summary
Built on the outskirts of Detroit, for about another year, and with a well-earned spot in driveways across the country, the Ford Focus is as American as apple pie. During his travels, the focus has amassed many gifts, bestowing them on the American consumer; Among them are nimble handling and impressive fuel efficiency. Unfortunately, these gifts come with some compromises. the Focus is outclassed by larger rivals that offer more passenger space, larger cargo holds and more modern features. still, it’s an easy car to recommend, and its two body styles, hatchback and sedan, offer broad appeal. There are even high-output ST and RS versions and a plug-in electric model, but we review those models separately.
Note that the focus has ceased production; 2018 was the last year it was done.
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what’s new for 2018?
the se ecoboost appearance package is now the se appearance package and is available on all se models, regardless of engine choice. the rest of the updates actually involve downsizing equipment on the s, se, and sel models. These changes include two-way adjustable head restraints that replace last year’s four-way adjustable units, deletion of turn signal indicators on the outside mirrors on SE models, deletion of rear seat mats on Se models. s and the disappearance of the auxiliary input socket and ambient lighting elements with door opener handle in all models. se and sel models no longer come equipped with a map pocket in the driver’s seatback, and the single-disc cd player has been removed from se and s models.
price and which one to buy
The Focus is available as a sedan and for extra money as a hatchback. We’d gladly pay the extra mass for the Focus Sel hatchback ($22,545) for its greater practicality and features. If you opt for the SEL, you get a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Being from the Midwest, we’d also choose the Cold Weather Package, which includes heated front seats and a heated steering wheel to make frigid mornings less unpleasant.
engine, transmission and performance
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I like: Available manual transmission, great steering, fun to drive. Dislikes: The six-speed automatic is unrefined, both the four-cylinder and three-cylinder engines are sluggish.
Neither of the Focus’ propulsion systems is particularly inspiring. the standard four-cylinder isn’t as powerful as the turbocharged engines available from many competitors, while the diminutive and efficient turbocharged three-cylinder engine available in the sedan is outweighed by the weight of the Focus.
Focus is one of the most fun cars in its segment to drive fast down a winding road. its fun-to-drive nature doesn’t come at the expense of comfort, as the Focus boasts a compound ride and a relatively isolated interior that makes it feel more expensive than it is.
real world fuel economy and mpg
the spotlight makes up for its lackluster power with impressive efficiency. It ranks among the best fuel sippers in its segment, beating its average EPA ratings – and most of its competitors – in our real-world tests with a 38 mpg result. if you’re looking for maximum fuel efficiency, the 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder with the standard six-speed manual transmission is the configuration to go for. It comes standard with an engine stop/start system and is rated at 40 highway mpg by the epa.
interior, infotainment and charging
likes:optional easy-to-use infotainment system apple carplay and android auto are available. Dislikes: Narrow rear seat, outdated interior design, disappointing standard infotainment system.
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The Focus has long gone without an interior overhaul, and its widespread use of plastic trim and dated-looking cabin are clearly weak points. at least the controls are mostly straightforward and easy to use. Your friends and family won’t like being crammed into the small rear quarters of the Focus, as legroom for rear-seat passengers is sorely lacking compared to almost all of its rivals. the small windows don’t help alleviate the claustrophobic feeling inside.
The optional touchscreen infotainment system, called Sync 3, is surprisingly easy to use, with well-organized menus and large on-screen buttons. the basic configuration uses a much smaller screen and offers far fewer connectivity features. We recommend moving to the Sel or Titanium trims, which have the most advanced system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen. sync 3 is easy to use and supports apple carplay and android auto smartphone integration.
practicality is not the strong point of the approach. while its cargo-carrying capacity is average, storage space for small items in the cabin is lacking. In our tests, four of our carry-ons fit with the rear seats in use and 15 carry-ons with the rear seats folded.
safety and driver assistance features
The Focus achieves only average results in crash tests and lacks many of the active safety features of its competition. Although it earned a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it lags behind in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s small-overlap crash test, where it only achieves a passable rating: most of its newer rivals got a good rating. in this test. few active safety features are available, and those that are, namely blind-spot monitoring and lane departure warning, are only offered as part of an option package on the top Titanium trim level, which Which means you’ll pay upwards of $25,000 for such an equipped Focus. key security features include:
- blind spot monitor available
- Lane Departure Warning Available
- Lane keeping assistance available
- Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
- no free scheduled maintenance
warranty and maintenance coverage
Ford’s warranty program is completely average among its peers, without the complimentary scheduled maintenance that GM offers on many of its vehicles.
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