Diesel Focus is not a bad option
I had an 08 plate for a year as a company car, clocked up 51k miles in that year
1.8tdci has plenty of grunt, handles well and will do 65+mpg if your steady with it. IIRC Richard Hammond drove the Mk5 golf, the focus and the Astra and LOVED the way the focus drives above all the others. The facelift (08 on look better too).
My 2p's worth
Graeme