Year
Model Type
Sedan 30 Combined MPG
(26 city / 36 hwy)
EPA estimated
30 Combined MPG
(26 city / 36 hwy)
EPA estimated
Quick Summary
It was already one of our top-rated sedans in the compact class, and now the 2015 Ford Focus gets updated styling, a smoother ride and an improved automatic transmission. If you're shopping for a car in this class, the Focus is definitely worth a test-drive.
What Is It?
For 2015, the Ford Focus receives a slight makeover that brings this compact sedan and hatchback up to date with its corporate siblings. In addition to the styling updates, the previously clunky automatic transmission has been improved, as has the ride quality, courtesy of a retuned suspension.
The base Focus S trim starts at $17,995 and is only available in sedan form. Feature highlights include power front windows, air-conditioning, a rearview camera and Ford's Sync voice activation system. Our test vehicle in midrange sedan SE trim benefits from alloy wheels, rear power windows, cruise control and an upgraded audio system for an additional $1,290. Adding the optional six-speed automatic transmission; SE Sport package (17-inch wheels, sporty body enhancements, foglights, rear disc brakes and paddle shifters); power-adjustable driver seat and rear parking sensors pushed the as-tested price to $21,970. For shoppers seeking more creature comforts and technology, the range-topping Titanium trim will set you back $23,995.
Other Focus variants include a slightly more fuel-efficient 1.0-liter three-cylinder SE EcoBoost model, a pricey all-electric version with a 76-mile range, and the performance-oriented Focus ST.
How Does It Drive?
With the standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 160 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, our 2015 Ford Focus sedan required 9.0 seconds to reach 60 mph. This is slower than competitors and even the last Focus we tested, but still adequate when merging onto highways.
In previous years, the Focus' finicky automated manual transmission would allow the car to roll backward on hill starts and hesitate when creeping forward at very low speeds. Improvements to the transmission eliminate these issues, making it feel more like a conventional automatic.
With light pressure on the pedal, the Focus gathers speed smoothly but leisurely. An aggressive stomp results in a responsive initial launch, followed by rather slow gearchanges. In these conditions, acceleration is predictable, but moderate pedal application has a tendency to produce unexpected lurches and power surges. When passing slower traffic, the transmission is slow to react but eventually drops to lower gears.
The brake pedal is reassuringly firm and predictable no matter the speed. In Edmunds panic brake tests, the Focus came to a stop from 60 mph in a class-average 120 feet, and these distances remained remarkably consistent after several passes.
"Consistent" and "predictable" also aptly describe the Focus' handling characteristics. There is a noticeable amount of body roll when cornering, but no residual rebounding once the car is eased into a bend. The tires howl quite loudly long before the limits are reached and even in this middle-of-the-road model, it can be somewhat entertaining to drive quickly.
Is It Comfortable?
Whether on a long stretch of open highway or rutted city pavement, the 2015 Ford Focus does an admirable job of isolating its occupants from the environment. Large and small road imperfections are smoothed over with little acknowledgement. The fact that there's very little wind and road noise further reduces fatigue on long road trips.
Its front seats provide ample support, and there's enough adjustment range to accommodate small and large drivers alike, and after several hours behind the wheel the cloth seats never feel stifling. Of the few comfort-related complaints we have, the thinly padded door armrests and hard plastic center console can create some bothersome pressure points on the elbows and knees.
The rear seats are accommodating enough for adults, and the elevated cushions afford a decent view forward over the front passengers' shoulders.
How Well Designed Is the Interior?
Materials quality throughout the Focus' cabin is as good or better than average for the class, though there was a pervasive and sour "new car" chemical smell. The overall design of the interior is very similar to the previous model, but there are some noteworthy improvements.
The audio controls now feature a more logical layout and fewer buttons for easier operation. The color display is quite small, but its placement atop the dash and clear resolution allow the driver to read the contents in a quick glance. Sound quality from the midlevel system is clean and powerful enough to satisfy most listeners.
The split-folding rear seats are also new for 2015, replacing the previous single seatback for added flexibility. Trunk capacity tops out at 13.2 cubic feet, which is about average among rivals, but the wide opening makes loading bulkier items much easier. The rear seats don't quite fold flat to accommodate longer objects, and care should be taken to avoid the bare metal stampings between the cargo and passenger areas. Interior storage is limited to a handful of small bins and pockets, which are just big enough to carry some personal effects.
What Kind of Fuel Economy Does It Get?
The 2015 Focus with the automatic transmission and the 2.0-liter engine is rated by the EPA to deliver 30 mpg combined (26 city/38 highway), which is an average figure for cars in the class. Our results support these estimates, as we averaged 29.4 mpg in its time with us. On our highway-heavy evaluation loop, we managed to exceed expectations with a 42-mpg average over 115 miles.
What Safety Features Are Available?
Focus models in S and SE trims come with front antilock disc and rear drum brakes. The more effective rear disc brakes are optional. Standard on all Focus models are stability control, a driver knee airbag, a rearview camera and emergency telematics through compatible and paired cell phones. Also included is Ford's MyKey system that allows parents to set speed and audio volume limits for teen drivers, encourages seatbelt usage with more aggressive warnings and disallows the deactivation of safety features.
The top-of-the-line Titanium trim is eligible for additional options that include a blind-spot warning system, rear cross-traffic alerts and a lane departure warning system with intervention.
What Are Its Closest Competitors?
Honda Civic: The stalwart Civic benefits from its reputation for reliability and economy, but in terms of performance, it's comparable to the Focus. While the Honda still receives high marks overall, its unconventional infotainment controls may take some getting used to.
Kia Forte: It's hard to beat the Kia Forte when it comes to standard and available features, affordability and its generous warranty coverage. Fuel economy is similar to the Focus, but the Kia's stiffer ride quality may have undesirable effects on comfort.
Mazda 3: As one of the top-rated vehicles in the compact sedan category, the Mazda 3 delivers more standard features for the price, slightly better fuel economy and more engaging driving dynamics.
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.
Used 2015 Ford Focus listings and inventory:
Shop Edmunds' used car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million pre-owned vehicles to find a cheap used and certified pre-owned (CPO) 2015 Ford Focuss for sale near Ashburn VA. There are currently 1,060 used and CPO 2015 Focuss listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as 7,495 and mileage as low as 5,663. Simply research the type of used car, SUV, or truck you're interested in and then select a vehicle from our massive database to find cheap pre-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and Autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the used 2015 Ford Focus. Then select Edmunds' special offers, perks, deals, and incentives to contact the dealer of your choice and save up to 304 on a used or CPO 2015 Focus available from one of 2,631 dealerships in your area.
What's a good price on a used 2015 Ford Focus ?
Save up to $300 on one of 125 used 2015 Ford Focuss for sale at dealerships within 25 miles of Ashburn, Virginia with prices as low as $7495 as of Apr 25, 2018, based on data from 18 dealers and 79 consumer-driven dealer ratings ranging from 1 to 5 out of 5 stars.
Price comparisons for used 2015 Ford Focus trim styles:
The used 2015 Ford Focus S is priced around $11989 with average odometer reading of 9223 miles.
The used 2015 Ford Focus Titanium is priced around $12789 with average odometer reading of 34030 miles.
The used 2015 Ford Focus SE is priced around $10823 with average odometer reading of 45465 miles.
Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on used cars, trucks, and SUVs near Ashburn, Virginia. Doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Edmunds also provides consumer-driven dealership sales and service reviews to help you make informed decisions about what cars to buy and where to buy them.
What options are available on the 2015 Ford Focus?
Available Ford Focus 2015 Submodel Types: Sedan, Hatchback, Coupe, Wagon, Electric, SVT
Available Ford Focus 2015 Trims: SEL, SE, SES, Titanium, S, ZX4 SE, LX, ZX3, ZX4 S, ZX4 SES, ZX5 SES, ZXW SE, Electric, ZTS, ZTW, ZX5, SVT
Exterior Colors: Shadow Black, Lightning Blue Metallic, Hot Pepper Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, White Gold Metallic, Sterling Grey Metallic, Blue Metallic, Tuxedo Black Metallic (Late Availability), Ingot Silver Metallic, Tuxedo Black Metallic, Blue Candy Metallic, Magnetic Metallic, Outrageous Green Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, Kona Blue Metallic, Sangria Red Clearcoat Metallic, Ruby Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, Vista Blue Clearcoat Metallic, Oxford White, Race Red, White Gold, Ebony Clearcoat, Pitch Black Clearcoat, White Platinum Metallic Tricoat, Black Clearcoat, CD Silver Clearcoat Metallic, Ingot Silver Clearcoat Metallic, Silver Frost Clearcoat Metallic, White Suede Clearcoat, Cloud 9 White Clearcoat, Blue Flame Clearcoat Metallic, Blue Flame Metallic, Brilliant Silver Clearcoat Metallic, Liquid Grey Clearcoat Metallic, Performance Blue Metallic, Sterling Grey Clearcoat Metallic, Tectonic Metallic, Blue Candy Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, Ebony, Infra-Red Clearcoat, Aqua Blue Clearcoat Metallic, Frosted Glass Metallic, Light Tundra Clearcoat Metallic, Natural Neutral Clearcoat Metallic, Pueblo Gold Clearcoat Metallic, Red Candy Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, White Platinum Metallic Tri-coat, Arizona Beige Clearcoat Metallic, Fort Knox Gold Clearcoat Metallic, Infra Red Clearcoat, Infra-Red Clear Coat, Kiwi Green Clearcoat, Light Ice Blue Clearcoat Metallic, Rainforest Green Clear Coat Metallic, Sangria Red Metallic, Twilight Blue Clearcoat Metallic, Vermillion Red Clearcoat, White Suede, Yellow Blaze Metallic Tri-Coat
Interior Colors: Charcoal Black Surround w/Charcoal Black Insert leather, Warm Steel Surround w/Charcoal Black Insert cloth, Charcoal Black leather, Medium Dark Stone Surround w/Medium Light Stone Insert cloth, Charcoal Black Insert w/Warm Steel Surround cloth, Charcoal Black cloth, Tuscany Red Surround w/Charcoal Black Insert leather, Charcoal Black w/Metal Gray Surround cloth, Medium Light Stone cloth, Medium Light Stone w/Medium Dark Stone Surround cloth, Medium Stone cloth, Metal Gray/Charcoal Black Surround w/Charcoal Black Insert premium cloth, Charcoal Black w/Warm Steel Surround cloth, Medium Light Stone leather, Medium Stone leather, Medium Soft Ceramic leather, Tuscany Red w/Charcoal Black Insert leather, Charcoal Black Surround w/Arctic White Insert leather, Charcoal Upper/Charcoal Lower leather, Dark Charcoal, Dark Pebble Upper/Light Pebble Lower, Medium Graphite, Medium Parchment
Popular Features: Keyless Entry/Start, Alarm, Audio and cruise controls on steering wheel, Aux Audio Inputs, Back-up camera, Bluetooth, Fold Flat Rear Seats, Post-collision safety system, Rear Bench Seats, Stability Control, Tire Pressure Warning, USB Inputs, Trip Computer, Heated seats, Parking sensors, Power Driver Seat, Leather Seats, Sunroof/Moonroof, Auto Climate Control, Multi-Zone Climate Control, Remote Start, Navigation, Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Departure Warning, Upgraded Engine, Upgraded Headlights, Mobile Internet, Upgraded Stereo
Engine/Mechanics: 4, 3 cylinders
Transmission: AUTOMATIC, AUTOMATED_MANUAL, MANUAL, DIRECT_DRIVE
Fuel Types: flex-fuel (unleaded/E85), regular unleaded, electric, premium unleaded (required)
Drivetrains: front wheel drive
Used 2015 Ford Focus Overview
The used 2015 Ford Focus is offered in the following submodels: Electric, Sedan, Hatchback. Available styles include SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M), SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M), and S 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M). Pre-owned Focus models are available with a 0-liter flex-fuel (FFV) engine, with output up to 0 hp, depending on engine type. The used 2015 Focus comes with front wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 5-speed manual.
EPA Est. MPG | 30 |
Transmission | Manual |
Drive Train | Front Wheel Drive |
Displacement | 2 L |
Passenger Volume | 103.9 cu ft |
Wheelbase | 104 in |
Length | 178 in |
Width | 71 in |
Height | 57 in |
Curb Weight | 2932 lbs |
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a Used 2015 Ford Focus in VA is:
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a Used 2015 Ford Focus in VA is:
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