There's no doubt that the Ford Focus Estate has a tough job on its hands. If you're sold on a Ford and need to load luggage, you'll probably step up to a Mondeo whereas, if shifting people is a priority, you'll likely opt for a Focus C-MAX. Sales data indicates that only a few choose to sign on the dotted line for a Ford Focus Estate but those that do end up with a highly capable vehicle.

It's not just a Focus thing either. Vauxhall Astra, Peugeot 307 and Volkswagen Golf estates have all given dealer principals the length and breadth of the country a case of the cold sweats, remaining comparatively rare sights on the road. Whereas the large estate sector is showing the first signs of a recovery following the MPV boom, small estates are still the leper colony of British motoring.

All of which is something of a shame as the Focus Estate might just be the most attractive bodystyle available. It's certainly a good deal bonnier than the first generation model - a car that seemed to suck all the life and verve from the excellent Focus platform and transmogrify it into something rather less lovely. The current facelifted version has a hefty shovelful of styling flair, the rising windowline and tapered roofline giving it a tauter, more dynamic stance. Trapezoidal grilles, swept back headlamps and bolder wheelarches also feature prominently.

Inside, the more upmarket aura continues. Nicer soft-touch plastics now cover the instrument panel as well as the upper front door trim and this is complemented by plusher seat fabrics plus a variety of more attractive fascia finishings. The instrumentation has been re-designed too and, along with all other interior controls, is illuminated in red. Controls for the upgraded audio equipment and two-zone air conditioning have also been ergonomically improved. Despite the cosmetic enhancements, there's still a clear bias towards practicality and the Focus Estate features a no-nonsense but versatile load bay.

Fully carpeted, it includes a pair of lashing hooks on either side to secure luggage during sharp cornering, although enterprising owners can also make use of the rear seat anchor points for much the same purpose. Given that these are metal loops rather than plastic hooks, this may well represent a more practical option for heavier items. A retractable luggage cover serves to keep your belongings away from prying eyes although there's not the sort of underfloor tray that many manufacturers increasingly specify.

"The overall look is anything but derivative?"

A 12v auxiliary power outlet on the side of the load bay is a neat touch, as are the indented grab handles on the inside of the tailgate. If you're reasonably tall, strong and limber of wrist, you can even close the tailgate in this way without getting your hands dirty on road grime plastered to the back of the car. The tailgate opens so high that even if you stand 6'4" tall, you'll not bump your head. The downside to this is that shorter owners may well have difficulty reaching it. There's no strap hanging down from the handle, so if you're very small, you may encounter difficulties here.

The other issue when opening the tailgate is that approximately 75 per cent of the water that gathers on it falls onto the rear light cluster with the other quarter landing squarely on the luggage cover or, if it's retracted, your gear. The loading lip is low and features a non-slip surface, but it would have been nice to see some longitudinal rails built into the floor of the load bay so that bags can easily be slid into position. On the plus side, the load floor is perfectly flat with zero intrusion from the compact rear suspension assembly. Break out the tape measure and you'll find the Focus among the leading contenders in its class when it comes to space.

There's 475 cubic litres of load space with the 60/40 rear bench in place, which compares favourably to the 385 litres available in a Focus hatch. Drop the seats and there's a cavernous 1525 litres, making the Focus a good deal bigger than many executive class estate cars. With the seats in place the load bay is just over 104cm long, 116cm wide and up to 89cm high. With the rear seats folded you have a 167cm long distance from seat back to tailgate. Utilising schoolboy trigonometry, I believe this means that you can, in effect, carry a pair of 203cm skis diagonally. That's quite some achievement for a car that retains all of the Focus' driving dynamics.

Prices kick off at £13,895 for the 1.6-litre Studio model, topping out at £19,445 for the range-topping 2.0-litre TDCi diesel in Titanium trim with a particulate filter. Between the two are Style, Zetec and ECOnetic trim variants with no fewer than six engine variants including a conventional 1.6-litre petrol and a more powerful 1.8-litre alternative, plus a 2.0-litre option with still more grunt. Diesel buyers can also choose between 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0-litre TDCi engines. The 1.6-litre TDCi comes in two states of tune.

As good as it is, it's tough seeing too many takers for the Focus Estate. Drive one and you could easily be convinced of its merits but to many buyers, 'small estate' has an oxymoronic quality that doesn't excite them. The Focus Estate deserves a better rub of the green. It's well built, designed with care and actually looks very sharp. They've caught on in Europe where estate sales are resolutely buoyant. We may need additional incentivising.