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Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Used Ford Focus IV: the buying guide

Hatchback · 2018–2025 · Petrol, Diesel

✓ 37 sources cited · updated on 15 October 2026

Good choice, check first
Reliability
4.0/5
Estimated monthly cost
€398/month
Indicative prices
€10,800 – €20,000

3 known faults

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo 1 of 5

Ford Focus IV, front three-quarter view

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Verdict

Good choice, check first

Compact rated 5 Euro NCAP stars in 2018, with a 375 L boot. The widely used 1.0 EcoBoost has a belt running in oil (timing or oil pump belt depending on the version), whose degradation can destroy the engine; the EcoBlue diesels are subject to a recall for a particulate filter that can crack. Buy only with a full service file and up-to-date recalls.

Reliability
4.0/5
Indicative prices
€10,800 – €20,000
Monthly cost
€398
Euro NCAP
5/5

Which version to choose

Versions to favour: 1.5 EcoBoost 150, 1.5 EcoBoost 150 BVA8, 2.0 EcoBlue 150.

  • 1.0 EcoBoost 100

    Petrol · Manual · 100 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Three-cylinder 1.0-litre turbo, manual gearbox. Wet belt (see faults).

    Engine: Ford 1.0 EcoBoost (Fox)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • 1.0 EcoBoost 125

    Petrol · Manual · 125 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Three-cylinder turbo with 170 Nm, 6-speed manual gearbox. Wet belt (see faults).

    Engine: Ford 1.0 EcoBoost (Fox)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • 1.0 EcoBoost 125 BVA8

    Petrol · Automatic · 125 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Same 170 Nm engine with the 8-speed automatic gearbox.

    Engine: Ford 1.0 EcoBoost (Fox)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • 1.0 EcoBoost mHEV 125

    Petrol · Manual · 125 hp · 5.1 L/100 km · 116 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air 1

    Mild hybrid (mHEV) sold from June 2020, manual gearbox.

    Engine: Ford 1.0 EcoBoost Hybrid (mHEV 48 V)

    Verdict on this engine: Good choice, check first

  • 1.0 EcoBoost mHEV 155

    Petrol · Manual · 155 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Most powerful mild hybrid: 240 Nm, 0 to 100 km/h in 9 s.

    Engine: Ford 1.0 EcoBoost Hybrid (mHEV 48 V)

    Verdict on this engine: Good choice, check first

  • 1.5 EcoBoost 150

    ✓ Recommended

    Petrol · Manual · 150 hp · Crit'Air 1

    1.5 EcoBoost with 240 Nm, 6-speed manual gearbox. Judged the best compromise among petrol engines by owner reviews.

  • 1.5 EcoBoost 150 BVA8

    ✓ Recommended

    Petrol · Automatic · 150 hp · 5.9 L/100 km · 127 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air 1

    Same engine with the 8-speed automatic gearbox, 0 to 100 km/h in 8.9 s.

  • 1.5 EcoBoost 182

    Petrol · Manual · 182 hp · Crit'Air 1

    1.5 EcoBoost with 240 Nm, 0 to 100 km/h in 8.3 s, manual gearbox.

  • 1.5 EcoBlue 95

    Diesel · Manual · 95 hp · Crit'Air 2

    Entry-level 1.5 EcoBlue diesel, manual gearbox. Affected by the particulate filter recall.

  • 1.5 EcoBlue 120

    Diesel · Manual · 120 hp · Crit'Air 2

    1.5 EcoBlue diesel, manual gearbox. Affected by the particulate filter recall.

  • 1.5 EcoBlue 120 BVA8

    Diesel · Automatic · 120 hp · Crit'Air 2

    1.5 EcoBlue diesel with 8-speed automatic gearbox. Affected by the particulate filter recall.

  • 2.0 EcoBlue 150

    ✓ Recommended

    Diesel · Manual · 150 hp · Crit'Air 2

    2.0 EcoBlue diesel with 370 Nm, judged the best engine in the range by owner reviews. Affected by the particulate filter recall.

  • ST 280

    Petrol · Manual · 280 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Focus ST: 2.3 EcoBoost with 280 hp and 420 Nm, 6-speed manual gearbox, electronic limited-slip differential.

Market prices

€10,800 – €20,000

Indicative range: 2018 to 2025, yearly medians of 495 online listings collected by iAutos (years with at least 3 listings).

Collected on 20 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.

Known faults

Wet belt of the 1.0 EcoBoost

Severity 3/3 · Serious

On the 1.0 EcoBoost, a belt (timing or oil pump belt depending on the version) runs in the engine oil. As it degrades, it releases debris that clogs the oil pump pickup: the engine is no longer lubricated and can seize. Ford disputes that the fault is widespread and asks owners to follow the servicing schedule strictly. Focus IV reliability guides advise requiring service invoices and monitoring the oil level.

Versions
1.0 EcoBoost 100, 1.0 EcoBoost 125, 1.0 EcoBoost 125 BVA8, 1.0 EcoBoost mHEV 125, 1.0 EcoBoost mHEV 155
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Rear seat belt buckle poorly riveted (recall 23S31)

Manufacturer recall

On Focus models built in 2023, the riveting of the rear seat belt buckle may be incomplete, which can reduce restraint in a crash. Ford inspects the buckle at the workshop and replaces it if necessary.

Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).

Versions
1.0 EcoBoost 100, 1.0 EcoBoost 125, 1.0 EcoBoost 125 BVA8, 1.0 EcoBoost mHEV 125, 1.0 EcoBoost mHEV 155, 1.5 EcoBoost 150, 1.5 EcoBoost 150 BVA8, 1.5 EcoBoost 182, 1.5 EcoBlue 95, 1.5 EcoBlue 120, 1.5 EcoBlue 120 BVA8, 2.0 EcoBlue 150, ST 280
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Cracked particulate filter on EcoBlue diesels (recall 24E06)

Manufacturer recall

Ford is recalling vehicles fitted with the 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesels, including the Focus, because the particulate filter can crack: soot emissions can then exceed the limit and cause a failure at the MOT test. The free repair includes a software update of the engine control unit, then an inspection of the filter, which is only replaced if cracked. Sources do not give the same production period: check the serial number with Ford.

Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).

Versions
1.5 EcoBlue 95, 1.5 EcoBlue 120, 1.5 EcoBlue 120 BVA8, 2.0 EcoBlue 150
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

All faults by version and mileage →

Manufacturer recalls

See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Ford Focus”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.

Real monthly cost

Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated

Monthly cost by item
Fuel or electricity€145
Insurance€63
Maintenance€35
Depreciation€155
Total per month€398

⚠ Estimates to treat with caution

  • Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
  • Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
Fuel (petrol)€145

1.5 EcoBoost 150 BVA8 version: combined consumption of 5.9 L/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 2.14 €/L, for 1,000 km a month.

5.9 × 1.15 × 2.14 € × 10 = €145

Petrol price (SP95-E10): French national average on 7 October 2026.

Consumption: technical data for the version (sources at the bottom of the guide).

Insurance€63

Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.

Maintenance€35

Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.

Depreciation€155

Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.

Inspection checklist

Things to check

  • On a 1.0 EcoBoost: require the book and service invoices, with the date and mileage of the last wet belt replacement.
  • Cold engine: check the oil level and condition.
  • During the test drive, make sure there is no oil pressure or engine warning light.
  • On an EcoBlue diesel: ask for proof that recall 24E06 (particulate filter) has been carried out.
  • On a 2023 Focus: check that recall 23S31 (rear seat belt buckle) has been carried out.
  • Have a Ford dealership check, using the serial number, that no other recalls are pending.

Questions to ask the seller

  • Do you have the service invoices, and when was the wet belt replaced?
  • Have all the manufacturer's recalls been carried out? Do you have the documents?
  • At what interval were the oil changes carried out, and with which oil?

Test-drive tip: read the fault codes

A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.

See OBD2 scanners on Amazon → (new tab)Partner link

Electric or hybrid equivalent

No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost

Alternatives

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Volkswagen Golf

VIII · since 2020

Buy with care
Price
€18,800 – €31,100
Reliability
3.5/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

Photo: MoCars, CC0

Peugeot 308

III · since 2021

Buy with care
Price
€11,680 – €26,318
Reliability
3/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid, Electric

Photo: Herranderssvensson, CC BY-SA 3.0

Renault Mégane

IV · 2016–2023

Buy with care
Price
€9,500 – €23,900
Reliability
3.5/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de

Citroën C4

III · since 2020

Extra caution
Price
€11,500 – €21,000
Reliability
2/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid, Electric

Before you buy: check and equip

Check the history

Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.

Read fault codes

An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.

Parts and maintenance

Compare prices of parts for the Ford Focus IV (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.

Insure the car

Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.

Frequently asked questions

What Euro NCAP rating does the Ford Focus IV have?

5 stars in 2018, with 85% for adult protection, 87% for children, 72% for pedestrians and 75% for safety assist.

What is the boot capacity of the Focus IV?

375 litres for the saloon, compared with 363 litres for the previous generation, and up to 1,354 litres with the rear seat folded.

Should I avoid the 1.0 EcoBoost on a Focus IV?

Not necessarily, but its belt running in oil (timing or oil pump belt depending on the version) is its weak point: as it degrades, it can clog the oil pickup and destroy the engine. A complete service history is required.

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