I can throw a Focus round a lot better than a 25 (the Focus chassis has much less flex).....plus I have tried (we used to get them as rental cars ).
I found our Focus, and the same with others I've driven, it was impossible to place exactly where you wanted in a corner. Additionally, and more worrying, it was unpredicatble handling wise when approaching its limit (a trait that applied to its predecessor).
The early 25s were better than the later ones - I think the early ones had a reputation for being too stiff suspension wise, so they softened it, and that ruined it. Also, with later ones, BMW, then Phoenix, were cutting even more corners to keep costs down - though it was already too late by then anyway...
I agree the cars were badly marketed by BMW - they tried to market it on the old Rover name (ie luxury etc), when it was already a normal mass production "no badge" company, and tried to charge premium prices.
I always said that Austin Rover/Rover would fail whilst Longbridge existed.