2018 Ford Focus Review: Budget-Affordable Compact Car With Reliability Improvements From Earlier Years

The 2018 Ford Focus lasts around 200,000 miles with some transmission and engine sensor problems reported. At $12,100 to $31,650, it’s a decent value for shoppers on a budget, although it’s not the best small car on the market.

Is the 2018 Ford Focus a Good Used Car?

• Overall Rating 7/10 – 2018 is an okay year for the Ford Focus since it’s more reliable than earlier years, yet it’s not as up-to-date as the competition giving it an average overall score. Owner reviews praise the low fuel costs, smooth suspension, along with the passenger room.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 6/10 – Interior materials are fairly basic compared to other small cars, the seats are firm, although cargo space is good in the trunk and hatchback.
• Reliability 7/10 – There are not many widespread mechanical problems reported with the 2018 Focus. Avoid models from 2012–2017 since they have transmission problems, while 2018 is a better choice.
• Performance 9/10 – The entry-level Focus models offer similar performance to other small cars, while the RS model is one of the fastest hatchbacks available.
• Safety 8/10 – The 2018 Focus is a safe car earning a perfect 5-star rating in government crash tests. There’s a standard rearview camera, while blind spot monitoring, parking sensors, lane departure warning, as well as active park assist are all optional.
• Gas Mileage 8/10 – Fuel economy is great at up to 34 MPG, giving 421 miles of range out of the 12.4 gallon tank. Gas costs are $57 cheaper than average, at $128 per month.
• Value 7/10 – The 2018 Ford Focus is cheaper than many other compact cars, although it also depreciates relatively fast, giving it an okay overall value score.

What Do Critics Say About the Ford Focus?

• Consumer Reports says the 2018 Ford Focus offers sporty handling and a well-done interior, although owner satisfaction scores are lower than average.
• Edmunds rates the Focus at 3.5/5, praising the comfortable suspension, but doesn’t like the limited rear legroom.
• Kelley Blue Book users give the 2018 Focus a 3.7/5, enjoying the fun driving experience, but owners don’t like the lack of advanced technology.

What Common Problems Does the 2018 Ford Focus Have?

Common problems found on the 2018 Ford Focus include the transmission changing gears poorly, the RPMs increasing randomly in park, and water leaking into the cabin. Overall, these problems are a bit worse than some other compact cars, although repair costs are similar to competitors.

The transmission changing gears poorly is the most widespread complaint from Focus owners in the first 15,000 miles. The problem is most common in automatic transmission models. Often simply updating the transmission software solves the problem for around $100. In other cases it may need to have seals replaced, costing roughly $550.

The RPMs increasing randomly while the car is in park have also been reported by Ford Focus owners at around 45,000 miles. Usually, the problem is caused by a sensor issue on the engine. Diagnosing and replacing sensors usually costs around $150 to $350, depending on the sensor that failed.

Water leaking into the cabin also shows up in the first 10,000 miles. This is most common on models with a sunroof. The sunroof drain line gets clogged, allowing water to leak into the footwell area. Fixing the drain lines costs around $350, depending on local labor rates.

There are two recalls on the 2018 Ford Focus, which is better than some other small cars. The first recall covers the canister purge valve, which can cause the engine to stall. Ford will replace it as needed. The second recall covers clutch slipping on some manual transmission models. Ford will replace the sensors on the clutch for free.

How Long Will the 2018 Ford Focus Last?

A well-maintained 2018 Ford Focus can last around 200,000 miles, which is around 100,000 miles less than the long-lasting Toyota Corolla. Regular annual maintenance costs are similar to other compact cars according to data provided by Repair Pal, at $476 per year.

As a used 2018 Ford Focus reaches 100,000 miles, and depending on the vehicle history, owners should be prepared to replace the fuel filter for $150, heater core costing $850, as well as the power steering hose which costs $500.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology is okay in the 2018 Ford Focus with a standard 4.2-inch central display. There’s an optional upgrade to the 8-inch touchscreen, which has Sync 3 with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Safety technology is worse than many other compact cars from 2018 with only a standard rearview camera. Optional advanced safety features include blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, rear parking sensors, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, as well as active park assist.

Is the 2018 Ford Focus a Good Value?

Yes, the 2018 Ford Focus is a decent value, although it’s more outdated than many other compact cars on the market. The blue book fair purchase price ranges from $12,100 to $31,650, making it cheaper than a Honda Civic or Mazda3. When new, the price range was $19,950 to $41,120. Depreciation is worse than some other small cars, losing about 12% of its current value per year.

What are the Different Models of the Ford Focus?

There are six main models of the Ford Focus offered in 2018, from the entry-level S all the way up to the very high performance RS. The Focus is offered as either a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback. All models come standard with front-wheel drive, while the RS has all-wheel drive.

S is the entry-level model with:

• 15-Inch Steel Wheels
• Keyless Entry
• Cloth Seating
• Air Conditioning
• Height-Adjustable Driver Seat
• 60/40-Split Folding Rear Seats
• 2-Inch Central Display
• Power Front Windows
• Ford’s MyKey
• Power Locks and Mirrors
• Bluetooth
• Four-Speaker Sound System

SE is a step up, adding:

• 16-Inch Alloy Wheels
• Cruise Control
• Power Rear Windows
• Rear Air Vents
• Six-Speaker Sound System

SEL has more features such as:

• 17-Inch Alloy Wheels
• Fog Lights
• Sunroof
• Ambient Interior Lights
• Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control
• 8-Inch Touchscreen With Sync 3
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 10-Speaker Sony Stereo System
• Satellite Radio

Titanium offers upgrades including:

• Unique 17-Inch Wheels
• Leather Seats
• Chrome Exterior Trim
• Heated Steering Wheel
• Eight-Way Power-Adjustable Driver Seat
• Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel

ST is a sportier model which has:

• 18-Inch Alloy Wheels
• Summer Tires
• Electronic Limited-Slip Differential
• Hill-Start Assist
• Heated Recaro Seats

RS is the flagship high-performance version with:

• 19-Inch Wheels
• Quaife Limited-Slip Front Differential
• LED Lights
• High Mounted Rear Spoiler
• Carbon-Fiber Interior Accents
• Larger Brakes

What Engines Come In the Ford Focus?

• The base engine is an average 2.0L 4-cylinder which makes 160 horsepower while getting up to 31 MPG. It’s available with either a five-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic transmission.
• An available upgrade is the more efficient 1.0L turbocharged 3-cylinder which generates 123 horsepower at up to 34 MPG. This engine either has a six-speed manual transmission, or a six-speed automatic transmission.
• The ST model comes with a stronger turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder which produces 252 horsepower while getting 22 MPG. It only offers a six-speed manual transmission.
• The RS Model comes with a very powerful 2.3L turbocharged 4-cylinder which makes 350 horsepower at up to 25 MPG. This engine also only comes with a six-speed manual transmission. Performance is great, taking only 4.7 seconds to go from 0-60 MPH.

What Colors Does the Ford Focus Come In?

How Comfortable Is the Ford Focus?

The 2018 Ford Focus is a reasonably comfortable compact car with seating for up to five passengers. It’s offered as either a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback. Seating is okay for a compact car, although the cushions are a bit firm on entry-level models.

Passenger room is good throughout the cabin, offering enough legroom in the rear seats for taller adults.

How Much Storage Space Does the Ford Focus Have?

Cargo space is good in the 2018 Ford Focus, with enough space for 2-3 suitcases in the trunk of the sedan. There’s more space in the back of the hatchback with enough room for 4-5 suitcases behind the rear seat, and roughly 10 with the seats folded flat.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

The third generation of the Ford Focus was launched in 2012, and it was discontinued after 2018 when Ford reduced the number of sedans it built.

2012: Fully redesigned for the third generation with new engines, styling, and technology.

2013: SEL model and the SE Sport packages discontinued

2014: No major changes.

2015: Minor exterior styling changes, upgraded stereo, new engines offered.

2016: New automatic transmission on 1.0L EcoBoost model, Sync 3 stereo system added.

2017: No major changes.

2018: Final model year of the Ford Focus for the United States market.

How Does the Ford Focus Compare to the Competition?

The 2018 Ford Focus is an okay compact car, although it’s very outdated compared to other options on the market. The sporty RS model is great, while all of the other models are pretty mediocre.

The Hyundai Elantra is a popular competitor which costs around $1,500 more. Interior materials are much nicer in the Hyundai Elantra, while the Ford Focus is more engaging and fun to drive. We recommend the Hyundai Elantra since it has more up-to-date technology for the money.

The Honda Civic is another compact car which can be found for roughly $4,000 more. Technology and performance are both better in the Honda Civic, while the Ford Focus has a bit more room in the hatchback model. We recommend the Honda Civic since it’s more reliable and cheaper to own long term.

Do Owners Recommend the Ford Focus?