Ford Focus reviews

A basic model with low refinements yet some what economic runs nicely at low speed but at motorway speed you get a fair amount of road noise,the interior is basic to say the least with no rear electric windows like you get with other makes and the driving position is cramped where on changing gear your left leg is constantly hitting the centre consul ,the vehicle has a very good lighting system which lights up the road brilliantly

Just bought my Focus Estate on a whim after my Corsa died :( The only thing I had to get used to was the obvious size difference and the running costs, but I absolutely love it! Wish I'd got one years ago!

I bought the Focus as a commuting car to keep costs down after my annual mileage increased from 5,000 to 40,000 miles and after experiencing the fun of my fiancé's Mk.1 1.8 TDCi. The car has been immensely impressive - my primary concern was the running cost and with £30/year vehicle tax, 55+mpg around town, 65mpg regular average and 72mpg+ on a motorway run, I haven't been disappointed. Very well screwed together; and in Titanium trim with the X pack it has nearly as many features as my Range Rover! The stereo is superb and the touchscreen sat-nav is clear and easy to use (shame the mapping DVDs cost so much to update - I can't justify £100 (nearly £200 from Ford!) on new mapping when an AA road map costs £1.99...). Voice control actually works and the Bluetooth hands-free phone integration is reliable and clear. Electric leather heated seats and cruise control make every journey a pleasure - even 300+ mile journeys are no problem. The engine lacks torque at low revs (<1800rpm), but pulls well in the higher range (brisk overtaking means stirring the gears a bit) and it's happy to cruise quietly at all legal speeds. 55-60mph in 5th returns best mpg. All Mk.2 DPF equipped Focii have a fuel additive tank that should be checked and topped up every 37,500 miles, which is a pain of a job, but the filter will clog very quickly if the additive runs out. The Infinium F7995 cerium additive isn't cheap (about £25-£30/litre), but the tank is only 1.5 litres and should last for over 70,000 miles (typically the car will use about 750ml between top ups, but the actual amount depends on your fuel consumption). Make sure the ECU counter is reset each time, which can be done by a sequence of ignition on/off and fuel flap opening/closing; by the dealer; or by using an ELM327 interface with Forscan software (www.forscan.org). The DPF itself will eventually need replacing as it cannot be cleaned. Typically this will be at between 60k-80k miles, depending on how the car has been driven and used. The Ford service schedule recommends replacement every 75k miles. Lots of short, cold, stop-start runs will clog the filter quickly; lots of long, steady, warm runs will mean the filter could last 100k+ miles (don't listen to those who say you should cane it up the motorway to regenerate the DPF, by the way - a 10-15 minute steady run at 50+mph in 4th, or 65+mph in 5th will be far more effective). Filters can be bought for around £350, but fitting is quite in involved job. Dealers will charge well over £1,000 all-in, independents should be around half that. Again, make sure the ECU is reset after being fitted as it tracks when the filter needs replacing. A clogged filter is often the cause of poor fuel consumption as the ECU constantly tries to regenerate it as it adds extra diesel to the combustion cycle to raise the exhaust temperature. Lots of horror stories on the internet about this engine, but the majority of problems seem to be caused by lots of short runs, heavy-footed driving, poor or no servicing (critical to stick to 12,500 mile service interval and use quality, low SAPs oil - frequently garages won't), or ignoring the regenerate warning light (if fitted) until too late. Turbo problems can be caused by carbon build up in the engine - there's not much oil in the sump (about 4 litres) to absorb all the soot between services, so it's important that it is drained and changed regularly at or within the specified interval. The correct procedure specifies the car must be level when it is drained and the filter should always be changed, too (which is also a fiddle to get at as it involves removing the air filter box, so can be overlooked or "forgotten" by garages on the clock). Use a good quality, low SAPS oil and you shouldn't have any problems. My car has done 110,000 miles (60,000 of those with me over the last 18 months) and has never missed a beat, save for regular servicing and a failed alternator regulator. Would I buy another? For the same requirements, absolutely, but I'm so pleased with this one that I plan to keep it until it falls apart. Would I recommend others to buy one? Well, it depends on your needs. Any DPF equipped diesel car, including the newer ones, needs regular decent runs to keep the filter healthy, so if you're looking for a town runabout that's never going to do more than 10 mile trips, then you'll probably want a petrol; electric; or petrol-hybrid car. If you do a regular bit of fast A road or motorway driving, then you won't go far wrong with one of these, especially in the higher specs.

the cat I went to see was sold however another model with 10 miles and in black was available,between e mailing at 6.30 am and arriving at 11 am,the price had been adjusted to 12495,when I pointed out my e mail the sales manager agreed on the price given on the net at 6.30 am,satisfied by that.

Nice tidy car. Lots of space and very smooth running.

Excellent car all round very happy with it

Had my Focus for 8 years albeit with a number of issues. For Example Broken front spring, Instrument panel failure. New coil etc. Small welding job needed for an MOT. 6000CD radio u/s and usual issue with heater resistor. Overall though, have had no regrets and still find it a lovely car to drive. Superb handling if rather noisy and slightly harsh ride. Enough pace to keep up with motorway traffic without being that quick. Fuel economy ok around 40mpg overall. Just had new cambelt and water pump etc at 67000 and, as car as has stayed clean with little rust, will be keeping it for another 2-3 years. Great balance of practicality with a sporty feel.

I absolutely love the Ford focus and this one is even better than my older version. I have trouble with some makes of cars as I'm quite short but the Ford focus is perfect for short and tall people alike. The car is easy to do day to day checks and maintain as everything is clearly labeled in the engine. The boot is very spacious and ideal for families (you can fit in loads if going on holiday) The car runs smoothly and is an ideal car for anyone.

First car shudnt gone for a small emgine but i love it very spacious getting used to it slowly ... drives really well!! Car company had good customer service!

I have only had the vehicle a few months .but this is my 4th ford focus. i find them reliable ,fairly economical good appearance, plenty of interior room.

very reliable car with reasonable comfort. however , a bit disappointed with petrol consumption. I would have another but would buy a diesal.

My focus has started every time, without fail, for 18 months - reliable. I think it's fairly good value to run. I previously had a Mark 1 Focus 1.8 - the dream car! This new one doesn't match up to the quality and comfort of the original Focus. I wish it were more roomy for drinking in - nowhere practical to put your coffee receptical - unlike the old Focus! It seems a bit pokey inside. On the whole though, a solid car. I like it.

Having been Mr Mondeo man for most of my career but drove a top of the range Renault Automatic for the last 8 years I was drawn to a particular garage initially to select a second hand car to replace my last car that had 120k miles on the clock but still running without problems. I was willing to go down in spec but on driving the Ford Focus Zetec it had all that I needed in a car going into full retirement. I was sceptical but couldn't fault anything with the car on purchase. Although I look for things to complain about, to date I can only sing the praises of this popular car despite it being a Ford and taking Mr Mondeo Man back to the days of company cars and long and tiring days travelling the length and breadth of Northern England. If it continues to perform and please me as now it will possibly survive me a become my last vehicle!!!!!

Terrific car to drive - comfortable driving position, controls light and responsive with excellent performance and roadholding. Mileage good, although not as high as expected from sales brochure. Only drawback is that suspension is a bit too firm, giving bumpy ride on some surfaces, and tyre noise too high at speeds over 50mph - could be better insulated against noise.

Doesn't set the world on fire but does everything you want from a car and has given me no trouble. Good round town, cruising, easy to park, oomph when needed. I really love it because it does the job and it causes me no stress even now it is getting on a little. Really pleased with it.

Has come up to expectations, but early days.

Good practical family estate. Very popular car, many on the road which says something about its reliability and cost effectivness. I am happy that I bought one.

Reliable, easy to drive. The 1.6 is slightly under-powered, and rear vision could be better. On the whole, though, very pleased with the car and will certainly seriously consider the latest Focus when replacing this car next year.

Great balance of space and compactness. Excellent value motoring averaging 52 mpg. Low servicing costs and road tax. Could be a bit more nippy but overall well recommended.

Bought from my neighbour who had to give up driving. Solid reliable car.Bodywork doing fine.