Used 2018 Ford Focus Buyer’s Guide

The Ford Focus may have ended its North American run in 2018, but its legend lives on. Here’s everything you need to know before buying a pre-owned 2018 Ford Focus.

It’s hard to argue that the Ford Focus is (or was) one of the most popular vehicles in the world. The compact car market has been incredibly competitive over the years, so competitive in fact that the Ford Focus was discontinued for the North American market prior to the 2019 model year. The last North American-produced Focus rolled off the line at Ford’s Michigan plant on May 4, 2018. OK, in reality, the pivot to SUVs and crossovers was the real reason for the Focus’ demise.

That makes this comprehensive 2018 Ford Focus review a critical part of your compact car buying experience as it was literally the swan song for Ford’s fantastic Focus. Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane before we get into the nuts and bolts of the 2018 Focus.

We didn’t get a taste of the first first-generation Focus here in the U.S. until the 2000 model year, and it ran through the 2007 model year. The versatile Focus was available in three styles, including a three-door hatchback, a sedan, and a wagon. You could choose between two fairly underpowered engines, both 2.0L four-cylinders (107 horsepower and 130 horsepower). Today, the average Kelley Blue Book Used Fair Market Range is a low $1,618 to $3,039 for first-year 2000 models. You can spend a bit more ($3,560 to $5,916) for a final year 2007.

The second-generation Ford Focus was sold from 2008 to 2011 and was only available as a two-door coupe and four-door sedan. It was still powered by a 2.0L four-cylinder, with a bump up to 140 horsepower.

The third-generation Focus ran from 2012 to 2018 and saw a return to the sedan and four-door hatchback body styles. Yep, you guessed it, another 2.0L inline four-cylinder engine came as standard, but Ford finally it dialed up the power to 160 horsepower and 146 lb.-ft. of torque.

Those looking for a performance boost could opt for the Focus ST four-door performance-focused hatchback starting in the 2013 model year. Sure, it has a 2.0L engine, but it also has a turbocharger and produces 252 horsepower. It’s a fun little car, and those wanting the ultimate performance Focus should look for the all-wheel-drive Focus RS.

Launched in 2016, it comes with a standard output of 350 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque from a 2.3L turbocharged inline four-cylinder and a six-speed manual. It’s a real blast. Third-generation prices for the 2018 Focus range from around $5,500 for a base 2011 Focus to near $37,000 for a 2018 Focus RS.

2018 Ford Focus Trim Levels

The 2018 Focus is available in seven great trims, including S, SE, SEL, Titanium, Electric, ST and RS. The performance-focused ST and RS, as well as the Electric model, are hatchback-only, while all other trim levels are available as sedan or hatchback.

2018 Ford Focus S

The entry-level 2018 Ford Focus is available in both sedan and hatchback layout and had a long list of standard features, including:

• Rearview camera
• 4.2-inch central display
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Four-speaker sound system
• Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
• Power front windows (with manual rear windows)

2018 Ford Focus SE

Move up to the SE and you can get all of that, plus:

• Cruise control
• Larger 16-inch alloy wheels
• Rear air vents
• Front center armrest
• Power rear windows
• Six-speaker sound system

2018 Ford Focus SEL

The SEL gives you a great mix of comfort and convenience. The mid-range Focus delivers:

• Eight-inch entertainment screen with Sync 3
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Even larger 17-inch wheels
• Rear proximity parking and backup sensors
• Daytime running lights

2018 Ford Focus Titanium

Basically the top spec “normal Focus”, the Titanium delivers everything you’ll find in the lower trim levels, plus luxury upgrades with standard stuff like:

• Leather-trimmed seats
• Trim-specific 17-inch wheels
• Chrome exterior trim
• Seatback map pockets

2018 Ford Focus Electric

The Focus Electric is an interesting option in the lineup. Its equipment basically aligns to the Titanium, although leather seats are optional. You’ll also get a couple of additional features as standard like:

• Xenon headlights
• Trim-specific taillights

2018 Ford Focus ST

The performance-oriented ST delivers a great mix of equipment from across the Focus lineup. Standard features align fairly close to the Focus SE, but also include some trim-specific bits like:

• 18-inch alloy wheels with performance-focused summer tires
• Performance brakes
• Electronic limited-slip differential
• Hill start assist
• Integrated blind-spot mirror

2018 Ford Focus RS

The Focus RS is a truly spectacular car. Sitting atop the entire Focus lineup in both price and performance, you’ll get standard features such as:

• 19-inch wheels with Summer performance tires
• Quaife limited-slip front differential
• Carbon-fiber interior accents
• Large rear spoiler
• Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system
• Rearview camera

2018 Ford Focus Price Ranges

The 2018 Ford Focus offers quite a bit of equipment across its various trim levels. It all comes at a pretty reasonable price as well. All of the prices below use Kelley Blue Book “Fair Market Range” value. It ranges from just under $12,000 for a base S, to just over $37,000 for the top spec RS.

• Focus S: $11,756 – $14,841
• Focus SE: $15,750 – $19,481
• Focus SEL: $16,013 – $19,880
• Focus Titanium: $15,998 – $19,995
• Focus Electric: $18,766 – $21,225
• Focus ST: $22,776 – $25,173
• Focus RS: $33,404 – $36,915

Powertrain Options

The 2018 Focus also come with a variety of engine and transmission options. You can start from the mild with the base FWD S, and get a bit wild with the AWD RS.

• The base engine is technically a 2.0L four-cylinder engine producing 160 horsepower and 146 lb.-ft. of torque (S, SEL, Titanium). It comes with a five-speed manual transmission as standard, or you can get it with an optional six-speed automatic.
• However, those looking to maximize economy and mpgs can actually opt for a smaller engine. On the SE (sedan only), you can go for a turbocharged 1.0L three-cylinder engine with just 123 horsepower and 125 lb.-ft. of torque. You can have it paired with a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic.
• Bump up to the Focus ST and you’ll get a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine pumping out an impressive 252 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque. The sole transmission is a six-speed manual, and the ST only comes in front-wheel drive. Having owned one, there is definitely some torque steer from the powerful front-drive ST.
• The Focus RS gets a standard torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, which is great considering it is powered by a turbocharged 2.3L inline-four-cylinder makes a massive 350 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque. Like the ST, the only transmission is a six-speed manual.

Fuel Economy

The EPA ratings for miles-per-gallon across the 2018 focus definitely varies across each engine and trim combination. The most fuel-efficient of the gas engines is definitely the 1.0L three-cylinder, which is rated an EPA-estimated 30/40 mpg (city/highway) in the when equipped with the manual transmission, and 27/38 mpg when mated to a automatic transmission. For normal 2.0L engine, you’ll get a maximum EPA-estimated 26/38 mpg.

Meanwhile the all-electric Focus Electric (pictured above), gets an EPA combined rating of 107 MPGe (city MPGe: 118, Highway MPGe: 96) and an estimated electric-only range of 115 miles.

The Focus ST comes in with a respectable 22/30 mpg, and the RS gets a 19/26 mpg rating.

Performance

The 2018 Focus with the small three-cylinder takes a leisurely 10.6 seconds to get to 60 mph. However, most folks will buy that one for its mpg rating over its acceleration.

The more popular base 2.0L Focus hits 60 around 8.4 seconds.

The ST is pretty quick, tested around the 6.4 second mark to 60 mph, while unsurprisingly the RS blitzes to 60 in less than five seconds!

Dimensions & Cargo Space

The sedan version of the Focus is 178.7 inches (14.9 feet) long, 71.8 inches (5.98 feet) wide, and 57.8 inches (4.82 feet) tall. It has a total interior volume of 103.2 cubic feet and a cargo capacity (with all seats in place) of up to 13.2 cubic feet.

The hatchback isn’t quite as long at 171.7 inches (14.3 feet), and retains the same width and height as the sedan. However, it bests the sedan by a significant amount with 23.3 cubic feet of total space with all seats in place and a total interior volume of 113.3 cubic feet.

Ford Focus Safety Rating

Both the sedan and hatchback version of the 2018 Ford Focus have a five-star (out of five stars) overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Crash ratings were all rated as “Good” for most categories, except for Small overlap front: driver-side, which was “acceptable”.

Ford added a host of safety features to the 2018 Focus. For example, their Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with cross-traffic alert will warn you if it detects a vehicle in either of your blind spots while moving forward, or approaching from the sides while in reverse.

Their Lane-Keeping System can apply steering wheel torque to keep you on the straight and narrow, it will also deliver a gentle steering wheel vibration if you stray too far. It’s built pretty well for a small car as well.

Underneath is Ford’s SPACE (Side Protection And Cabin Enhancement) Architecture as well as an enhanced front-crash structure to help keep you safe. Add seven airbags and AdvanceTrac electronic stability control, and it’s clear that there’s a lot of safety built into the 2018 Ford Focus.

Check out the 2018 Ford Focus safety test in action in the IIHS clip, above.

Child Seat Details

The 2018 Focus comes with two main types of rear child-seat configurations. The driver and passenger side configurations come with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

Additionally, the center position provides an additional seating position with an upper tether anchor only. This means that a seatbelt plus tether anchor is really the only installation method for a seat to be placed in the middle.

The overall evaluation of the Focus’s child seat capacity by the IIHS was “Acceptable,” which is the second-highest rating out of four possible options.

The IIHS concluded that the tether anchor (typically at the top of the seat) was in an easy-to-find location and that no other hardware could be confused for the anchor. The lower anchors were found to be too deep in the seat, which can hinder the installation.

However, they noted that there was not much force needed to attach the anchors, and that it was easy to maneuver around them once installed. This was the case for both driver-side and passenger-side LATCH installs.

Technology Features

Small cars don’t have to mean small tech. The latest iterations of modern compact cars have been loaded with the latest technology. The 2018 Ford Focus is no different, you’ll get a bunch of standard and optional gear to make sure you stay connected.

Standard in all 2018 Focus models is Ford’s Sync infotainment system which can be accessed via a standard 4.2-inch center screen.

Connectivity comes via Bluetooth as well as a USB port. Opt for the upgraded Sync 3 infotainment system and you’ll get a great eight-inch center touchscreen as well as HD Radio, SiriusXM radio, two USB ports, and more.

There are additional add-on options like navigation as well as dual 4.2-inch instrument cluster driver displays (Electric model only).

Exterior Color Options

The 2018 Ford Focus comes in a choice of 13 exterior paint colors, from the run-of-the-mill “Blue” to the cool “Nitrous Blue”.

Interior Color Options

The 2018 Ford Focus comes in a choice of seven interior color options:

• Charcoal Black Cloth (S, SE, SEL)
• Charcoal Black Cloth with Anthracite (ST)
• Charcoal Black Leather (Titanium, ST)
• Charcoal Black Leather with Miko Dinamica Inserts (RS)
• Charcoal Black Leather with Smoke Storm Cloth Inserts(ST)
• Medium Light Stone Cloth (SE)
• Medium Soft Ceramic Leather (Titanium)

2018 Ford Focus Reviews: Then & Now

What Critics Said about the Ford Focus in 2018

Charleston Car Videos (2018)

The YouTube channel Charleston Car Videos provides a comprehensive overview and test-drive in its early-2018 video and notes many areas of the vehicle that other critics missed. The host covers everything from the driver’s height comfort level to the safety latch in the trunk.

“We’re approaching 10 years of the Ford Focus in the United States,” says the host. “It’s a great car, and one of the things that people really love about the Ford Focus is that there are so many great options that you can do with this car. We’ve seen the hatchback versions, the sports car, the rally Focus. There’s just so many cool ways you can drive and own a Focus.

“I’m a guy that is 6’1″, 251 pounds, so I’m pretty much an average height for an American male,” he says as he slides into the front driver’s seat. “As you can see, it’s pretty easy getting in and out for a guy that’s 6″1″, and if you’re shorter than me, even better. …It’s pretty quiet inside, too. When I shut the door, it got really quiet. That’s something that I always say attention to in vehicles.”

He then focuses on the trunk space and the power-open feature. “Let’s pop open the trunk and see what kind of trunk space and cargo room is in this car. To open it, in 2018, you have what is not a smart key on this particular SE model, but it does have a lock/unlock, a horn button, and the trunk button. Let’s hit the trunk button and see what happens. Now, that’s pretty sweet,” he says as the trunk smoothly lifts open as he stands about five feet away with the key. “It really just pops right open. So, it’s not a power trunk or power tailgate, but hey, I like how it opens up like that. Pretty sweet.

“There’s definitely a decent amount of room in the back,” he continues. “You can get the strollers in, you can get the golf bags and the football equipment and whatever else you need. And if you need to get a hoe or a rake in the back, or a big flatscreen TV, just drop the back seats down for a 40/60 backseat split.”

The Charleston Car Videos host seems very impressed with a simple safety feature that Ford apparently put a l0t of thought into. “Now, of course, Ford does keep safety in mind,” he says, “and just in case a kid happens to accidentally be in the trunk, Ford even put a cool little logo here in the trunk with a graphic of a kid running from the trunk. That’s pretty sweet. I love how they did that. And it’s glow in the dark as well so you can clearly see it.”

Auto Publication Reviews (2018)

The SEL trim was a popular pick for the auto critics at U.S. News & World Report, which mentions that while the “S trim sedan is a solid pick, those looking for more refinement should consider purchasing the SEL trim. Not only is it available in the hatchback body style, but it comes with the upgraded SYNC 3 infotainment system with smartphone integration technology.”

Car & Driver notes that the “Focus is outclassed by larger rivals that offer more passenger space, larger cargo holds, and more modern features. …It’s an easy car to recommend, and its two body styles—hatchback and sedan—offer broad appeal.”

Edmunds also says that opting for the SEL trim makes sense, reporting that “the SEL hatchback with the 2.0-liter engine hits the sweet spot when it comes to features, drivetrain, and functionality.”

J.D. Power describes Focus buyers’ favorite things as “the exterior styling, engine/transmission, interior design, driving dynamics, and visibility and safety. Buyers indicate their least favorite things about the Focus are the seats, infotainment system, climate system, storage, and fuel economy.”

Current Reviews: What Owners Say Today

Overall the 2018 Ford Focus has been fairly well reviewed by owners and influencers, even a year or more after its release.

Car Guy 1999 Reviews (2020)

In the 2020 Car Guy 1999 Reviews coverage, the YouTube channel’s host gives the 2018 Ford Focus hatchback a spin and is thoroughly impressed.

“It provides a really, really nice driving experience and is definitely pretty sporty,” he says from behind the wheel during a city cruise. “This 2.0 is ample for what you need for day-to-day use. At the end of the day, this is a city car; that’s what it’s meant for, running around town and stuff like that, and it excels in that department.

“For being the mid-trim level, it’s really nice,” he adds. “You could have gone with the Titanium trim, which has your leather seats and full Sync 3 unit. But you know what, this is still pretty good, and this is Ford’s Sync 1 unit, which they put in the 2018s.”

Redline Reviews (2019)

“The Focus looks best in ST and RS trim for me,” says automotive journalist Sofyan Bey in his Redline Reviews coverage of 2018 Ford Focus, which he did one year after its release. “The regular one, especially the Titanium, just looks a little bit too much on the cheaper side.”

“Now, stepping into the interior of the Focus, you can see the step-in is relatively on the lower side,” he continues. “This vehicle feels a little bit like it’s designed to be sportier than its competition. And then when you shut the door, the door definitely doesn’t sound as solid as it used to. It’s a little bit on the hollow, tinny side; the whole structure just kind of shakes.

“Looking at the rest of the interior,” he adds, “you can see the dashboard comes really far out towards you, which makes the interior feel a little bit cramped. It also makes visibility a little bit obscured because of these large pillars here, so just keep that in mind.”

Bey concludes his review by honestly laying out the pros and cons of the 2018 Ford Focus. “I don’t particularly think the car has aged very well over the years. It still drives really nice, the steering is quick and responsive, and the chassis feels good… But there’re times where it actually does a pretty good job of shifting, and then there’re times where it feels like it’s slipping.

“And again, it’s just a normal characteristic of this dual clutch,” he adds. “It shifts very lethargically and feels very lazy, like ‘don’t bother me, I don’t feel like shifting.’ And then other times, I put my foot down and it’s okay. …The engine itself, however, isn’t bad. It pulls all the way to 6,500 rpm. And it sounds okay doing it, just sounds like a four-cylinder.”

L.J.’s Garage (2019)

In the 2019 L.J.’s Garage review a 2018 Ford Focus SE (pictured above), host L.J. says the vehicle is “just OK.”

He starts up front at the grille, mentioning that “Ford uses this same design on a lot of their cars, and I’ve loved it ever since they started doing it. And I’m glad they put it on the smaller cars, because now, it actually makes these cars a lot more sporty and aggressive, and they have a little bit more personality even though they’re the bargain, economy car.”

Continuing, L.J. stops at the side of the Shadow Black sedan and points out that, “normally, I would walk around and analyze some sleek body lines and some wheel arches and things like that, but on this car, we don’t get a whole lot of that.”

Concerning its overall look, he concludes, “as far as styling goes, the front end is where all the sexiness is at. The back end is OK. The side view, it’s OK. Pretty much, this car is very average.”

“It’s not like this car isn’t stylish or anything like that,” he adds. “I’m sure it appeals to a lot of buyers. But it’s very modest, it’s an A-to-B car.”

L.J. then shows off the exhaust note of the 1.0L EcoBoost engine, which you really have to hear for yourself before passing judgment (found at 3:44 in the video). While at the rear, he also opens the trunk to showcase a surprising bit of space, mentioning, “if you have a family of four and you need to put some bags and go on a weekend trip, this can more than handle that for you.”

Moving to the interior, he starts by hopping into the back seat. With the driver’s seat in front of him set to his 5’9” height, you can clearly see the lack of rear-passenger leg room. He adds, “once you get to that six-foot range, it gets a little cramped back here. So, not the biggest back seats.”

With the driver’s door open, he covers a bit of the specifics of the SE trim, noting: “These are just normal cloth seats. You’ve got manual levers. You’ve got the normal pull tag to slide the chair forward. There really isn’t a whole lot that’s complicated.”

Once in the driver’s seat, he runs through the general layout of the dash and some of the features included on his SE. Speaking to the gauges and driver’s information screen behind the steering wheel, he mentions, “it’s all still analog, which is actually pretty surprising for a 2018. But again, at this price point, that’s to be expected.”

Pointing at the small screen in the center of the dash, he says “I’m not quite sure what Ford was thinking or why Ford does this. Not a fan. But I guess if you don’t like distractions then that’s a benefit.” He continues to point out the oddness of the smaller screen by holding his phone next to it for scale, and his phone’s screen is much larger.

As for the ride and feel on the road, L.J.finds that “it’s comfortable enough, the seats aren’t bad. I wouldn’t mind taking this on a long road trip. It gets great gas mileage…the suspension is good, the steering is alright …Overall, it’s a solid car, so it’s got a seven out of 10 driving experience for me.”

Vehicle History Owner Reviews (2018-present)

Here at Vehicle History, the 2018 Focus has received a 4.37 rating (out of five) across 386 customer reviews.

“This car is very comfortable to drive, and it’s environmentally-friendly,” says John M. in his 2021 Vehicle History review of his 2018 Ford Focus Electric. “The performance is good and the interior is very cool.”

Kimberly C. notes that her 2018 Ford Focus SEL is a “super-reliable car.” In her 2021 Vehicle History post, she adds that the Focus is “very quiet on long road trips, and roomy [with] plenty of leg space for people in the back.

“The trunk is a bit small,” she mentions, “but it definitely accommodates for a lot of groceries.”

Vehicle History user Alix M. really enjoys his 2018 Ford Focus RS, mentioning in 2021 that “it’s a very speedy car. My favor feature is that the car is a standard. There are four different modes and two of them are only for the track. I have had it for almost three years and I cannot find anything that I do not like about my car. I would definitely recommend to everyone that loves a good thriller car to drive around.

“The only thing I do not like is that my nephew’s car seat does not fit well in the back seat,” he adds. “The only problem with that is I may have to get a ‘mom’ car if we do decide to have little ones.”

Maintenance & Reliability

The 2018 Ford Focus has a Repair Pal Reliability Rating is four out of a possible five-star rating, which ranks it at number 27 out of 36 for compact cars. The average annual repair cost comes in at $569, which means it has “average” ownership costs. The severity and frequency of repairs is on par with other vehicles according to their analysis.

J.D. Power gave the 2018 Focus a reliability rating of 77 out of 100. This score is noted as “average” compared to all cars on the road. Meanwhile, U.S. News ranked it third out of 20 for 2018 Compact Cars and ranked its reliability at four out of five. 

Ford’s warranty for the 2018 Focus included the following, all with no deductible:

• Three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage
• Five-year/60,000-mile Powertrain Warranty coverage
• Five-year/60,000-mile safety restraint coverage
• Five-year/unlimited-mile corrosion (perforation) coverage

Known Issues & Problems

There are actually zero reported problems with the 2018 Ford Focus, according to Repair Pal. There were three identical safety recalls issued from the NHTSA for the sedan and hatchback 2018 Focus. Remember, always check for open recalls for all used-car purchases.

Value & Depreciation

The original MSRP for the 2018 Ford Focus was $17,950 – $41,120 ($29,535 average). Meanwhile, if you compare the current used-car price range of $11,756 – $36,915 ($24,336 average), you’ll see that the Focus has depreciated on average $5,199 since it was new across all trim levels.

U.S. News & World Report estimates that a 2018 Focus’s five-year costs for gas, insurance, repairs, and maintenance are projected to be $22,060, or around $4,412 per year.

Edmunds estimated that the 2018 Focus would depreciate a total of $8,306 over five years. The trim they tested was a 2018 Focus Sedan SE four-door Sedan (1.0L three-cylinder Turbo 6M). Testing over five years means that for the first year there was an estimated $3,251 lost to depreciation, $1,504 for year two, $1,324 for year three, $1,174 for year four, and $1,053 for year five.

Focus Competitors

The 2018 Ford Focus is a great car. However, there are a lot of great options out there. Each of the compact competitors below come in a variety of two and four-door variants. Several also have a handy hatchback layout. We will go into detail on each car’s trim, engine, transmission, mile-per-gallon rating, and overall dimensions and cargo space in comparison to the Focus.

2018 Chevrolet Cruze

After a big update for the 2016 model year, Chevrolet’s compact Cruze continued to get upgrades across 2017 and 2018. For the 2018 model year,  the Cruze got new exterior colors like Satin Steel Gray Metallic. Additionally, hatchback models became available with the diesel engine that was introduced in 2017. Just like the Focus, the Cruze is available in sedan and hatchback layouts. For 2018, you could find one in four trim levels: L, LS, LT, and Premier.

Engine offerings included a 1.4L inline four-cylinder (153 horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of torque) that gets an EPA-estimated 29/40 mpg city/highway rating (automatic sedan) and 27/40 mpg (manual sedan). Meanwhile, the diesel Cruze is powered by a turbocharged 1.6L four-cylinder diesel (137 horsepower and 240 lb.-ft. of torque) and gets an EPA-estimated 31/47 mpg (automatic sedan) and 30/52 mpg (manual sedan). Mile-per-gallon EPA estimates for the hatchback versions powered by the same engines are similar, but with slightly lower mpg ratings.

The Cruze sedan is a bit larger than the Focus sedan for 2018 in some dimensions, but not others. With a length of 183.7 inches (Focus sedan: 178.7 inches), a width of 70.5 inches (Focus sedan: 71.8 inches), a height of 57.4 inches (Focus sedan: 57.8 inches), the two sedans are pretty close in size. Cargo space is very much in the Chevy’s favor as the Cruze has a max cargo space of 14.8 cubic-feet, which beats the Focus sedan’s 13.2 cubic feet.

Meanwhile, the Cruze hatchback is much closer in dimension to the Focus hatchback for the 2018 model year. Width and height are both within an inch of each other, but the Cruze is about 3.5 inches longer. That doesn’t actually translate to more cargo space however. The 2018 Cruze hatchback brings 22.7 cubic feet of cargo space for your hauling needs, which still isn’t quite as much as the 2018 Focus hatchback’s 23.3 cubic feet.

Pricing ranges from $13,137 – $21,430 for the 2018 Chevy Cruze. 

To see a more detailed side-by-side comparison between these vehicles, check out this Vehicle History coverage.

2018 Kia Forte

The handsome Kia Forte is also available in both sedan and hatchback layouts. For 2018, you could get the Forte as a sedan in LX, S, EX, and SX trim levels. The four-door hatchback Forte 5 model is available in EX and SX trims. Standard power for the Fortecomes from a 1.8L four-cylinder engine making 147 horsepower and 132 lb.-ft. of torque. For more power, check out the optional 2.0L four-cylinder from the Forte EX with 164 horsepower and 151 lb.-ft. of torque. The most powerful Forte is the SX trim with its turbocharged 1.6L four-cylinder with an impressive 201 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque.

The base 2.0L-powered sedan gets an EPA-estimated 32 mpg combined (29 city/37 highway) with an automatic transmission. With a manual transmission, it’s rated at 28 mpg combined (25/34), which is the same EPA-estimated mpg as the 2.0L Forte 5 hatchback with the automatic. The EX with the larger engine gets an EPA-estimated 25-27 mpg combined.

The Kia Forte sedan is a bit longer than the Focus at 179.5 inches (Focus sedan: 178.8 inches). It is slightly narrower at 70.1 inches wide (Focus sedan: 71.8 inches), and a bit shorter at 56.3 inches (Focus sedan: 57.8 inches). That translates to a fairly impressive 14.9 cubic feet of space, which handily beats the Focus sedan’s 13.2 cubic feet.

The Forte 5 hatchback is sized incredibly similarly to the Focus hatchback for the 2018 model year. Length, width, height are both are all within about an inch of each other. The Forte 5 hatch has 23.32 cubic feet of space which is spot on with the 2018 Focus hatchback’s 23.3 cubic feet.

Pricing ranges from $14,093 – $19,225 for the 2018 Kia Forte.

To see a more detailed side-by-side comparison between these vehicles, check out this Vehicle History coverage.

2018 Mazda3

For the 2018 model year, you should definitely consider the great looking Mazda3. Available in Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring trims, the Mazda3 also comes in sedan and hatchback variations. The 2018 Mazda3 has two available engines, including a 2.0L inline-four with 155 horsepower and 150 lb.-ft. of torque (Sport trim) or a 2.5L four-cylinder with 184 horsepower and 185 lb.-ft. (Touringand Grand Touring). Both engines can be optioned with an automatic or manual transmission.

From a fuel economy perspective, the EPA fuel economy estimates for the 2.0L sedan are 28/37 mpg city/highway with the automatic tranny, and 28/38 mpg with the manual. The hatchback with same engine gets a rating of 28/37 mpg with the automatic and 27/37 mpg with the manual. The 2.5L sedan comes in at 27/36 mpg with the automatic and 25/34 mpg with the manual while the hatchback with the 2.5L gets 26/35 mpg with the automatic and 25/33 mpg with the manual.

The Mazda3 sedan is a bit longer than the Focus sedan for 2018 coming in at 180.3 inches long (Focus sedan: 178.8 inches). However, it is a bit narrower at 70.7 inches wide (Focus sedan: 71.8 inches), and it’s slightly shorter at 57.3 inches tall (Focus sedan: 57.8 inches). However, the Mazda3 sedan comes in short on cargo space at 12.4 cubic feet, a bit less than the Focus sedan’s 13.2 cubic feet.

Like the Forte, the Mazda3 hatchback is sized fairly close to the Focus hatchback, with height and width being very close to each other. However, the Focus is about four-inches longer than Mazda’s compact hatch. That ends up with the Mazda3 hatch having less cargo space overall with 20.2 cubic feet of cargo capacity (23.3 cubic feet in the Focus hatch).

Average price for the 2018 Mazda3 is $17,202 – $23,549. 

To see a more detailed side-by-side comparison between these vehicles, check out this Vehicle History coverage.

2018 Volkswagen Golf & GTI

The legendary, and incredibly versatile, Volkswagen Golf helped form the compact hatchback segment. It comes in for trim levels for 2018 including S, SE, and SEL (each with a “Sport” version) as well as the top-performance-spec Golf R. Meanwhile the 2018GTI comes in S, SE, and Autobahn trims. Like the Focus, there is an electric version as well, the e-Golf available in SE, SEL, and SEL Premium trims.

While the Golf got a mid-cycle refresh for 2018, the standard engine is still a turbocharged 1.8L four-cylinder engine with 170 horsepower and 200 lb.-ft. of torque. Opt for the sportier GTI and you’ll get a standard 220 horsepower 2.0L engine while the top-spec Golf R gets standard AWD and 292 horsepower. Meanwhile, the e-Golf comes with a 35.8-kWh battery pack plus a 134 horsepower electric motor

The EPA estimates for the base Golf engine are 28 mpg combined (automatic) and 29 mpg combined (manual) for the base 1.8L engine. EPA estimates come in for the GTI come in at 27 mpg combined (automatic) and 28 mpg combined (manual) while the Golf R is rated at 25 mpg combined (automatic) and 24 mpg combined (manual). The e-Golf has an EPA-estimated range of 125 miles.

The best apples-to-apples comparison is the Focus hatch vs. the Golf hatch, and the measurements are quite close.  The VW Golf is several inches shorter the Focus at 167.5 inches long (Focus hatch: 171.7 inches). It is also a bit narrower at 70.8 inches wide (Focus hatch: 71.8 inches), but is taller at 58.2 inches (Focus hatch: 57.8 inches).

That translates to a fairly impressive 22.8 cubic feet of space, which still falls a bit short of the Focus hatch’s 23.3 cubic feet. If you want performance but don’t want to lose size, the four-door Golf and GTI have similar measurements, with only a slightly shorter overall length on the GTI, but with identical cargo capacity behind the second row of seats.

Prices range from $12,904- $34,140 for the 2018 Golf, and $20,598- $26,334 for the 2018 GTI. 

To see a more detailed side-by-side comparison between these vehicles, check out this Vehicle History coverage.

Is the 2018 Ford Focus a Good Car to Buy?

The final year of Ford’s compact Focus sedan also marks one of its best. The 2018 Ford Focus is a good car to buy overall. With safety features like BLIS, lane-keeping, and standard backup camera and stability control, the 2018 Focus is a safe car.

What’s more, its four different engine options across seven trims make it a versatile car, that when properly equipped, can either turn heads at a drag strip or impress even the most-conscious commuter.

While the reliability of the Ford 2018 Focus has been average at best, there’s nothing that should deter you from buying one. On top of that, depending on the mileage, the five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty may still be intact.

Critics and influencers found it average overall in some areas, like design and interior space, and superb in others, like safety and versatility. Regardless, most agree that the 2018 Focus is a comfortable car to drive. Unless you’re sitting in the rear seats, in which case most agree need more leg room.

Why You Should Trust Us

The Ford Focus may no longer be with us, but the 2018 model year was a worthy swan song in the storied life of a great car. This overview should help you pick the very best compact option out there for the 2018 model.

To adequately cover this popular car, Vehicle History reached out to seasoned automotive journalist William Byrd, who graduated with a Master’s from Johns Hopkins University and has been a professional automotive journalist for over 10 years. He has produced high-profile content for popular auto websites like The Drive, Hooniverse, and others.

Over 25 hours was spent researching the 2018 Ford Focus (and its competitors), which provided a very keen, unbiased, and insightful opinion of the 2018 Ford Focus overall, including its power, performance, and price range.

Any model will eventually be involved with recalls or some mechanical or technical issues, and the Ford Focus is no exception. But after reviewing the stats, specs, and details about the 2018 Ford Focus from reliable sources like Edmunds, Car & Driver, Vehicle History, and other solid sources that did quality research and/or testing of the vehicle, we found that the 2018 Ford Focus is a capable and impressive vehicle.

The 2018 Ford Focus is a fantastic pre-owned option that anyone looking for a quality used car can feel confident owning.

For more on the legendary Ford Focus, check out William’s Right Foot Down test-drive review of the 2016 Ford Focus RS, and comparing a 2014 Ford Focus ST and 2004 BMW M3.