Living with a... Ford Focus

We spent six months with one of Britain’s best-selling cars, the Ford Focus, to see whether the humble hatchback can still cut it in a world obsessed with SUVs.
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[@RockApe]

Excellent review. Liked the longer version online too 👍

[@MajorKlanga]

A battery going flat after 3 weeks on a new car isn't good enough, there must be a parasitic drain on it somewhere. The fact that none of the Ford dealers suggested resetting the windows shows how poor they are.

[@asmith9040]

Mark McMarkface resetting the windows fixed it?

[@asmith9040]

Mark McMarkface have got/use the ford connect app on your phone?

[@forza223bowe5]

Must be a bad battery, or a problem with something on the car not turning off causing battery drain.

[@thomash2806]

Moral of the story: read the handbook first!

[@RichO1701e]

Many cars with "auto bounce back" or anti pinch systems can suffer from that issue. My 2010 Saab 9-3 saloon had it earlier this year. I had to unplug the electric harness from the door, wait a minute and do the reset.

[@bongo2296]

I haven't driven this Focus but I am well acquainted with it as a passenger. I feel like the interior quality just isn't there where it matters. Sure the improved materials on the dash and door cards etc is nice but but compared to my own Mk2 Focus it's not very comfy. The seats are harder, feels like there's not much as much padding, and the seats are also not as well shaped. I can throw my Zetec around and stay planted even with the standard seats but when the ST-Line X Mk4 gets thrown around I slide around with it. That said though, it's much improved in all areas over the Mk3 Focus. Again I never drove it myself, but I was not impressed with the Mk3 as a passenger, and that was in the proper ST-3 version of all things!

[@forza223bowe5]

Last decent focus was the Mk2, and mk3 isn’t too bad as long as it’s the facelifted one

[@Chris-yc3mm]

1. You need a semi decent infotainment unit with sat nav because eventually your new phone (or a bug in your current one) will mean it wont connect to your old car leaving you or the second hand buyer high and dry 2. Does it come with a spare tyre 3. Is there a manual handbrake option? I'm not a fan of the electric ones

[@ronalaska2472]

I love my Focus Electric but hate the front wheel drive which gives me torque steer, wheel spin and tire stuff to the point that tires only last 2 years! Also the battery stack behind the rear seat cut the storage in the back to near zero!

[@josephkarl2061]

Future Phil looks like he just got out of bed, so maybe the curd in the cheese was a bit dodgy 😂😂 Great review BTW

[@reedfelix9254]

A tip : you can watch movies at Kaldrostream. Me and my gf have been using them for watching loads of movies recently.

[@rileykorbin5896]

@Reed Felix Yup, I've been using kaldrostream for since november myself :D

[@josephamir1929]

@Reed Felix Definitely, I have been using kaldroStream for since december myself :D

[@Leonfr_2022]

Ermmm Haywards Heath!!? Is that really where you filmed??

[@NedjoKovacevic]

2:40 Excellent point! Manufacturers should provide tactile controls for climate and radio and that's it! Infotaiment should only provide smartphone connection.

[@robertlangham2356]

All very lovely but if you've had the car for six months, why don't you say what your average mpg is snd over what distance and approx driving conditions, now that would be useful.

[@gillywash1487]

I have a 66 plate (the generation before this) st line estate with same 1.5 Diesel engine, I drive it hard with a boot full of tools and on a variety of roads and in my 75k so far it’s averaged 56mpg and hasn’t had anything go wrong with it yet! When I do eventually kill this one I’ll probably get another.

[@gillywash1487]

Ai Know-how... but is exactly the same engine, the facelift won’t effect mpg much!

[@bnascimento94]

He says 52 mpg and 110 mile daily home-work.-home.

[@robertlangham2356]

@@bnascimento94 Sorry, I obviously wasn't clear enough, average mpg over the six months and what kind of driving over same time NOT what mpg on the daily commute

[@forza223bowe5]

Nick Gillibrand I have driven many fords and they haven’t let me down, rock solid cars

[@alantomalino3417]

Reliability is a complaint of an unusually large portion of owners, according to Consumers Reports. Good, honest review here, and the problems encountered are not uncommon, unfortunately for owners and Ford Company.

[@forza223bowe5]

Fords are usually reliable, I drive one and see loads about and very few broken down

[@JamesSmith-uv9og]

Looks very nice, and sporty too. Shame it has those annoying electronic handbrakes

[@chrisb012]

Had the battery issue on my focus. Its caused by the telematics module developing a fault, and draining the battery. Had to have the module replaced.

[@forza223bowe5]

Must be a common issue

[@stuartmiller7419]

If you can sum up six months (of anything in life) positively in eight minutes, it can't be bad.

[@asmith9040]

Surely the passenger door should open from the inside?

[@dj_efk]

A smith - Surely, yes. Dumb design if it doesn’t.

[@forza223bowe5]

David Foster-Key They mean it has a child lock. I would be worried if the door only opened from the outside lol

[@dj_efk]

Forza223 Bowe - No they don’t. Watch the vid again for the context.

[@gorfonibla1060]

Needs ear defenders for the road noise! Couldn’t put up with that!

[@brianiswrong]

Only thing I don't like with my 19 plate zetec nav 1.5 diesel 120 bhp manua estatel is, The car feel over geared,it really wants to be in 3 rd gear at 30 mph and 6th gear is pulling 39 mph/ per 1000 rpm

[@chandufernando7714]

how many kms?

[@samr5043]

Just passed my driving test in one of these! ST-Line X with the 1.0 123bhp petrol. Really liked the linear power delivery, almost total lack of NVH and how it felt on the road in comparison to other Focuses and Fiestas I’ve driven.

[@AutoTraderTV]

Wow! Perhaps it's lucky then 😉

[@forza223bowe5]

Nice looking car, but it has lost its edge for me

[@asmith9040]

I’m waiting for an ST-Line X petrol 182 which now also has twist beam suspension. Nice review. What’s the suspension like? I wanted multi link that’s on the earlier ST-Line X 182. But it’s not to be.

[@p5byn]

ive got a ST Line X with the twist beam suspension and its fine

[@asmith9040]

p5byn what engine?

[@p5byn]

A smith 1.5 diesel

[@AutoTraderTV]

While I haven’t tried the mutli-link setup in the higher-powered ST-Line cars, I didn’t feel I was missing out on anything with the torsion beam system in the car I had. It felt nicely nimble but well planted at the back, and was comfortable enough for everyday use too. - Phill.

[@asmith9040]

p5byn how long have u had the ST-Line x? Any problems so far?

[@archechme]

"a non apple phone" ... so, an android?

[@Lucky8s]

Or Windows

[@archechme]

@@Lucky8s well, yeah. but they were discontinued and windows phone OS hasn't been updated for about 4 years

[@stuartmiller7419]

That made me laugh. Non-partisan bias that Freud would be very interested in lol

[@FatHead1979]

I assume "Future Phil" doesn't bother looking through the owners book, plus a quick search online would have provided the solution. All Ford's within global opening/closing closing windows have had the same simple window reset process since at least the MK2 Focus.

[@iteungwelah]

It's like he's narrating in the background only he's actually talking to the camera

[@livc444111]

25k!..Ill wait ten years before I can afford it then

[@forza223bowe5]

Over priced, when it will depreciate like bad and be worse £8,000 in a few years

[@vladbl9249]

Holly Molly!!!! Windows software is the same as in my Volvo C30!!!!!! 😂 Seems like what i've got from Volvo in 2009, you get it now on Ford Focus!

[@xanaduzu5150]

One of the best selling cars in the UK, but Ford can't be bothered to bring it to the US anymore? Are Brits and Yanks really that different in our motoring needs?

[@scoobydoo7512]

You get cheap Mustangs in the US so in wouldn't complain

[@danielleroux6490]

@@scoobydoo7512 A Mustang is not a practical car like the Focus hatchback. I'd much rather have a 6 speed Focus than a Mustang for my car - I can't drive a Mustang year-round as my daily commuter and I can't carry normal size people in the rear seats

[@danielleroux6490]

Let's all do our part: call or write Ford US Customer Relationship Center and tell them what their American customers want. If we all contact them, maybe they'll realize it's a profitable business decision to bring the Mk4 Focus 6 spd manual transmission to the US/North American market. Wouldn't hurt to ask for the Fiesta and/or the Puma 6 speed manual as well! Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center P.O. Box 6248 Dearborn, MI 48126 Ford U.S. Phone: [phone]

[@frugalferg]

I bought the new mk4 focus in July. It is similar to this car, same colour but mine is a 1 ltr petrol, 125 PS. I have owned a mk2 and a mk3 focus. The only extras I went with were privacy glass, reversing camera and full size spare wheel. The following are my own thoughts on the mk 4; Pros; it's the best looking Focus since the mk1. It's nice to drive with a nippy little engine. It's got some nice features such as lined glove compartments, easy to use centre console. But the biggest improvement is the leg room for passengers in the back seats. Cons: I don't believe it's as well built as the mk3. I don't. It's a lighter car, the stuff hasn't gone into it. For example, the seats. No where near as comfortable as the mk3 and you will be stiff as a poker after a 2 hour drive. The boot is tiny if you go for a full size spare wheel. Despite what Ford say I don't believe the boot is bigger than the mk3.

[@forza223bowe5]

The Mk3 was the best focus especially the facelift one. Apparently this new focus is cheaper, so I am not surprised if a few corners have been cut

[@SurgeDashcam]

Yeah, my current car is a 2016 Ford Focus Titanium X. It has pretty much all the features listed in this video with the addition of adaptive Xenon headlights. You can get one of these for around 8 - 11k with low mileage... Much less than what it costs for a new MK4 and with all the same tech. Doesn't really give you much reason to go for the MK4 over a top spec MK3

[@MiniEggs1999]

I like Apple CarPlay but car manufacturers are not going to hand over that much of the car to some American corporation. Also CarPlay nav etc does not work well in poor signal areas

[@FatHead1979]

Yup, a prime example of someone not understanding the underlying technology and thinking an iPhone will magically work perfectly ALL of the time. If an iPhone has a decent data connection when the destination is selected, it WILL download and cache the mapping data needed for the selected route but it does NOT cache the significant surrounding area so if you lose your data connection AND have to re-route, you're fucked! Where as the manufacturer fitted system has all the mapping data stored and as long as it can maintain a GPS lock, will continue to work nicely (probably without traffic alerts etc).

[@wolvoman1]

And for those that dont know, you can reset the windows simply by........................................ easy done.

[@ForburyLion]

I have the previous model Focus with Sync 3 and although I use apple carplay, I find the Ford sat nav is better because it also displays instructions on the drivers dashboard and it displays the speed limit signs on the main screen. If google maps and apple maps could integrate these functions plus DAB/FM radio controls it would make the manufacturer system obsolete.

[@SurgeDashcam]

On the Sync 3.4 update (which you can force onto older Sync 3 systems), you can get the directions to display on the cluster for Android Auto at least, not sure about Car play.

[@ForburyLion]

@@SurgeDashcam Thanks, I'll try and work out how to get this updated

[@vladimirart758]

Expensive

[@Netryon]

Speed limits are the reason why you shouldn't get yourself a 300KW car, you simply can't drive it at high speed.

[@goxy287]

Diesel blueghhh

[@Firemarioflower]

2:55 Nahhh i'm fine with a simple screen in my car instaed of faffing around with a smartphone, as long as that screen doesn't take away all the other functions such as climate regulation which are better to be done by button. You shouldn't be too distracted by phones anyway while in the car. When using it, you either have the enigine running while not driving which is a waste, or without engine with the risk of draining your car's battery. Doing it while driving is illegal and dangerous of course. There's still plenty of older people who drive cars such as this, they would be better off with a regular , simple onboard computer as it's more logically laid out and not as small.

[@forza223bowe5]

Looks so much more modern and stylish compared to the Golf

[@firazhafiz9107]

Is he a robot?

[@MiniEggs1999]

Bike rack. Does it turn off the rear parking sensors when tow bar is out ? I assume you have to reprogram your brain when reversing!

[@signalorangers2k]

It's fine. You'd be hard pushed to notice any difference

[@AutoTraderTV]

Yes, once the electrical hookup for the bike rack lights is connected, the car knows that there’s something attached to the back so you don’t get the sensors going off all the time. Actually, having the rear-view camera was useful here as it meant you never forgot the bikes were on there! But yes, you do need to remember that the car is longer than usual. - Phill.

[@t5jerry]

Seriously , a car "journalist " who doesn't know how to reset car windows !!!!!!!! Bring back Quentin Wilson and William woolard !!!!!

[@hothippo6013]

I do not want nor need navigation as a part of an infotainment system, I have a phone with better navigation than any car I've seen so far. I didn't bother getting the navi when I bought a new car 2 months ago.

[@robtt997]

My next car must have android auto otherwise I won’t buy it!

[@burghyr]

"17 inch sporty rims" 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Aarontlondon]

Chavmobile

[@forza223bowe5]

Shame it has an electronic handbrake

[@frugalferg]

Hi. I had massive reservations about this. I held off changing my mk3 to the mk4 because of the handbrake issue. But, while I'd prefer a 'lever' handbrake, I got used to the electronic very quickly. It's just my bicep doesn't get a work out anymore!!

[@forza223bowe5]

fergal timmons I do prefer a manual one, but like everything I suppose you get used it. Enjoy your new car

[@forza223bowe5]

fergal timmons Electronic handbrakes are great, until they go wrong and cost potentially hundreds of pounds to fix

[@irGuilty]

25k for a Ford??

[@youraveragejoe1]

I know this was a year ago but 25k is really not much money for a car these days. Especially a focus size hatchback… you can’t even get a golf (which aren’t that amazing anyway) for under 25k these days

[@jimblack8104]

Sync 3 is terrible

[@yesmad319]

Its actually alright tbh

[@jimblack8104]

Well I’ve used it for 2 years on more then 1 car. It’s garbage and I’m being honest too

[@danielleroux6490]

Fellow Americans! Let's all do our part: call or write Ford US Customer Relationship Center and tell them what their American customers want. If we all contact them, maybe they'll realize it's a profitable business decision to bring the Mk4 Focus 6 spd manual transmission to the US/North American market. Wouldn't hurt to ask for the Fiesta and/or the Puma 6 speed manual as well! Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center P.O. Box 6248 Dearborn, MI 48126 Ford U.S. Phone: [phone]