2018 Ford Focus Electric
Pros
- Rides comfortably over bumps
- Sporty steering and handling around turns
- Interior stays quiet at highway speeds
- Lots of upscale and high-tech options
Cons
- Tight back seat for adults
- Underwhelming acceleration, particularly from the 1.0-liter engine.
- Advanced driver safety aids available on top Titanium trim only
2018 Ford Focus Electric pricing
in Ashburn, VA
Which Focus does Edmunds recommend?
Edmunds' Expert Review
Overall rating
The 2018 Ford Focus is a well-rounded and competent small car. It's available in a variety of flavors, including a no-frills commuter machine, a high-performance hatchback and, yes, even as an EV.
The core appeal of the 2018 Ford Focus, however, remains its comfortable ride along with enjoyable handling and a quiet interior. We also like the the available Sync 3 infotainment system. It's fast and powerful and supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, ensuring your commute won't lack entertainment.
On the downside, the Focus' rear seating is tighter than its competitors', and the available 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine's power can seem inadequate when you're accelerating to highway speeds or passing. Certain rivals best the 2018 Focus in these areas, but we think it's worth a look if you're shopping for a small sedan or hatchback.
2018 Ford Focus configurations
The 2018 Ford Focus is a front-wheel-drive compact economy car that is available as a sedan or hatchback. It comes in a variety of styles and trim levels. The core starts with the bare-bones S, which is followed by the budget-conscious SE, the well-equipped SEL and the top-of-the-line Titanium. Adjacent to these trims is an electric variant that is called, simply, Electric. The performance-oriented ST and high-performance RS, which have more powerful engines and aggressive suspension tuning, are reviewed separately.
The base S trim is available only as a sedan and employs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (160 horsepower, 146 pound-feet of torque). A five-speed manual transmission is standard, and a six-speed automatic is optional.
It comes with 15-inch steel wheels, keyless entry, air-conditioning, a height-adjustable driver seat, 60/40-split folding rear seats, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a rearview camera, a 4.2-inch central display, power front windows (manual rear windows), power locks and mirrors, Ford's MyKey (limits speed, audio volume, etc., for young drivers), voice controls, Bluetooth, a four-speaker sound system and USB port.
One step up is the SE, which is available as a hatchback or sedan. The hatchback comes with the 2.0-liter engine and six-speed automatic, while the sedan uses a turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine (123 hp, 125 lb-ft of torque) and a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic.
Standard SE equipment includes 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, power rear windows, a trip computer, a front center armrest, rear air vents and a six-speaker sound system. Available options include a Cold Weather package (adds heated mirrors and heated front seats and steering wheel). SE trims equipped with the 1.0-liter engine have access to an Appearance package that adds different 16-inch wheels, daytime running lights, foglights and black exterior detail elements. A 17-inch wheel upgrade is also available with this package.
The SEL trim is available as a sedan or hatchback. Standard equipment includes 17-inch wheels, daytime running lights, foglights, a sunroof, ambient interior lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear proximity sensors, an 8-inch entertainment screen with Sync 3 (includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support), two USB charging ports and a 10-speaker Sony stereo system. Options include the aforementioned Cold Weather package and navigation with satellite radio.
The Focus Titanium has the highest level of standard equipment. Its exterior wears a different style of 17-inch wheel and chrome exterior trim. The interior gets leather-trimmed seats, four-way adjustable headrests, eight-way power-adjustable driver seat, a leather-wrapped shift knob, rear center armrest, seatback map pockets and remote start. While the Cold Weather package is standard, an optional Titanium Technology package adds automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, and lane departure warning.
As you might guess, the hatchback-only Focus Electric is powered by an electric motor (143 hp, 184 lb-ft of torque) that runs through a single-speed automatic transmission. EPA-estimated range is 115 miles. It's equipped similarly to the Titanium trim but boasts xenon headlights and restyled taillights. Leather-trimmed seats are optional.
Trim tested
Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2016 Ford Focus SE (turbo 1.0L inline-3 | 6-speed dual-clutch automatic | FWD).
NOTE: Since this test was conducted, the current Focus has received only minor revisions. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's Focus.
Driving
Acceleration
Braking
Steering
Handling
Drivability
Comfort
Seat comfort
Ride comfort
Noise & vibration
Interior
Ease of use
Getting in/getting out
Roominess
Visibility
Utility
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2018 Ford Focus.
Most helpful consumer reviews
Features & Specs
Safety
Our experts’ favorite Focus safety features:
- Rearview Camera
- Shows you what's behind the car to make reversing safer and easier.
- Active Park Assist
- Steers the car for you when you want to parallel park. All you have to do is use the gas and brake pedals.
- Blind-Spot Monitoring with Cross-Traffic Alert
- Alerts you when a vehicle is in your blind spot or when a car is approaching while you're backing out of a parking spot.
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See your car's valueThe front-drive Focus is a stalwart of Ford's product portfolio and it's built to hold down the company's position in what may be the most value-conscious segment of the market: compact sedans and hatchbacks.
We expect 2018 to be the last year of this generation Focus and a replacement to appear very soon. As such, changes are minimal for the 2018 Focus, consisting largely of different paint availability and minor option reshuffling.
Leaving the performance-oriented ST and even higher-performance RS models aside for now, the regular, gasoline-powered Focus is offered in four trim levels as either a hatchback or four-door sedan. There's a hatchback all-electric Focus, too.
The base S is offered only as a sedan and only with Ford's straightforward 160-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The SE, SEL and Titanium trim models all come as either a sedan or hatchback with the 2.0-liter engine. But the SE sedan is also offered with Ford's 1.0-liter, turbocharged, three-cylinder EcoBoost powerplant that is rated at 123 hp. The 2.0-liter is backed by either a five-speed manual or six-speed automated manual transmission, while the EcoBoost 1.0-liter comes with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. The electric Focus uses a 143-hp electric motor.
The Focus has been part of the North American Ford line since 2000 and this third-generation model went on sale back in 2011. Newer competitors have advantages over this aging model, and we expect the next generation to arrive this year or next.
Considering all the choices available in the compact class, making sense of it all can be daunting. That's why Edmunds is here to help with researching your purchase and getting a great deal from a great dealer.
2018 Ford Focus Electric Overview
The 2018 Ford Focus Electric is offered in the following styles: Electric 4dr Hatchback (electric DD).
What do people think of the 2018 Ford Focus Electric?
Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for the 2018 Ford Focus Electric and all its trim types. 0 Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database. Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior, exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2018 Focus Electric.
Edmunds Expert Reviews
Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2018 Ford Focus Electric and all model years in our database. Our rich analysis includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2018 Focus Electric featuring deep dives into trim levels including Electric, etc. with careful analysis around pricing, features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving and performance. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.
Read our full review of the 2018 Ford Focus Electric here.Our Review Process
This review was written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.
We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.
What's a good price for a New 2018 Ford Focus Electric?
Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on new cars, trucks, and SUVs near Ashburn, VA. 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.
Which 2018 Ford Focus Electrics are available in my area?
2018 Ford Focus Electric Listings and Inventory
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Why trust Edmunds?
Edmunds has deep data on over 6 million new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles, including all models of the 2018 Ford Focus Electric and all available trim types: Electric. Rich, trim-level features & specs and options data tracked for the 2018 Ford Focus Electric include (but are not limited to): MSRP, available incentives and deals, average price paid, warranty information (basic, drivetrain, and maintenance), features (interior and exterior color, upholstery, bluetooth, navigation, cruise control, parking assistance, lane sensing, keyless ignition, satellite radio, folding rears seats,run flat tires, wheel type, tire size, sunroof, etc.), vehicle specifications (engine cylinder count, drivetrain, engine power, torque, engine displacement, transmission), fuel economy and MPG (city, highway, and combined, fuel capacity, range), vehicle dimensions (interior cabin space, vehicle length and width, seating capacity, cargo space). Edmunds also provides tools to allow shopper to compare vehicles to similar models of their choosing by warranty, interior features, exterior features, specifications, vehicle dimensions, consumer rating, edmunds expert review, safety rating, and color.
Should I lease or buy a 2018 Ford Focus?
Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.
Check out Ford lease specials