JUST because something is popular, doesn't necessarily mean that it is any good.

Numerous political movements, the current Top 40 singles chart and reality TV are testament to that.

However, as with most rules, there are invariably a few exceptions.

The old Ford Focus, for example, was the first car to win "Car of the Year" on both sides of the pond, it won 75 other awards in its production life and, in the six years following its 1998 launch, more than four million people worldwide bought one.

So, it was definitely popular, but it was also rather good.

Its striking looks never really dated; rather they simply became such a common sight that they lost some of their impact. Its handling significantly raised the bar in the hatchback segment, it featured some excellent powerplants and was generally an all-round good egg.

All of this made Ford's job of replacing it rather arduous.

The previous generation model was designed, built and marketed very much as an affordable everyman, without any designs on the premium end of the segment populated by the likes of Audi, Volkswagen and now BMW. But with the mark II, Ford has made a concerted effort to inject some premium quality into the volume market.

From the moment you grasp the exterior door handle, which feels solid and robust, you are left in no doubt as to the significant improvements made, to fit and finish, that encapsulate the whole project.

Plonking yourself down on one of the comfortable leather seats (optional) and with a reassuring clunk of the door, you find yourself in something that looks distinctly un-Ford-like.

You're greeted with a stylish Sony stereo fascia, flecks of chrome-effect detailing, well-appointed plastic trim and, best of all, a squishy, squidgy slush-moulded dashboard.

How on earth did anyone ever make a car feel opulent before this soft-to-the-touch substance was invented?

While most of the improvements are to be found in the cockpit, Ford would have been insane to let the Focus' reputation as a driver's car fall by the wayside.

Fire-up the 1.6-litre Duratec engine, hit the road and one soon discovers that the boys behind the Blue Oval are anything but nuts.

The five-speed gearbox has a slick movement that encourages frequent and frantic use. While this will make the combined fuel consumption figure of 43.8mpg rather unlikely, it is a lot of fun.

It's also hard to think of a mass-market car with greater levels of driver input/feedback through the wheel. Every tight bend and swooping curve will have the designer of the new steering system bumped further and further up your Christmas card list.

The automatic response to driving conditions provided by the electronic-hydraulic power-assisted steering (EHPAS) combines with new front and rear suspension, 16-inch alloy wheels and a stiffened sub-frame to afford the 2005 Focus a nimble and sure-footed stance on the road.

Obviously, performance varies from model to model, but the 1.6-litre petrol emits an engine note well-suited to hustling, although it can become tiresome during prolonged periods at motorway speeds.

That said, the engine note is the only aural intrusion at the national speed limit with wind, road and tyre noise well suppressed.

The 114bhp and 155lb/ft of torque available feel far more capable than the car's nought-to-60mph time of 10.8 seconds would suggest, and provide more then enough shove for safe overtaking.

The new Focus is an improvement on the outgoing model in every respect, and it is likely to be even more popular than before.

For more information, call Gowrings Ford on 01256 697880.