Overview

Should you buy a Ford Focus?

The Ford Focus remains a very safe bet if you’re after a family hatchback. The most recent facelift improved on what was already a winning formula, providing plenty of the latest technology, an updated look and a great driving experience.

However, this Focus is now nearing the end of its life, and Ford presently says it has no plans for a replacement. While this is no cause for concern if you’re interested in buying one, the range is now reduced to a smaller selection of highly specified models, so you don’t have the choice of trim levels and engines that were once available. Just three trims and two variants of the 1.0-litre EcoBoost mild-hybrid petrol engine are now offered.

The lack of any significantly electrified engines has lowered its outright score when compared with rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf and the Skoda Octavia, but its spacious cabin and excellent driving experience helps to make up for this shortcoming. Still, we think newer rivals – including the 2023 Parkers Car of the Year, the Honda Civic – make for better options.

What is it?

The Ford Focus has been the go-to family hatchback for years and years, striking a keen balance between practicality, performance and price. The market has moved on in the past two decades, though – now, there’s a broad range of rivals that can offer a similar driving experience, comparable levels of technology and equally attractive pricing. So given this fourth-generation model, the mk4 Ford Focus, has been on sale since 2018, it is now starting to feel its age.

Key competitors include the long-standing Vauxhall Astra, the spacious Skoda Octavia, the frugal Toyota Corolla and the Mazda 3, which is arguably better to drive than the Focus. There’s also the Hyundai i30 and the Kia Ceed from South Korea, with the latter of these two featuring one of the best new car warranties available today.

Most recently facelifted in 2022, this saw Ford pull the car’s styling into step with the rest of its line-up, fitting an updated front bumper, LED headlights and a reshaped radiator grille with the company badge in its centre.

Inside, higher-spec versions of the Focus – which includes all that are on sale at the time of writing in August 2025 – get a sizeable 13.2-inch infotainment system following the update. Presently, the only trim levels available are the rugged-looking Active X Edition, the ST-Line and the ST-Line X Edition.

Similarly, the engine line-up is reduced to 125hp and 155hp versions of the mild-hybrid 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol, which makes up for having only three cylinders by coming with a turbo. These are punchy and economical, and not a reason to be put off. But if you were looking for a diesel, a self-charging hybrid or a plug-in hybrid, you will have to shop elsewhere.

You can, however, still get an estate version, which we cover in a dedicated Ford Focus Estate review.

Over the next few pages here, we’ll be thoroughly reviewing all aspects of the regular Ford Focus five-door hatchback before delivering a detailed set of star-ratings. Along the way, we’ll consider the car’s driving experience, the quality and comfort of its interior, the level of practicality available and how much it’ll cost you to keep it on the road. You can read more about how we test cars if you want to understand the way we’ve reached our conclusions.