – and you’re generally confined to a diesel if you want a lower medium car with these sorts of figures.
The stigma of a 1.0-litre engine may deter some, but it’s a fantastic little unit that completely belies its 100hp power figure. It requires more encouragement than larger engines, which could take the edge off its economy, but it’s all the more fun for it, though a diesel will better suit high-mileage types.
