To find out, Auto Express...

To find out, Auto Express exclusively introduced the Ford to the machine that is likely to be its fiercest rival when it hits the road next January - the exciting new Vauxhall Astra. It"s the first time in the UK that the two have met.

It"s also the first time anyone outside of the blue oval"s development team has had the opportunity to jump into the cabin of both to get a feel for what family buyers will be offered. And what a battle it looks set to be. On paper, the Focus seems to have it all. Ford"s new car is bigger, more luxurious and better built than ever. But it"s more conservative, too, leaving the popular new edge look behind and embracing a flowing style that"s clearly been influenced by upmarket rivals such as VW"s Golf.

The car appears to have grown up gracefully, but positioned in our studio alongside the Astra, you could be forgiven for thinking it"s gone a little too far and is reaching for its pipe and slippers. Although our Titanium-spec 1.6-litre TDCi is clearly the bigger machine, it hasn"t got the immediate visual impact of the smaller, sportier Vauxhall. While the Focus is well proportioned, some areas look ungainly in comparison. The front wheelarches seem overly developed, and the sloping roofline is not as bold as the chopped hatchback of the Astra.

Open the driver"s door, however, and it"s clear that the fight is much closer on the inside. As you will have read on the previous pages, the Focus"s interior marks a huge step forward over its predecessor. But although the materials used are impressive, the Vauxhall is of near-identical quality. Spec levels, particularly in our well equipped test machines, are high, with both having air-con, power windows and LCD displays for audio and satellite-navigation systems.

Once you"ve sat behind the steering wheel of each car, it"s clear that the initial plaudits go to the Focus. Front passengers fare better in here than those in the Astra.

Visibility is superior in the Ford, and there is additional stowage space, particularly in the centre console. The car is wider than the Vauxhall, lending a feeling of space not of- fered by the Astra, and the ergonomics impress, too, with a better positioned gearlever and handbrake.

However, not everything goes the blue oval"s way. This top-specification Vauxhall features steering-wheel buttons to control the stereo and trip computer. Our test Focus, on the other hand, carries over the cheap plastic column-mounted controls from the outgoing car, despite having the latest Bluetooth communication as well as optional voice-recognition technology. It is a minor criticism, but it"s a shame that Ford didn"t take the opportunity to show off its hi-tech equipment. Nevertheless, it"s the Focus which has the upper hand.

But it"s a different story in the rear. Although the wide-bodied Focus easily accommodates three adults, headroom for six-footers is restricted. The Astra, meanwhile, has great headroom thanks to the traditional hatchback shape, but struggles to serve up the same shoulder width. Seating more than two adults in comfort would be hard. However, we found the rear-seat stowage space more user friendly when compared with the Ford. On balance, the Vauxhall is a better bet, despite the Focus"s width.

When it comes to the luggage area, though, there can be only one winner. Offering up to 1,245 litres of stowage space, it"s clear the Ford is the car for those who refuse to travel light. Split-fold rear seats add versatility, but it"s the clever packaging that is the star attraction, offering a near-flat, easily accessible boot. The Astra"s small cargo area cannot get close to competing.

But the Vauxhall is not beaten yet. Its six engines are 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0-litre turbo petrol units, plus 80 and 100bhp 1.7-litre diesels. An impressive range - yet the Focus looks certain to match it, with a choice of 1.4, two 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol powerplants, and 1.6 and 2.0-litre TDCi oil-burners. Five and six-speed manual gearboxes as well as a new CVT unit will also be available.

Early indications suggest that the diesel engines will be the pick of the Focus line-up, although the new petrol 1.6-litre Ti-VCT, with its variable cam timing, also promises to further raise efficiency and refinement. Safety standards set by both cars are extremely impressive, and although the Astra has already proved its mettle with a five-star Euro NCAP crash test result, there is no reason to assume the Ford will fall behind. Its advanced chassis design comes courtesy of Volvo"s expert safety team, and is combined with a range of airbags to protect occupants.

All of this makes comparisons on price vital. So far, however, Ford is playing this card very close to its chest. But insiders tell us the Focus intends to better the luxury of the VW Golf, while matching the Astra"s price. That means drivers can expect to pay from н‚бЈ12,000 for base editions, up to н‚бЈ16,500 for a flagship diesel.

Yet the crucial question remains: which of the two will be the better car to drive? We will be bringing you the vital on-road decision in two weeks" time... Dan Strong

Rivals: What Else Must The Focus Beat?

Volksawagen Golf

Our current class favourite; if the Focus can better the VW, it will be a credit to the design team. With the benefit of being the fifth in a long line of Golfs, having built up a reputation for quality, this VW will be on most buyers" wishlists. The new line-up features cutting-edge engines - but the Focus willl be cheaper and is likely to come with more standard-fit kit.

Renault Mнѓ©gane

It might not be as fresh as the Golf, but the Mнѓ©gane is more distinctive. While the Scenic and Grand Scenic have gained the most praise, the hatch is still a genuine contender in the compact family market, with particularly strong diesels offering fine economy. There"s also a hot RenaultSport version, with more power than any of these rivals" most potent variants.

Citroen C4

With the Xsara now dated in every are, Citroen is hoping its new C4, here by the end of the year, will put the company back into the running for class honours. The firm"s new grille and headlights give distinctive front-end styling, and with some bold lines at the rear, the C4 should appeal to buyers who want their compact car to stand out from the crowd.

Mazda 3

Based on the same platform as the new Focus, the 3 shouldn"t be overlooked. It does everything well, but in this class you need to really shine to get noticed. While the five-door"s design lacks imagination, the four-door is worth considering as a stylish alternative to the ageing VW Bora. The 56mpg 1.6 diesel engine borrowed from Ford"s C-MAX is a good choice.