Practical experience Ford Focus: this is what owners think of their car

For this article we have selected the reviews with higher reader ratings. This mainly discusses cars from before the facelift introduced in 2022, although the first experiences with the new model have already been entrusted to the internet. Most Foci – or is it Focusing? – have a petrol engine under the hood, with both the well-known 1.0 EcoBoost and the 1.5 EcoBoost having three cylinders.

Space and seating comfort

It is not surprising that many owners and users opt for the extra space of a Focus Wagon. One user describes it this way: “The plus point of the Focus is the space. You sit well in the front, the space in the back seat is acceptable, but the space in the trunk is the biggest asset.”

Opinions are divided about the seating furniture. Where one is comfortable, another lacks support. Now one seat is not the other, the Focus ST Line has sports seats and you can opt for ergonomic seats with an AGR label as an option. One director writes about this: “The ergonomic seats are generally comfortable, but the extended seat can only be directed upwards to a limited extent, so that the effect is rather limited.”

Whether the back seat is sufficient depends on various factors, this owner uses it in any case completely. His offspring has some reservations about this: “The teenagers think the sofa is hard and the middle seat has a bulge at the front, so you sit more on your butt. That was solved by putting a thick scarf under it.”

Several owners boast about the hardware store qualities of their station wagon. They do not mean the interior finish, but what fits in the car. A user about his luxury Focus Vignale: “I took battens in a length of three meters and then laid the passenger seat and the rear seat flat. Then you can run these slats from the passenger footwell to the rear, leaving about 5 cm of space between the slats and the glass of the tailgate.” Wider items also appear to be no problem, according to the driver of a bright blue Focus. “Renovated at home in recent months, the 3 meters of plasterboard just go in.” The writer does not mention whether the tailgate will still close, but it seems unlikely to us.

Interior affairs and details

Speaking of interior matters, apart from the space, this is not the strongest point. On the contrary: “In my opinion, this is the point where the Focus scores the least points,” says the owner of a blue hatchback in ST Line trim. “The materials used are just not the best. You can see this especially on the side panels and underside of the dashboard, where a lot of hard plastic is used.”

A special option is being able to start the car remotely, as the DIY store-visiting Vignale owner explains. “Via the FordPass app you can start the car remotely. When it is colder than 5 degrees, all heating (seat, steering wheel, rear window, windscreen) is switched on. You get into a car that is already reasonably warmed up, which is nice.” After remote starting the car, the engine will continue to run for five minutes. The option ‘windshield heating’ is positively emphasized in several reviews, although a few can not get used to the thin threads in the glass.

What one can get used to is the Sync 3 infotainment and navigation system. “Sync 3.0 is much faster and easier than the previous version,” writes a driver who is now driving his third Focus. “It’s not the top of the market, but it won’t annoy anyone and the image has more than adequate resolution.” Other owners also speak in similar terms about the Sync system. Just as favorable: it seems that the system hardly shows any malfunctions, which we sometimes see differently in this section.

Sharp handling

The handling has been a reason for several owners to choose a Focus. As for the seats, there are also several gradations in terms of the chassis. For example, the ST Line is equipped with a sports suspension, as the owner of such a copy describes. “In my experience, it is a bit stiffer than the Titanium that I had before. On very short bumps he can be quite firm and bump.” According to him, there is a lot in return. “The steering is still very sharp. It takes about 2.5 turns from left to right. Steering means moving and is not too light, but could be a bit heavier. The lightness and sharpness are still unparalleled.”

The ST Line chassis is not satisfactory under all circumstances, as the driver of a Focus Wagon 1.0 EcoBoost experiences: “On the somewhat lesser Italian roads, it is striking that the car is set up quite tightly. You will not be bothered by this on the A2, but if very comfortable driving is a must, the Focus scores slightly less.”

Engines and powertrain

We mentioned it before, if you want a petrol engine in this generation of Focus, you will get a three-cylinder. For four-cylinder, you have to swerve to the diesels, which occur sporadically in the review section. However, petrol engines are more interesting, so we zoom in on that.

In combination with a manual gearbox, the 1.5 EcoBoost generally pleases its owners. For example, the owner of a 182 hp strong hatchback writes: “The three-cylinder is lively and the gearbox shifts perfectly. Nice quiet drivetrain. More and more fun from the sport mode. Clearly faster throttle response and a wonderful sound at speed. Just grabbing that set of corners in the sport mode is so much fun!”

In combination with an automatic transmission, the 1.5 EcoBoost is less pleasant and a hum occurs under certain circumstances. “Especially around the most important speeds of 50-80-100 km/h”, says a driver who chose this powertrain. “Took a test drive with a mechanic and he agreed with me. They had already had more complaints, it was a known issue.” The driver of a 1.0 EcoBoost automatic transmission also reports vibrations between 1,500 and 1,700 rpm. “This undermines comfort, because as mentioned, the car itself is calm and quiet.”

The three-cylinder should benefit consumption, but few owners are enthusiastic about the result. That is not surprising, data from the AutoWeek Consumption Monitor already showed that the Focus is not a particularly economical car.

Disturbances and irritations

The main annoyance seems to be caused by the vibrating 1.5 EcoBoost with automatic transmission, owners report no structural problems with their Focus. However, several owners mention noise quite early on, especially from the panoramic roof and dashboard. Several owners also indicate that the reversing camera gets dirty very quickly and it is possible that the automatic parking brake is not always engaged when the car is turned off. “So I have to consciously look at the counter unit to check that the handbrake is engaged,” says the owner, who has already found his Ford next to the parking space a number of times.

In summary, the fourth-generation Ford Focus seems rightfully successful. It impresses above all with its space and handling, owners report no structural problems. However, it is recommended to test sit properly because not every Focus has the same quality seats. Anyone in the market for an automatic transmission would do well to pay extra attention to possible vibrations during a test drive. After all, what is a big problem for one user need not be for another.