Ford Focus (2011 to 2018) | Expert Rating

Model reviewed: Hatchback range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“One of the best all-rounders in the competitive family hatchback sector, the Ford Focus is also brilliant to drive. Its fabulous mix of quality, comfort and handling – not to mention some very keen used prices – make the Focus a terrific used buy.”
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Model reviewed: Estate range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Ford Focus Estate shares its technology with the standard hatch, but while it delivers better carrying capacity and rear headroom, the Estate’s load-lugging capacity is significantly less than that of rivals such as the Skoda Octavia Estate and Peugeot 308 SW.”
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Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual ST-Line hatchback
Score: 6 / 10
“If you value style above all else, then the Ford Focus ST-Line will tick lots of boxes. With this entry-level EcoBoost engine it’ll be cheap to run, but the sporty add-ons come at the expense of necessities like parking sensors, automatic lights and climate control.”
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Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol manual EcoBoost
Score: 8 / 10
“1.5-litre EcoBoost version of new Ford Focus hatch is both punchy and efficient.”
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Model reviewed: Facelift hatchback range
Score: 8 / 10
“Refreshed Ford Focus hatchback is now more refined, and a serious rival to class leaders.”
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Model reviewed: Pre-facelift diesel hatchback models
Score: 8 / 10
“You can’t go too far wrong with a Ford Focus diesel, as all are comfortable and good to drive.” (Dean Gibson)
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Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual hatchback
Score: 8 / 10
“This 1.0-litre EcoBoost is more capable than a three-cylinder engine has any right to be. Not only does it make the Ford Focus feel grown-up, it helps it perform as well in town as on motorways.”
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Model reviewed: Pre-facelift hatchback range
Score: 10 / 10
“All new for 2011, the latest Focus promises the very best in comfort, technology and drivability.”
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Model reviewed: Hatchback range overview
Score: 7.2 / 10
“The Ford Focus is better than it’s ever been before, with a range of cracking engines, an attractive and useable interior and a driving experience that’s a match for anything else in the class.”
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Model reviewed: Pre-facelift estate range
Score: 7.4 / 10
“The Ford Focus Estate is a good-looking addition to the line-up of Britain’s best-selling car. It’s also more practical and packed with equipment.”
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Model reviewed: Pre-facelift hatchback range
Score: 7.8 / 10
“The third-generation Ford Focus is more refined, efficient and safer than ever before, although it lacks the sharp-edged driving thrills of previous models.”
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Model reviewed: Facelift range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The facelifted Ford Focus is improved in all ways bar one. It’s appealing, but no longer excels dynamically.” (Matt Burt)
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Model reviewed: Pre-facelift range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Ford Focus is so sophisticated in feel, so quiet at a cruise and stable at motorway speeds that it could quite easily come from the class above.”
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Model reviewed: 1.5-litre diesel manual hatchback Zetec
Score: 9 / 10
“Array of little improvements makes the Ford Focus a stronger competitor.”
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Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol manual ST-Line hatchback
Score: 8 / 10
“The car you buy if you like the idea of a Focus RS or ST but can’t quite justify a full-bore performance car, the Ford Focus ST-Line certainly looks the part.”
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Model reviewed: Hatchback range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“There’s always been a good reason that the Ford Focus has been the most popular car in its class for many years, but with its latest update it’s now even better and every bit as refined as it looks.”
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Model reviewed: Pre-facelift hatchback range overview
“Overall, the new Ford Focus is a very impressive piece of kit. The interior is exceptional, the kit levels and technology similarly strong and the trade-off between ride comfort and handling is well balanced for the needs of buyers.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.2 / 10
“The Ford Focus is a comfortable, fun-to-drive and well-equipped family car that makes a great used buy.”
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Model reviewed: Pre-facelift hatchback range overview
Score: 8.8 / 10
“The Ford Focus is great to drive, full of technology and very refined, but a small boot means it’s not the most practical five-door around.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Ford Focus is a family car that’s fun to drive and fairly frugal, but its boot is pretty small compared to other similar-sized hatchbacks.”
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Model reviewed: 8
Score: 8 / 10
“The Ford Focus Ecoboost delivers punchy performance and a thrummy soundtrack.”
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Model reviewed: Pre-facelift hatchback range
Score: 8 / 10
“The steering is very light, but it’s also accurate so you can always feel how hard you’re working the front tyres, and there is a really nice balance to the chassis so, although you won’t find any wild lift-off oversteer, you can adjust the Ford Focus subtly in a way that makes it very easy and rewarding to flow through corners.”
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Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual EcoBoost hatchback
“The Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost has the potential to spearhead a petrol revival by offering diesel-like running costs without the additional cost of fuel and the car itself.”
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Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual 125hp EcoBoost hatchback
Score: 9 / 10
“The Ford Focus 1-litre EcoBoost is a 5-door hatchback powered by a 1-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine, which sounds like a recipe for disaster, but the car actually has excellent performance and it’s almost as quiet as an electric car.”
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Model reviewed: Facelift range
Score: 8 / 10
“Combining the practicality and comfort that family buyers are looking for with a strong driving experience, it benefited from a number of key updates from the 2011 Ford Focus and is all the better for it. Choosing the right spec is important, but do so and you’ll have a car that will serve you well.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“This Ford Focus may not have been brand new but nonetheless it’s good to drive, fairly practical and it feels well made. Factor in the improved cabin and high-tech features and the Focus is a great choice.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The Ford Focus has a refined and upmarket feel to the cabin and is comfortable and quiet on the move.”
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Model reviewed: ST-Line (2016)
“The new Ford Focus ST-Line combines sporty styling with low running costs.”
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Model reviewed: Hatchback range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Ford Focus is joy to drive and a great used car bargain if you find a good one.” (Mike Humble)
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Model reviewed: Facelift hatchback range
Score: 8 / 10
“More grown up and better in all areas but still not as classy as a Golf.”
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Model reviewed: 1.6 Ecoboost
Score: 6 / 10
“The Ford Focus is a looker, it’s loaded with gadgets and EcoBoost engine has grunt.” (Jeremy Clarkson)
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Ford Focus is a decent car, and still sets the standard for driver enjoyment, so if a fun-to-drive family motor is what you’re after, it’s the one to have. However, a VW Golf is classier and more comfortable; the Nissan Qashqai has a better reliability record; and Skoda’s Octavia offers a lot more space.”
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Model reviewed: Facelift hatchback range
Score: 8 / 10
“Much needed tidy-up for the body, a couple of new capacities for existing engines and a talking dashboard.”
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Model reviewed: Hatchback range
Score: 8 / 10
“The 1.0-litre petrol Ecoboost 125 engine is not quite as economical as it appears on paper, but it’s sweet and smooth and more than punchy enough to push the Focus around. Zetec offers the sweetest spot between price and equipment, with all of the basics covered plus a DAB radio and a heated windscreen. Usefully, it’s also been by far the most popular Focus from new, ensuring a healthy supply of used examples.”
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Model reviewed: Facelift range overview
“There’s no doubt the 2014 Ford Focus is a better car than the one it replaces. It’s now cheaper to run, more refined and remains the best family car to drive bar none.” (Rory White)
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Model reviewed: Facelift range overview
“The Ford Focus has always been a fun car to drive, and the latest model still is, although it’s definitely more grown-up, comfortable and refined than previous generations.”
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