Ford’s Vignale sub-brand is a bit of an odd beast. That’s because rather than being a manufacturer in its own right, as Lexus is to Toyota, the Vignale Fords are little more than well-specified trim levels with some unique styling and equipment editions.

And so it is with Ford’s Focus Vignale. Ostensibly, this is the most upmarket, most luxurious version of the brand’s mid-sized hatchback. But the Focus has never been about ultimate luxury – rather, driving dynamics, practicality and affordability. What does Vignale have to offer, then?

You certainly can’t miss the Vignale makeover. In fact, the car doesn’t even say ‘Focus’ on it, with the badging across the tailgate replaced with the Vignale insignia.

Elsewhere, the Focus takes the same ingredients applied to other Vignale cars in the range such as the Mondeo, Edge and Kuga. That means chrome, chrome and a little more chrome – eye-catching polished 18-inch alloy wheels, a sparkling chrome grille with unique pattern, and a few bespoke body colours.

Inside, the dashboard’s been covered in faux leather, there’s full leather upholstery and generous kit as standard. Vignale models are available in hatchback or estate body-styles. Vignale trim is available with the higher-powered engines from the Focus range. Our test car was equipped with the current range-topper – a 2.0-litre diesel, producing 148bhp and mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

It is well-proportioned, with chunky detailing to its styling and a low, wide stance

It’s an excellent combination for cruising, as the gearing means the car is barely ticking over at 70mph – making for a relaxed ambiance. That’s helped by additional soundproofing in Vignale models.

The Focus is brilliant to drive regardless of trim. Unsurprisingly, Vignale spec does nothing to change that – though you’ll notice the slightly poorer handling than ST-Line models, which have a sports suspension set-up.

Is it a deal-breaker? Of course not. The worst the Focus can muster is still miles better than most of its rivals. There’s a natural smoothness and balance to all the controls, making the Focus effortless to drive smoothly. Turn up the wick and hustle and it won’t become upset, either – it’s unruffled in corners, comfortable at a fast cruise and still great around town. Some rivals offer more ultimate ride comfort, but not many – and it’s a small price to pay.

Shrinking violets would be best-off avoiding the Vignale model. The glitzy makeover includes a bright chrome grille, lots of chrome detailing and seriously bold polished alloy wheels. It’s mated to either white, black, red, or deep purple paintwork – some of which are exclusive Vignale shades.

The effect is a little jarring on the Focus, which tends to look at its best in sporty ST-Line trim. We’d go so far as to say the wheels in particular are a little vulgar, though of course personal opinions do differ.

The underlying Focus is a good-looking car. It’s well-proportioned, with good chunky detailing to its styling and a low, wide stance. Vignale models also get full LED head- and tail-lights, a really smart touch which make the car look properly modern.

It’s difficult not to be disappointed with the Vignale interior makeover. The full leather upholstery is welcome, but elsewhere, it feels as though Ford’s fixed what didn’t need fixing – and ignored the bits that did.

Thankfully, nothing’s been done to change the car’s excellent layout – with a near-perfect driving position, crystal-clear gauges and a high-set infotainment display that’s easy to interact with.

There are quite a few goodies included in with Vignale trim.

There’s the aforementioned LED headlights and 18-inch alloy wheels, plus the brilliant automatic door edge protectors – rubber stoppers which deploy from behind the door and prevent damage should it be opened into a solid surface. Also standard is a reversing camera, active parking assist, LED mood lighting, a heads-up display, a heated steering wheel and a brilliant B&O audio system. Although it does come at a price, Vignale’s equipment level is certainly generous.

Head to the options list and you’ll find blind-spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition, adaptive front lighting, a hands-free tailgate and an electric tailgate. Ford introduced Vignale to its range after realising that its customers wanted something more upmarket than the existing Titanium X trim level. On that score, the Focus Vignale wins – it’s well equipped and usefully distinguishable from lesser trims thanks to its unique styling details.

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