Even in these cost conscious times you would expect sales of pricing leading models to be going great guns, but as modest sales of the entry level version of the Ford Focus Ambiente hatch prove, logic doesn’t always prevail in the unpredictable world of new car sales.

Even when money is tight, it seems there is plenty of new car buyer resistance to the idea of saving a few dollars by moving down market to a more modestly attired set of wheels. It shows that a nice car is among the last of life’s luxuries that people are prepared to toss over board when the financial squeezes goes on. What it also underlines just how much people see their cars as a reflection of their success and away of showing that to others. Moving to a car that sits further down the pecking order from what you were driving previously, brings with it the risk that other people may think that you are not doing so well. This sort of automotive elitism means good and very capable cars such as the Focus Ambiente are overlooked by all but fleet and company buyers, where priced not automotive status clinches the deal.

While it does not wear the top seller crown in this country, the Focus is currently the world’s biggest selling car and one of the most important on Ford’s current new model roster. With the shift to smaller vehicles such as this one it seems poised to remain a pivotal car in the Ford line-up for a while yet, and is set to continue to head the company’s charge to more global models. This trend, along with the sharp downward spiral in large car sales was a major contributor to the Ford Falcon becoming a dead duck from 2016.

Focus buyers are spoilt for choice with the 9 variants available making it one of the most extensive small car models ranges Ford has fielded in this country. When Ford offered me an opportunity to drive the most modestly equipped member of its Focus family, I was quick to grab it, as cars at this end of the food chain do not always make the cut for the road test fleets. I think it’s important to give you an idea what these cheaper models have to offer and as I discovered with this car, it is a lot more than you might think. You would expect value for money and at $32995 the Ambiente hatch delivers. This is about $3,000 less than it cost when this latest Focus was launched here about 18 months ago.

Power comes in a steady flow rather than a torrent from the same 92kw 1.6 litre fuel injected motor found in the smaller Ford Fiesta hatch. This is an older generation Ford power plant and will inevitable be pensioned off, as the company’s impressive turbo charged Ecoboost engines trickled down into a wider range of models. Even though its clocked up a few years on the market this aging 1.6 litre unit still gives a good account of itself.

Owners can look forward to above par performance and fuel economy, yet eco its friendly enough to meet stringent Euro 5 emission standards. This means its rivals have no chance of showing it a clean green pair of heels. The efforts of the engine are even more noteworthy, when you consider just 1.6 litres worth of motor is tasked with hauling around a car weighing almost 1400kg – that’s only about 200kg shy of many six-cylinder models. While this motor punches above its weight, it faces a bit of a battle convincing buyers it’s better than the larger 1.8 and 2.0 litres engines that are the norm in this market segment.

Mixing and matching the gears with skill and efficiency is Ford’s six-speed powershift automatic. It bring a sense of real urgency to the way the car goes, with crisp and well timed gear changes that generally hit the motors sweet spot most of the time. There is plenty to like about this transmission with the smooth and effortless way it goes about its business. In fact, about the only thing I didn’t like, was the absence of a sequential manual tip shift mode that allows the driver to get a bit more hands on in the gear changing action.

Cabin and load space is ok, but not as generous as the expansive exterior dimensions of this five-door hatch would suggest. Rear seat leg and headroom is at best on the cosy side. Overall its passenger carrying capacity is shaded by several of its rivals. This is a bit of lost opportunity for Ford to have worked its way towards the front of the pack in the cabin space race.

Both the first and second generation Focus did more than raise the ride handling bar in the small car class, it set it at a level many of its competitors struggled to rise to, let alone clear. This meant there were fairly high expectations on this model to better the efforts of its two predecessors, which was a huge ask given the opposition have been quickly getting their handling houses in order. Ford has done a good, rather than a Stella job of reworking the blade control suspension that has been the cornerstone of great ride and handling of the Focus for over a decade. This latest model advances Focus handling cause even further, but for some it may not be far enough. However, I have yet to drive a car in this price range that comes close to matching the handling agility of this classy Ford.

What is the verdict? One of the best driving main stream hatches on the market with new levels of sohistication and refinement, although these qualities have not trickled down to the base 1.6 litre engine used in the entry level Ambiente.