I wish you guys still did the "you can fit x amount of carry on suitcases" and then show how it fits in the boot. Was always so useful and easy to know the size of the boot that way. Knowing the capacity in plain volume doesn't hit the same
Because it's a pain in the arse to lug around loads of suitcases. You'd have to have more than the space to know what can fit. Now include the staff and the camera equipment, you'd need a transit van to carry everything
I wish there's a sort of regulation regarding AC/ventilation controls, I find it very distracting to use digital controls instead of physical ones as you can feel the knobs without looking away from the road with them.
Agreed. Mighty Car Mods made a video of the previous gen Golf vs the latest Golf, where both driver had to change their AC to a specific temperature and direction. The older Golf driver did it in 2s without looking and the latest Golf driver needed almost 10s with looking away from the road a couple of times.
yes there should be a regualtion to prevent car makers from ever using buttons for climate controlls ever again, to annoy A/C control enthusiasts as well as the ones so incompetent that cant press a virtual button such as yourself.
Hence why i‘ so glad that Mazda kept touch-nonsense on the down low. It still has a old BMW/Audi style control knob together with physical buttons and all in addition to the touchscreen which i end up never using anyways.
Drag races are fun...no point denying it. But this type of videos are the ones that CARWOW and Matt became an integral part of the car industry. LOve to see them. Thanks!!
Same crappy focus with poor build quality. Automatic gearbox has been disastrous for ford. No wonder they stopped production. Skoda scala n Kia ceed are much better choices in this class of vehicles. Ford has crap reliability, crap economy, the only reason ford introduced mild hybrid was to improve fuel economy which was below other manufacturers. But reviewers go on n on about handling, who cares!
i have no idea why anyone would pick a ford puma over one of these; this is prettier, more practical, drives better and is cheaper! literally why does anyone buy a puma???
Indeed. Unfortunately these aren't sold here in Brazil as well, which is a shame. BUT, to be honest, the previous version got shadowed by its transmission issues (DPS6 PowerShift) and maybe americans wouldn't trust the car no more, besides the fact the new Focus are developed and manufactured in China if i'm not mistaken, and we know americans doesn't like chinese cars.
I have a pre-facelift with the 1.5l Ecoboost engine (the same of the Fiesta ST) with 150hp. It's the perfect engine for this car, it has plenty of torque just from 1500rpm and it's punchy until 5500. It's a real shame Ford discontinued that engine.
@@Brukers3 i would also go for the pre-facelift just for this engine. Shame they don't offer it with Focus anymore even though they offer this engine with some other models. Another thing is, the auto gearbox is a torque convertor one instead of the dual-clutch powershift in the facelift. Lastly, i don't like the new ugly and huge screen that gobbled up all the buttons. All in all, the facelift is a downgrade imo lol. Active mk4 seems to be a pretty good package.
Have had mine for about half a year now, here's some remarks: - The "turbo lag zone" is very much a thing. You ditch your momentum for whatever reason and head all the way down to 2nd or 3rd and you can hear the engine having a hard time coming up to speed. I usually just go back to 3rd and slooowly let it rev back up - it's fine once you get used to it but you have to take it into account - The AC controls being on the screen is dumb. With analog controls you can reliably keep an eye on the road whilst changing it. Having to make a guess of where the control you're looking for is on the screen and then having to fumble with the slider to get the temp juuust right is a major distraction whilst on the road without a copilot. - The infotainment has a way of acting up. Sometimes it just refuses to connect to my iPhone X. I have an iPhone 11 now and it's been connecting reliably but I've had it ditch the connection once or twice. - On the topic of phones, the wireless charging bank absolutely fried both my phones to the point of overheating and becoming irresponsive. I use a charging cable and put my phone in the cup holder vertically and using the adjustable thingies to put it in place. - The collision alerts also have a way of acting up. Once I was at a red light and it went off for no apparent reason. Another time it went off because of leaves flowing in the wind. It's very sporadic, not enough to be problematic but it does catch you offguard everytime it does it. + The cargo capacity is amazing. + I just came back from a roadtrip through the mountains in Belgium and I now appreciate how well this car handles in curves. I felt so confident in how the car drives I've even let a friend drive it through the mountain roads and she was amazed aswell. + General comfort - engine sound is quiet when inside, seats are good, suspension is decent value for what you're paying, enough space everywhere, ...
@@mustiosrs I generally agree, but I don't find the seats to be comfortable enough for the type of car. When the engine is slow to gain rpm is not turbo lag it is lack of power, the Focus needs at least 200hp.
Two small corrections Matt :) 1) It has a guide for the rear seatbelts, you can see it at 7:57-8:00 and 8:05-8:07. 2) There is a button for LKA on the stork for the prefacelift model as well. I know because I am driving it.
As soon as he said about the lka button I came to the comment's haha. It did take me a few months to find that button and over a year for the driv9ng mode button and I found that by accident trying to turn off auto brake hold.
I'm from Italy, and I own a MK8 Fiesta MHEV 125hp. It's a smaller car but the car is pretty economical in my view. for a petrol. When I'm in a rush I avarage 19.5 km/l, but once I managed to do 23.3 km/l, while going to the mountains, which is insane.
I still own the very first MK1 Focus, excellent car that is cheap to run and fun to drive. I looked into a MK4 (this generation) and things looked cheap inside and I wasn’t sold on the looks of it. It’s a shame the Focus is going soon but it’s just the market with the horrible SUVs at the moment. The Focus will always be remembered though, especially the first generation.
I've had the honor of owning a MK1 too, the facelifted one with the 2.0l and 131hp. It was my first car and it was a blast to drive. It left me 1,5 years ago.. Its cylinders have been laid to rest. SUV's are killing the great, sporty and affordable hatchback segment and it's just sad to see it happening. I remember just a couple of years ago, SUVs were cars for old people and I still see them that way :')
@@tomteunissen It is very sad indeed, but not only is it annoying that SUVs are taking over, but instead what the market has had to do. Look at the Ford Puma, Seat Arona, VW T-Cross or even the Toyota Aygo-X... None of them are actual SUVs! They are just raised hatchbacks that try really hard to become SUVs but eventually fail at being an SUV. Even further annoying is the fact that an SUV in the early 2000s was no other than a less capable off-roader (usually a 4WD) and now they're FWD crap that will get no one nowhere through unpaved roads. The automotive industry is in decay, but the SUV fever is just starting. 😔
@@tomteunissen My girlfriend had a new Ghia version back in 1999. She put me on her company insurance so I could drive it My goodness the difference between her Focus and my Citroen Xsara. The Focus was incredible and I immediately felt jealous.
The LED lights even on the base model are very good, huge step up if you're coming from halogens. The base model doesn't have auto dip but some people would prefer that anyway, I'm not sure about higher trim levels.
@@robinhosleftfoot I don't know for that model, my only experience of xenons is a 2011 7 series and all the led lights on various cars have been much better.
Nice Video. I like the look of the "new" focus. Especially the new backlights. I own a 2016 Focus ST wagon and I'm very happy with it. I drove 60k km in the last 3 years and had not a single issue with it.
Silly long bonnet and very uncompetitive space in rear! It is 2023 Ford; where is your electric Siesta and Fucus ( deathly silence) .... ( a junior in the design dept. in Cologne asks directory enquiries for VW Wolfsburg number...) How the mighty in Detroit have collapsed since the Motown days!
SUVs are the reason why small family hatches are fading out. I don't understand why so many people want to buy these crossovers & SUVs when the car is bigger than their driving ability, and the interior of a lot of them are no more spacious than a typical focus. My dad has a BMW X4, and the interior in that actually feels more cramped than my focus, although seated a bit higher.
Previous version has lane assist on stalk button. Driving mode select by cycling the button. Rear camera does indeed get filthy, it's completely useless in winter. The most annoying issue though, is all the warning prompts you have to clear every single time you start the car. There's currently 7 on mine when I start it each time.
agreed I just went from a 2019 Focus Titanium X to a 2023 Kuga ST Line - the warnings are getting worse.... like the rear seat warning, lane assists, pre-collision assist, seatbelt warnings, passenger warnings, tailgate warnings, override on the hybrid, thats 8 warnings to clear on a normal day, if its cold I get more... not to mention the engine mode selections and power mode selections, It takes a good few minutes for the car to settle down, so you can actually drive the god-damn thing properly.... and yes I am a Ford fan. I also agree in regards to the rear camera, pointless on a rainy day.... I drove the new Focus and it's down on power from the previous model too..... I might leave Ford again for this very reason on my next upgrade. I actually prefer the 2018/19/20 model Focus over the new one. I am very disappointed with the new models interfaces. what happened to the days of just getting in the vehicle turning the key and putting your foot down..? ha ha..
I'd really not want to buy a car that you've been testing, the way you throw and RAM stuff around. They must look like well used bangers when you've finished with them. Do you treat your own cars the same way?
The Focus is a forgotten gem! Handling and size. Would make far more sense for many than a ''pretend'' SUV... even better than stable mate Puma. Will be a sad day when the Focus is no more.
Completely agree. Although the puma is actually the stable mate of the fiesta not the focus. The puma is just a fiesta on stilts in the same was a kuga is a focus on stilts
Love the focus, I’ve owned two. The car doesn’t get as much credibility as is due. When it came out in 1998, it was so far above anything else on the market AND average Brits could afford to put fuel in it!
@@paulmh4048 The first Focus was radical when it came out. Ford used to push boundaries with new models. Their whole design language is so bland now, like it was designed by executives. Same with the new Fiesta.
I agree, in Poland, Ford is very underrated - Ford is known here as a poor unreliable car for some reason (pretty much equal to Fiat/Renault/Citroen). Of course Ford had some fails with other models eg. B-Max C-Max S-Max etc. But I actually love Ford a lot, I had 93' fiesta which never failed through 10 years, now I've got 05' focus which never failed for 6 years. But I've got to agree that Ford lost his soul, design after second/third generation of Focus - it doesn't have it's character, it's bland, it's more like Kia/Hyundai like. I love mk2 focus ST/RS design, mk3 RS is okay, but mk4 is like any other car (more Kia/Hyundai like). From the new generation Ford cars I like Puma and Mustang only. I also miss fact that every Ford engine novadays is same Ecoboost or Diesel without any character. In the past they used to put some powerful iconic engines like V6 or Volvo's inline 5. It's sad that in 10 years all those focus/fiesta models would be just some regular civilized cars without anything special. Where mk2 ST/RS will still be iconic as those sound incredible and when tuned can easily make 600hp+.
@@MichaelBosley Wasn't the first Focus one of the first cars to have high brake lights? It was the first car I owned, great fun to drive on bendy secondary roads (I had a 1.6L).
@@chrishart8548 Probably. I'm not hugely aware of other cars. But I also don't know how common the 850 was. I just remember feeling that having the rear light clusters so high up made them much more visible especially through car windows in traffic, and that that was a good thing.
My mk3.5 Focus also has that same issue. But for some reason my old Mk6 Fiesta didn't have any problem with that: That car had a special slot in the plastics next to the rear window; where you could put the seatbelt clasp.
@@nickidean3877 My ST-line mk3.5 has those small plastic guides to stop the rear seatbelt from snagging. But I find those not to work at all. The system I mentioned on the mk6 Fiesta is way better. (that was a 3dr car though)
I’m driving a 67 plate Titanium X, 2ltr diesel and get 60mpg. The lane keeping is on my stalk too, and I’ve got adjustable cup holders and invisible door protectors. The car also has blind spot indicators, subwoofer sound system, heated seats and steering wheel, park assist, Apple car play, 2nd programmable key, auto main beam, lights that steer when going round corners, city stop, lane departure warning, interior led lighting that you can change colour, heated front screen and door mirrors, speed limiter, rain sensing wipers and leather seats. All for £23k brand new at the time from a main dealer. It’s scary to see how much they’ve increased in price. I’m definitely keeping my diesel until it dies, or until the gov stop me driving it! An equivalent EV spec’d car would cost me an absolute fortune.
As a Pre-Facelift Focus ST owner, I gotta say I like the new front quite a bit more than the old one. Though while I think the prefacelift mk3 was hideous, with the 4th gen both looks really good in their own way. Also love the new rear lights, I'll be getting those for mine soon.
@@thatfocusguy Just replaced my Fiesta ST3, with the latest ST version, in the same fantastic red colour. Did take 10 months to arrive, but worth the wait. Impressed so far.
I've got the older st line x with the 1.5 ltr 182bhp, bought it in 2018.Think i'll keep it based on this review.Can get 50 MPG on a run in eco mode on say the motorway , but doesn't half go in sports mode, although the fuel consumption drops.Gearbox on the 1.5 is really good.Not like the 1ltr engine gearbox in this....why the F*uck did they drop the Fiesta ST 3 cylinder engine ?
I was put off the older focuses because if you paid close attention you'll see 95% of them with door seal rubbers hanging out of the doors just seems like poor build quality it was actually shocking.
I have a MK3.5 Focus. All 4 of my door rubbers came loose. I had to stick them all back down with adhesive tape. Otherwise, nothing too bad build quality wise.
easily remedied that to be fair, my 2019 Focus had that happen, I used some loctite on it and they have held perfectly ever since. the rest of the car is really solid having had it for over 3 years now, I got the diesel version and its quicker than the standard petrol versions by a fair margin, it launches from the lights really quick, 0 - 60 is more like 7.5 seconds on the 1.5 turbo diesel. and I have to agree with Matt, it's fantastic in corners, you can't help but pull up on most cars in corners due to it's great handling.
I'm on my fourth Focus, a 2016 SE and would buy another without hesitation. Unfortunately living in Canada that's no longer an option because Ford sadly no longer offers it here. 😔 A couple of things you missed in this review: You mentioned the rear seatbelt getting caught in the latch when returning the rear seat to its upright position, true, but clearly visible as you are telling us this is the plastic "parking spot" clip for the seatbelt to stop this from happening! 😉 Also you forgot to mention that you can flip the rear seat bottoms forward before lowering the rear seat backs and get a completely flat load floor. I go one step further than this and remove the rear seat bottoms completely, 4 torx bolts, and have a completely flat load floor for sports gear all the time without the inconvenience of the flipped up seat bottoms restricting front seat position and taking up the rear footwell space. Great review that makes me angry at Ford... I have no interest in any of their current North American offerings. 🙄 Bye bye Ford, hello Kia!
I love carwow and especially Matt. I will always click and watch almost every video of his but I do question the click bait title of this one. Best ever! “ You need this Car!” Then, shortlist it! Ha.
@@johnneill9740 Ford transmissions have always been shady. I have an LZ Focus ST and the 6speed in it is the same one in base a model Focus and Mazda3. Basically made of glass.
@@johnneill9740 very little to do with it at all, people have short memories. Everyone here still buys VWs by the truckload and on top of dieselgate, they had exactly the same issues with their early dual clutch autos and were ordered by the regulators to fix them and fined. This class of car is just of little interest to Australians in 2022, and Ford Australia have long poorly marketed their smaller, non-crossover cars, one might also think by design. Supply out of Europe was the final mail in the coffin.
IKR - I picked up a new ST last week, which is possibly the last of them available here (a cancelled order I accidentally found, so happy!). It SO fun, and so capable to drive. My partner drives a Golf 8 GTi and yep, it’s clearly better finished (yet feels less “solid”), but it’s clear that VW make cars for posers, and Ford (of Europe) make cars for drivers. It’s night and day more engaging to drive.
I had this on my 18 plate STLine so can't argue with that! However, it took 30 secs to fix with some double sided tape. Only issue I ever had in 4 years too. Best car i ever owned.
My father (late 70s) is on his second Focus (67-plate ST Line), but not a gadget fan. I suspect that the march of gadgetry may frustrate him if he goes for another one - he's itching to get a newer car just for the sake of it, but I'm telling him to stick with what he's got (which will last for ever with his mileages). Call me a stick in the mud, but even I in my 50s feel left behind. No CD player means no-go for me, no matter what the car.
As soon as you say ‘Starts from £26,000’ it’s over for me. Cars have become ridiculously expensive now and in the current climate who is going to buy/lease one of these? Rental car companies who get huge discounts maybe but private buyers? You’re having a laugh.
What happened to just being able to jump in a car and just drive, no faffing about with driving modes. This doesn't seem too bad , but most hot hatches are dreadful and they don't seem to have a memory so you have to start all over again each time you get in. This Focus seems to be a thoroughly rounded family car, great review 👍😊
I would absolutely buy a Focus if I lived in the UK. Trouble is, here in Australia, we only get the ST. Not everyone wants a harsh riding hot hatch. I've driven the ST-Line before (back when Ford did offer the entire range here) and I thought the ride was a bit firm, never mind the ST. It's a real shame because the Focus is just such a brilliant car. I want one, but I can't get the spec that I want in Australia (Titanium X with a manual gearbox, please).
Had an ST line in Australia and did not find the suspension harsh at all. Loved the 8 speed auto torque converter and the feisty 3 cylinder turbo.Never has a problem with the car A great car under represented by Ford Australia.
Why to most modern cars have the centre console arm rest to high up. It really interferes with gear stick access if you’ve gone for a manual option. The A3 is the only car that’s seems not to have this problem.. yet…
I have a Focus and the transmission is a nightmare for me. Spent several thousands of dollars on fixing it. I know time has changed and maybe this car may be very different from mine, but my struggling and desperation when I had no money and no car, no warranty triggers me to leave a comment: I will never buy another vehicle made by Ford, no matter what.
drove a rental one with the analogue dials recently - interior felt cheap and in usual ford fashion - lacking an overall "language" , but i remember it steering and handling rough cobblestone roads quite well. a golf for sure feels more upmarket, but im sure it's more expensive as well.
Ford does not offer this car in the US because of its management's infinite stupidity. I have two 2018 Focuses with a manual transmission...yes there are a few of us Americans who still shift our own damn gears..and they are great cars for the money.
You would of thought in this day and age and in the interest of maximum safety you would get reversing camera as standard...dont get me wrong for years eyes and mirrors have been my greatest friend but still added security would be a brilliant addition and even a good selling point.
I love this thing! Such a shame they stopped selling it in the USA, it looks like a great car for maybe a road trip, or for someone in college to drive. However, I wish that they could come back with the Focus RS. If someone can ls7 swap a Brz ( I Think, if not a car very similar in size) they can put a v6 in there and make it super fast!
Agree. Such a missed opportunity. Just look at the demand for the GR Corolla and Civic R in the US. These models sell 100% of their production and became unobtainable. That makes me think that a new Focus RS would be a great success in this country.
*When it comes to investment, diversification is key. That is why I have my interests set on key sectors based on performance and projected growth. They range from the EV sector, renewable energy, Tech and Health.*
Actually, when someone is good at what he/she does, their good work will surely speak, Mr Paul Williams is really a top notch in trading, you can try him out
March this year, I started an investment with Mr Williams, I invested $9000 which I went into his short-time trading and he helped me clear my Bank dept over $62,700
I have a ST-line from 2019 with the I-3 1.5L Ecoboost - 134 kW. The refinement of this engine compared to the 1.0L is so much better and a turbolag is almost non-existent. Fuel economy is quite good. Such a shame Ford phased out the 1.5 from 2020 and on. Glad I have this excellent engine before it was gone. If they only had it combined with the mild hybrid, it would have been a good combnation.
Ford: Let's make a better looking Focus, upgrade the inside and all that. And then we'll make our potential clients not want it because the puny engine is bloody dreadful and won't last very long.
You realize 16 inch wheels will be lighter and be a more comfortable ride than 19 inch? Why you do you lust over huge, noisy, and uncomfortable giant wheels?
U were using the ST-line. An instructor isn't gonna teach students in a 280bhp ST. And I can confirm as I've seen a few driving instructor cars with advertising and stuff on them. But ur right tho, amazing car to drive I actually own one myself🤣
@@kayahall7835 The RU-vidr KSI'S old Lambhorgini Aventador was turned into a learners car for a few months before being sold again. You'll be surprised what they teach u in nowadays.
@@kayahall7835 When he first got it, I was driving in normal mode at 50mph and without pressing harder the car jumped to 70mph within a few seconds when he put it in race mode for a short section 😂
I’ve got the ‘20 1.0l 155hp version and I love it. This facelifted version looks bonkers too, especially the front, but one thing that buggers me the most is that the rear indicators and brakelights are still made with incandescent bulbs, while competitors like the new Renault Megane and Vauxhall Astra have got full led tail lights (the Megane even has dynamic turn signals!) So that’s a bit disappointing. Other than that it’s a beaut. Love the red also!
Three things...hopefully fixed since my 2022 ST Line X... Rattles...above the drivers door somewhere in the headlining...The dash binnacle plastic above the steering wheel... 3rd... removing the rear lights for a bulb change...the two clear plastic screws are awkward and overly tight, snap and brittle...those black plastic end pieces also snap off... Never gonna buy another Ford
I’d advise everyone to get the Estate. The estate version feels just as nippy, but you have the roof rails as standard, a massive boot, extra power sockets, automatic tailgate. I’ve got a roof-tent on mine too all with the 1.0 125bhp 3 cylinder petrol and it works fine. I’m getting 42mpg. I’m 26 and it’s only £250 per year to insure fully comp.
@@MrBazinger I’ve only driven old cars. My last car was a 2005 Astra and insurance was £70 per month and I was 38 at the time. Is it so cheap for you guys because you have new cars?
At least in Germany the new Focus hatchback became extremely expensive: Starts at 30k Euro with Titanium trim and still a lot of stuff missing for that price... No wonder Ford Focus is not selling...
I think the Focus is definitely one of the best hatchbacks/wagons you can buy. Although reliability does sometimes leave some question marks (I used to work at a Ford dealership, the 1.0 Ecoboost do tend to break their crankshaft after 150k miles especially when chiptuned) I think interior quality and practicality is pretty good and they're absolutely lovely to drive. I never mind working on those although for regulair oil changes I have to take out 17(!) screws before I can take off the undertray.... Butt overall, great cars and I'd definitely recommend one to someone looking for a new car
I was considering buying a 2019 Ford Focus 1.0 Ecoboost ST , do you think its reliable? It has around 25k miles one it. I have heard that the 1.0 Ecoboost has alot of distribution belt problems.. any advice?
@@klaajt3141 Yes they have timing belt problems. Because they have a 'wet belt' meaning the rubber belt is inside the oil pan. Which after a while makes the rubber go bad, and fall apart. Rubber bits will then end up in the oil causing oil passages to block...... But when you change the timing belt more often than Ford adviced you won't really face any big problems. Although for some reason all Ecoboosts like to eat their spark plugs, they crack sometimes causing a misfire
The 1.0 runs great and sounds really nice, really dont see why you would need a larger engine unless you were going to race it. Try the 1.0 with manual gearbox on twisty roads, its fun and challenging.
@@karimtemri1664 far from the truth. modern suspension designs along with great FR/FMR balance goes great, regardless of weight. Yes, I'm looking at you Ford Mustang GT500 and Corvette C7 ZR1.
You can get the Focus ST with a 2.3L Turbo petrol engine too! The new tail lights look like an inspiration from BMW X5 to me 🤭 The focus is a very good car for UK roads. Nice suspension, not to big for the tight parking spaces etc.
@M K I actually have the Ford focus ST line X 2021 which i feel is actually a tad better as it's virtually identical but has a manual blower instead of one of touch screen! And I prefer the ford label not being on the grill.... But otherwise a beautiful car to drive
I recently sold my 69 plate Ford focus st line and I have to say this car is essentially exactly the same with a bigger screen and the logo being moved to the bumper I find it crazy how this is considered an update
I think Hyundai stole so many design ideas from so many brands you peeps forgot who came with said ideas originally. The i30 always tried to look like a Focus, and now Hyundai's borrowing from Audi hard - just like Genesis is borrowing from Bentley. You can say many good things about Hyundai, but originality isn't one of them.
