Ford Focus 2011 - 2018 hatchback in-depth review _ Mat Watson Reviews

The Ford Focus is a car that has received mixed reviews from critics and owners alike. One of its biggest advantages is its huge glove box, which can fit boxing gloves and door bins are large as well. However, the entry-level model has steel wheels and a horrible little four-inch infotainment screen. To avoid this, buyers should opt for a higher-end model, such as the Titanium, which adds features like automatic headlights and wipers, parking sensors, and an 8-inch infotainment system.

The infotainment system itself is not great, with a navigation system that doesn't come as standard on lower models. The touchscreen display can be finicky to use, and some owners have reported issues with it. However, the Ford Focus's handling and driving experience are where it truly shines. It handles brilliantly, steers sweetly, and has a smooth-shifting 6-speed manual transmission. The dual-clutch automatic is also easy to use.

Despite its many positive qualities, the Ford Focus does have some drawbacks. One of the most annoying issues is that the car can be quite noisy at high speeds, with wind whistling through the windows. Additionally, some owners have reported feeling uncomfortable while driving due to the lack of an armrest in lower-spec models. The larger wheels on higher-end models also cause more road noise.

Fortunately, the Ford Focus has many features that make up for its drawbacks. For example, it comes with a range of advanced safety features, including automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning. It also has a sophisticated independent rear suspension system, which provides fine handling and stability. The car's audio system is also decent, with clear and punchy sound quality.

However, the Ford Focus does have some areas where it falls short. One of the most notable is its small boot space, which is inadequate for its class. Additionally, the infotainment system is not the most user-friendly, and some owners have reported issues with its navigation system. However, these drawbacks are largely outweighed by the car's many strengths.

For buyers looking for a fun-to-drive car, the Ford Focus is an excellent choice. Its handling and driving experience are among the best in its class, making it a joy to drive on twisty roads or around town. While it may not be perfect, the Ford Focus is definitely worth considering for anyone looking for a reliable and enjoyable family car.

One of the most interesting things about the Ford Focus is its range of engine options. The 1.0-liter 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine is surprisingly potent, but its real-world economy is often less impressive than claimed. However, the 1.5-liter turbo petrol engine is a different story altogether, providing strong performance and excellent fuel efficiency. In fact, it's one of the most efficient engines in its class.

The Ford Focus also has some clever features that make driving easier and more enjoyable. For example, its sat-nav system can find the nearest restaurant or Michelin-starred eatery using voice commands. The car's parking sensors are also highly effective, allowing drivers to park with ease even in tight spaces.

Overall, the Ford Focus is a car that has something for everyone. While it may not be perfect, its many strengths and features make it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable and enjoyable family car. Whether you're cruising down the motorway or navigating tight city streets, the Ford Focus is sure to put a smile on your face.

In terms of practicality, the Ford Focus has some areas where it falls short. The boot space is small compared to other cars in its class, which can make it difficult to fit larger items. Additionally, the infotainment system can be finicky to use at times. However, these drawbacks are largely outweighed by the car's many strengths.

One of the most interesting things about the Ford Focus is its range of trim levels and features. From the base model to the top-of-the-line Titanium, there are plenty of options to choose from. Whether you're looking for a budget-friendly option or a luxurious and feature-packed car, the Ford Focus has something to offer.

Overall, the Ford Focus is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable and enjoyable family car. Its many strengths, including its handling, driving experience, and features like advanced safety systems and infotainment options, make it a top contender in its class.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthe Ford Focus now can you guess the connection between it and this little island just off the coast of Scotland well as I'm sure you're all probably aware as is everyone of course this is the Isle of Mark and the Ford Focus is of course as common as muck but it's hard to see why it's one of Britain's most popular cars it's because it's a really good looking car and price is right for this thing you know start some around 16 grand but Ford dealers are always willing to give discounts and if you click up there to get a car while code at UK you can find out the best discount you can get on a Ford Focus but anyway on with the review now I'm going to start off by being critical because one of the problems with the Ford Focus is that it's boot is among the smallest in this class so it could be a bit of a problem if you need to carry loads of sale samples and then real clever features to it got this huge load lip there's no false floor there's not really anywhere to tie anything to and I can't even see a 12 volt socket and when you fold the seats down they do stick up quite away but there's a reason for that if you go and I'll show you what it is if I light just put this seat back so you can see what's going on what you have to do before you fold these things back down is fold the base out and then put it down and then it does lie flatter there there is still a bit of a ridge so it's not ideal for sliding longer items to the back really that systems it's a bit old-fashioned these days and there's some of the things a bit annoying about the back so the doors don't open all that wise and this press the fact that the isofix anchor points are hard to locate means it can be a bit awkward to fit a child seat in the back of this Ford Focus in terms of the space in the back seat sits when it's all right you know me room is pretty good the problem is the sloping roofline means Headroom is a bit tighter so six-footers will struggle a touch because of carrying three people well you have like we have a lump in the floor and yeah does eating the foot space but it's okay it's not a class leader in the rear seats compared to rivals but it's alright and you can actually see from yourself what it's like with reading the back by clicking up there to watch out in depth practicality video and also you about to see what it's like to fit a child seat and just how much stuff we could pack into the boot now the thing that the focus is that it keeps improving as you go from the back towards the front and actually to sit in shut up god noise does my head in it's hitted this driving position is just perfect feels nice and sporting that actually extends to have this car drives and we'll come on to that in a bit because we need to talk about the design interior rule yeah it's starting to show its age and while you do have nice squeegee materials there on the dash which do pass the kawaii flick test look at that in fact they're so yielding you don't need an a bow you just use that to cushion yourself in an accident up here on the doors I mean these are cheap you don't go down in a store you don't get that in a golf and yes doesn't pass the flick test at all does it cookie spaces though it is better the focus so you've got a huge glove box I mean you can fit boxing gloves in there and the door bins they're large as well if you buy a focus please avoid the entry-level car because it has steel wheels and a horrible little four inch infotainment screen this is the CTS and it gets more kit as 8 inch infotainment screen but you really want the titanium coz it adds stuff like Auto well headlamps and wipers and some other stuff like parking sensors interst the infotainment system itself well it doesn't come as standard whichever model you go for with navigation which is a bit mean and on the whole this touchscreen and it's not the easiest to use in fact you can see our full review of it by clicking up there to watch our detailed infotainment review so far the full focus is a little bit uninspiring however it does have an ace of its sleeve that's because it's ace to drive you know if you want a normal family car which actually is really good fun in fact sometimes more fun than some suppose it sports cars then this is where it's at because the Ford Focus well it handles brilliantly it steers sweetly although it's been to show that this steering wheel just with horrible and switchin cheap feeling the controls are nice as well got great shift on this 6-speed manual and the dual clutch ought to easily confit too so you don't feel like you're compromising the only issues are that actually you did it quite a lot higher north in this car and quite a bit of wind whistling speed that gets on your nerves after a while when you're cruising the motorway another issue is this got no little window in there like Gunners golf's its create a bit of a blind spot if you click up there on the card you can see for yourself by joining me for a passenger ID in a 360 degree video so you can get this Ford Focus with a little 1-liter 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine with varying degrees of power he claims good economy but in reality because after thrashing to get the best on that engine your mpg is never as good as you imagined so instead if you can spend the extra cash you want to petrol and get the 1.5 liter turbo petrol because the real world economy is pretty much to say but the performance is really strong beyond a DS although this 1.5 liter does the job it's quickly enough and for claims 74 miles per gallon and the trick computer it's saying 62 hey that's almost a world record for me so then the Ford Focus is excellent to drive however there are a few annoying things which are less than excellent about it parts of the car feel like it's just been snapped together rather than screwed together because I mean look at this yeah that's great in it the forward forward facelift at the car the fuel filler cap used to match up with a real light but now yeah it doesn't now Rudy bongs my OCD we all like somewhere to rest our arms but lower spec models don't have an armrest the larger wheels may look good but they do cause more road noise that's annoying you can't get the Ford Focus with phone mirroring so the only way to do it is by this it's all the same thankfully the focus has plenty of good points which help make up for all this say I'm hungry using the voice commands and the sat-nav will find the nearest restaurant it also has a list of Michelin star restaurants that I've not so many focus owners frequent those in threes the Ford Focuses auto parking system can spot a space 40 yards away I think that car still looking for one you can get a programmable key to limit the top speed and the volume from the stereo perfect if you led your car to a younger driver or Ford Focuses have sophisticated independent rear suspension which gives the car it's fine handling though this one seems a little bit squeaky this 1.5 liter diesel engine has an emissions filter which is only this big but if you were to arrive late it will be able to cover two football fields so then overall what do I think of the Ford Focus well the boot is a little bit small for this class and what the infotainment system isn't that great but you know this car but it looks fabulous and it's really good to drive then you click it they can get more information find out the best deal you can get on a Ford Focus a car walk o UK thanks for watching enjoyed this video please like it share it and subscribe to our Channel and if you click over there you can watch our detailed entertainment practicality and 360-degree passenger ride video to the Ford Focus now this what the Easter Egg in the video it was the fact the camera was out of focus at the very beginning of the reviewthe Ford Focus now can you guess the connection between it and this little island just off the coast of Scotland well as I'm sure you're all probably aware as is everyone of course this is the Isle of Mark and the Ford Focus is of course as common as muck but it's hard to see why it's one of Britain's most popular cars it's because it's a really good looking car and price is right for this thing you know start some around 16 grand but Ford dealers are always willing to give discounts and if you click up there to get a car while code at UK you can find out the best discount you can get on a Ford Focus but anyway on with the review now I'm going to start off by being critical because one of the problems with the Ford Focus is that it's boot is among the smallest in this class so it could be a bit of a problem if you need to carry loads of sale samples and then real clever features to it got this huge load lip there's no false floor there's not really anywhere to tie anything to and I can't even see a 12 volt socket and when you fold the seats down they do stick up quite away but there's a reason for that if you go and I'll show you what it is if I light just put this seat back so you can see what's going on what you have to do before you fold these things back down is fold the base out and then put it down and then it does lie flatter there there is still a bit of a ridge so it's not ideal for sliding longer items to the back really that systems it's a bit old-fashioned these days and there's some of the things a bit annoying about the back so the doors don't open all that wise and this press the fact that the isofix anchor points are hard to locate means it can be a bit awkward to fit a child seat in the back of this Ford Focus in terms of the space in the back seat sits when it's all right you know me room is pretty good the problem is the sloping roofline means Headroom is a bit tighter so six-footers will struggle a touch because of carrying three people well you have like we have a lump in the floor and yeah does eating the foot space but it's okay it's not a class leader in the rear seats compared to rivals but it's alright and you can actually see from yourself what it's like with reading the back by clicking up there to watch out in depth practicality video and also you about to see what it's like to fit a child seat and just how much stuff we could pack into the boot now the thing that the focus is that it keeps improving as you go from the back towards the front and actually to sit in shut up god noise does my head in it's hitted this driving position is just perfect feels nice and sporting that actually extends to have this car drives and we'll come on to that in a bit because we need to talk about the design interior rule yeah it's starting to show its age and while you do have nice squeegee materials there on the dash which do pass the kawaii flick test look at that in fact they're so yielding you don't need an a bow you just use that to cushion yourself in an accident up here on the doors I mean these are cheap you don't go down in a store you don't get that in a golf and yes doesn't pass the flick test at all does it cookie spaces though it is better the focus so you've got a huge glove box I mean you can fit boxing gloves in there and the door bins they're large as well if you buy a focus please avoid the entry-level car because it has steel wheels and a horrible little four inch infotainment screen this is the CTS and it gets more kit as 8 inch infotainment screen but you really want the titanium coz it adds stuff like Auto well headlamps and wipers and some other stuff like parking sensors interst the infotainment system itself well it doesn't come as standard whichever model you go for with navigation which is a bit mean and on the whole this touchscreen and it's not the easiest to use in fact you can see our full review of it by clicking up there to watch our detailed infotainment review so far the full focus is a little bit uninspiring however it does have an ace of its sleeve that's because it's ace to drive you know if you want a normal family car which actually is really good fun in fact sometimes more fun than some suppose it sports cars then this is where it's at because the Ford Focus well it handles brilliantly it steers sweetly although it's been to show that this steering wheel just with horrible and switchin cheap feeling the controls are nice as well got great shift on this 6-speed manual and the dual clutch ought to easily confit too so you don't feel like you're compromising the only issues are that actually you did it quite a lot higher north in this car and quite a bit of wind whistling speed that gets on your nerves after a while when you're cruising the motorway another issue is this got no little window in there like Gunners golf's its create a bit of a blind spot if you click up there on the card you can see for yourself by joining me for a passenger ID in a 360 degree video so you can get this Ford Focus with a little 1-liter 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine with varying degrees of power he claims good economy but in reality because after thrashing to get the best on that engine your mpg is never as good as you imagined so instead if you can spend the extra cash you want to petrol and get the 1.5 liter turbo petrol because the real world economy is pretty much to say but the performance is really strong beyond a DS although this 1.5 liter does the job it's quickly enough and for claims 74 miles per gallon and the trick computer it's saying 62 hey that's almost a world record for me so then the Ford Focus is excellent to drive however there are a few annoying things which are less than excellent about it parts of the car feel like it's just been snapped together rather than screwed together because I mean look at this yeah that's great in it the forward forward facelift at the car the fuel filler cap used to match up with a real light but now yeah it doesn't now Rudy bongs my OCD we all like somewhere to rest our arms but lower spec models don't have an armrest the larger wheels may look good but they do cause more road noise that's annoying you can't get the Ford Focus with phone mirroring so the only way to do it is by this it's all the same thankfully the focus has plenty of good points which help make up for all this say I'm hungry using the voice commands and the sat-nav will find the nearest restaurant it also has a list of Michelin star restaurants that I've not so many focus owners frequent those in threes the Ford Focuses auto parking system can spot a space 40 yards away I think that car still looking for one you can get a programmable key to limit the top speed and the volume from the stereo perfect if you led your car to a younger driver or Ford Focuses have sophisticated independent rear suspension which gives the car it's fine handling though this one seems a little bit squeaky this 1.5 liter diesel engine has an emissions filter which is only this big but if you were to arrive late it will be able to cover two football fields so then overall what do I think of the Ford Focus well the boot is a little bit small for this class and what the infotainment system isn't that great but you know this car but it looks fabulous and it's really good to drive then you click it they can get more information find out the best deal you can get on a Ford Focus a car walk o UK thanks for watching enjoyed this video please like it share it and subscribe to our Channel and if you click over there you can watch our detailed entertainment practicality and 360-degree passenger ride video to the Ford Focus now this what the Easter Egg in the video it was the fact the camera was out of focus at the very beginning of the review\n"