Ford Focus 3 generations can rightfully be considered one of the leaders in the C class, recall that this generation has been sold since 2010 and in 2014 there was a slight restyling during which the appearance and interior design slightly changed. Running a little ahead, let's say that in 2018 the fourth generation of the Focus should appear on the market, the network is already full of information about the new product, as well as photos of pre-production versions. But back to our restyled version, today in Russia the car is sold in three body styles:
- five-door hatchback;
- sedan;
- station wagon.
Unfortunately, we went for the 3-door Ford Focus, as well as its sporty versions of the ST and RS.
In terms of their technical characteristics, the hatchback, sedan and station wagon are not much different, of course, if we are not talking about the dimensions and volume of the luggage compartment. So the third-generation Focus has front-wheel drive, three types of transmissions about which we will talk in more detail below and a rich line of engines which includes:
- 1.6 liter petrol engine with a capacity of 85 hp;
- 1.6 liter petrol engine with a capacity of 105 hp;
- 1.6 liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 125 hp;
- 1.5 liter turbocharged petrol engine with 150 hp
Of all the versions presented, in our opinion, the most interesting is the 1.6 liter engine with 125 hp. and 1.5 liter turbo delivering 150 hp.
It should be noted that earlier the car was also equipped with a 2.0 liter petrol engine with a capacity of 150 hp, in the new version its place was taken by a motor with a smaller volume, but equipped with a turbocharger. Recently, more and more manufacturers give preference to turbocharged power units, because they demonstrate better dynamics while using less fuel.
Available gearboxes
Now let's talk in more detail about which boxes are available on the 3rd generation Ford Focus and which one is better to choose based on reliability and ease of control.
As we have already said earlier, three types of gearboxes are installed on the car, each of which has its own pros and cons (we will also tell you about the advantages and disadvantages);
- 6-stage
The company's engineers decided to take a slightly different path than other manufacturers. While most companies install robotic transmissions on turbocharged versions, Ford engineers opted to equip naturally aspirated engines with a Power Shift robot, while the turbocharged engine is equipped with a classic automatic.
If you are wondering which gearbox is better to buy a Focus with an automatic or a robot or mechanics, we will now try to give you some idea.
To be honest, out of the top three, we liked the work of the classic machine the most, but the mechanics and the robot raised some questions.
Mechanics
There are no questions about the work of the mechanic, or rather the gear shifting, but the number of gears raised questions, but there are enough of them in the city, but when leaving the highway, there is a lack of 6th gear. Moreover, competitors have long been offering six gears.
Robot
Despite the fact that it has become much more reliable than the first versions, many motorists have concerns when buying a car with this type of gearbox. The Power Shift has its advantages and disadvantages, the disadvantages include jerky when switching from 1 to 2 and vice versa, which many can get when driving in a traffic jam. The second disadvantage is the cost of maintenance and the cost of repair in case of failure.
Price in 2018 and competitors
Today the cost of a car in Russia is:
- the price of a hatchback is 769,000 - 1,171,000 rubles;
- sedan price 916,000 - 1,181,000 rubles;
- the price of the station wagon is 926,000 - 1,191,000 rubles.
What competitors does Focus have
From ourselves, we can say that we consider the main competitors to be Korean manufacturers, which are completely similar, both in price and in technical characteristics.
Reading 6 min.
Any car has the ability to break down and the third generation Ford Focus is no exception. This happens for various reasons, ranging from defects in production, ending with incorrect or untimely maintenance. As practice shows, each model has its own typical sores that are found in most owners. What are the weaknesses of the Ford Focus 3 can be identified? Let's try to identify the main faults. There is an opinion that modern cars are not reliable and have many standard breakdowns. However, this is not quite true. The fact is that the new cars are distinguished by a rather complex design, equipped with low-volume motors with turbines, a lot of electronics, etc. This leads to an increase in dynamic performance and comfort level, but the risk of breakage is also increased.
Ford Focus of the third generation cannot be called a very high-tech car, and most of the elements are quite reliable and, if properly maintained, serve for quite a long time.
Nevertheless, a number of typical breakdowns can be identified that the owners of this model may encounter. Separately, we note the body, which has excellent anti-corrosion treatment. Although the paintwork is damaged by any twigs, scratches will not rust.
Engines
The third generation Ford Focus was equipped with power units of various capacities:
- gasoline (1.6 and 2.0);
- diesel (1.6 and 2.0).
At the same time, a total of 10 modifications of different forcing were available. It is rather difficult to meet problems with motors in Focus, and power units are distinguished by their reliability and unpretentiousness. This also applies to the third generation, which have served their owners for many years. As a rule, if any problems occur, then the reason for this may lie in improper maintenance. Of course, we are talking about motors, the resource of which has not yet come out.
Among the features can be called a fairly high noise level, especially in the engine warm-up mode. For example, models with 1.6 engines quite often have the following problem: when starting, a cold engine can make a knock. After reaching the operating temperature, this noise disappears. The knocking noise is caused by the injectors. A similar problem is observed with modifications with a two-liter engine. However, the reason here lies in the peculiarities of the operation of the injection pump.
Ford Focus 3, produced from 2011 to 2012, had problems with unstable engine operation. Quite often, the owners observed that the power unit troit and traction deteriorates. This malfunction occurred due to the ECU in which the failure occurred. All cars that were produced after 2012 did not have such a problem, since the firmware was replaced by the manufacturer. By the way about the control unit. It is located close to the front bumper, and therefore in collisions it is quite often damaged, which requires its replacement. Diesel engines have a standard feature - sensitivity to fuel quality. If you constantly use a low-quality diesel engine, then the engine will prematurely fail.
Transmission
A manual transmission in the third Focus is almost eternal. Despite this, some car owners noted that almost immediately after the purchase, a leak was noticed in the area of \u200b\u200bthe right oil seal. With a mileage of 5-10 thousand km, such malfunctions are unacceptable. Less often, the same problem manifested itself in the left oil seal. Such a malfunction occurred due to a defect during production. In some cases, the lip of the gland was affected and destroyed. And if the installation was performed poorly, then this was the cause of the leak.
In the third generation of the Focus, a robotic PowerShift transmission was also installed. The manufacturer presented it as incredibly reliable and modern, but practice has shown that because of it, the owners of the Focus had a lot of troubles. Among the main problems are:
- twitching when driving in traffic jams;
- the occurrence of a metallic grinding when changing gears;
- jerks during active acceleration.
Many drivers of the third generation of Focus had similar problems. This led to the fact that Ford's reputation as a reliable vehicle was shaken a little. Note that the problem can be solved by flashing the box control unit, but this requires additional expenditure of effort and money.
Steering gear
The steering rack is one of the weak points of Focus III. The fact is that it can start knocking already at a run of 5-10 thousand km. The problem is that backlash appears in the horizontal plane, and replacement with a new part does not guarantee the elimination of the problem, because it may have the same disadvantage.
The third generation of the Focus is equipped with an electric power steering. His work is also not perfect. Some car owners have experienced the problem that the steering wheel itself suddenly becomes too heavy and an error message appears on the dashboard. The problem can be solved simply - you need to turn off the ignition and wait a few minutes. After that, turns on the ignition and the electric booster should work correctly. If the problem recurs, then you need to think about replacing the steering rack. The fact is that the cause of the breakdown lies in the electric motor, which comes with the rail.
Chassis
Generally speaking, the suspension of the third Focus is thought out and reliable. McPherson stands in front, and a multi-link is installed in the back. Disc brakes are used, both for the front and rear. As practice shows, in Russian conditions, the suspension lives on average 80-100 thousand km. Of course, if you drive on bad roads, then the service life of some elements may be less.
As with most competitors of the Focus 3, the stabilizer struts can fail after 50 thousand kilometers. Shock absorbers last a little longer. By 75 thousand km, small leaks may appear, and closer to a hundred kilometers they need to be replaced. You can ride for longer, but this will affect the level of comfort. Approximately the same service life for journal bearings. About 80 thousand km want ball joints and silent blocks. The rear levers may require replacement every 65-70 thousand km.
It should also be noted that during the winter season, the suspension may creak in the area of \u200b\u200bthe stabilizer bush. Often there are incomprehensible knocks in the front part, which are eliminated by themselves when warmth comes. Interestingly, the manufacturer's representatives do not consider this to be a malfunction. They say this is a technical feature of the model.
Summarizing
What conclusion can be drawn? The third generation Ford Focus is still a reliable car that is perfect for every day. Its advantages include an interesting appearance, durable engines, comfortable suspension and relative cheapness.
The disadvantages include not the strongest paintwork, a problematic robot and a weak steering mechanism. Also, the salon of the third Focus cannot be called very spacious. If you take a car in good condition, the advantages of the car will outweigh its disadvantages. In general, the owner of the Ford Focus 3 this model and leave positive reviews.
The first "Tricks" of the third generation rolled off the assembly line not so long ago, or rather in 2011, so it is still quite difficult to evaluate the Ford Focus body in terms of its corrosion resistance and make appropriate conclusions about whether it is worth buying the Third-generation Focus while early. Even on the oldest specimens, if they have not had time to visit a serious accident, it will not be possible to see rust stains. But the fact that the paintwork of the Ford Focus III is rather weak can be stated already now. Finding small scratches and chips on most vehicles is easy. Apart from this, many Focus front optics suffer. The cars from the first lots had poorly fitted doors. Fortunately, the manufacturer coped with this problem very quickly, but choosing Focus for purchase should be done more carefully.
Small build flaws can be seen inside the car as well. Most often, Focus owners complain about uneven gaps between the plastic parts in the cabin. Another typical complaint is the creak of plastic and "crickets", which most often start in the area of \u200b\u200bthe radio and the place where the seat belt is attached to the B-pillar. Otherwise, inside the "third" Ford Focus rather pleases its buyers in the secondary market.
The 1.6-liter engine with 85 horsepower for a sufficiently large car is frankly weak and therefore, to be honest, fans of dynamics should not buy a Ford Focus with such an engine. The purchase of a used car with such a power unit is unlikely to be justified. And the same 105-horsepower engine will not make the Focus a fast car. Although in terms of reliability, as well as the 125-horsepower version, it is good. So far, the owners only complain about the characteristic chirping, which intensifies when heated. However, you shouldn't be afraid when buying. Noises frightening to many motorists are nothing more than a feature of the injectors. But with unstable work, triple work and insufficient traction after a cold start, you will no longer be able to accept. All these problems - and they were typical for cars that were released at the end of 2011 - were successfully solved by reprogramming the powertrain control module. There are no big claims to the two-liter petrol engine with a capacity of 150 horsepower. He, like engines of smaller volume, works with a characteristic chirp, but does not cause problems. Unless the fuel will have to be used exclusively of high quality. However, in any case, those who like to save should not buy the two-liter version of the Focus.
But there are a little more complaints about the gearboxes that were installed on the third generation Ford Focus. In "mechanics", for example, after a run of 10 thousand kilometers the oil seal of the right axle shaft could begin to leak. And all because of the incomplete seating of the oil seal on the conveyor, which led to damage to its edge. Over time, of course, the problem was solved, but the unpleasant aftertaste remained with Focus owners with a manual gearbox. There are complaints about the PowerShift dual-clutch transmission. When driving for a long time in sluggish traffic jams, it begins to change gears with noticeable jerks. And from the point of view of reliability PowerShift loses to traditional “automatic machines”. The first serious problems can begin after 100 thousand kilometers. So when buying a Focus with this gearbox, it is impossible to refuse diagnostics in any case.
The third-generation Ford Focus suspension has proven to be quite reliable. Most owners have yet to deal with replacing its consumables. However, calling it absolutely problem-free will not work with all the desire. And all because with the onset of frost, the Focus suspension begins to emit extraneous sounds. Most often, the unpleasant squeak is created by the stabilizer bushings.
Not without problems in the steering. Moreover, the problems are quite serious. After 7-10 thousand kilometers, many owners of the "third" Focus had to deal with a backlash in the steering rod and tapping on the steering rack. Most often, the rail was changed under warranty, but after the replacement, after the same 10 thousand kilometers, knocks appeared again. And all would be fine, but the owners of used Ford Focus will have to change the rail not under warranty, but for their own money. And this pleasure cannot be called cheap. And besides the steering rack, there are enough troubles. Problems with the electric power steering on the Focus are common.
It turns out that it is not for nothing that the third-generation Ford Focus was adopted by our motorists rather restrainedly, and they pay more attention to the previous - second generation of the car. There are not a huge number of problems with him, but enough. But the competitors do not differ in exemplary reliability either. So it's not all bad. If you manage to find a "third" Ford Focus in good condition, then it is quite worth buying, but it is better to choose and inspect a car as carefully as possible.
Verdict
Weaknesses / problem areas:
- Weak paint and varnish coating, prone to scratches and chips.
- Front optics fogging.
- Poorly fitted doors on early production models.
- Poorly adjusted gaps in the plastic inside the cabin.
- Creaks and "crickets" in the cabin.
- Weak 1.6-liter engines.
- Leaking oil seal, right axle shaft.
- Breakable PowerShift dual-clutch transmission.
- Tie rod backlashes and knocks in the steering rack.
Strong / reliable sides:
- Modern salon interior.
- Reliable engines.
- Reliable suspension.
Hello! Today I want to talk about my car, which is faithful to me (and I, respectively, to him) for almost, almost a year. I can’t say anything about previous cars, well, except that I’ll mention, it was the VAG Polo and the experience in driving the Nissan Center. I have no reviews about them, ... full review →
I bought a new Ford Focus in the cabin, in a pre-maximum speed with a winter package. I was more than happy with the car, before that there was an octavia, aveo new, bmw 5 ka. in general, and learned to ride on the top five and, accordingly, got used to speed, dynamics, quality. focus on traffic lights ... full review →
2012 Ford Focus station wagon, 1.6 liters, 105 hp from. Powershift automatic transmission, white (basic equipment + winter package + autorun). I will also add that before that there were a lot of different cars, Japanese, German, from 500 thousand rubles. up to 5 million rubles. cost, owned by debt, I go every ... full review →
I got my Ford Focus in the spring. Prior to that, I went to the domestic auto industry, Volga Cyber, Mazda 6, and took a lot of cars from relatives and friends, etc. up to the new Grand Cherokee. I can say with confidence that the Americans know a lot about convenience, although about the Japanese ... full review →
Hello readers of the review! So I became the proud owner of a Ford Focus. Took in the salon Donavto Lipetsk. Auto 2013, Trend Sport grade, 125 HP s., climate control, winter package, comfort package, etc. Additionally put protection and mats in the cabin ... full review →
Hello. I decided to write a short review about the Ford Focus. At the end of February, my brother, after looking at what I bought Kashak, also decided to update himself a Nissan Almeria 99 g. Nissan Almeria (with a normal left-hand drive) was sold in a week, and when my brother became a pedestrian, then seriously ... full review →
Review of the new Ford Focus 1.6, automatic transmission PowerShift, 125 HP with., equipment Trend Sport. The car exceeded all expectations. Obedient on the road, maneuvers well. Acceleration of the car is fast enough, you can go confidently to overtake. I was very pleased with this car .... full review →
I read here how a dude drove a Corolla, a Camry, a BMW X6 and now praises the Ford Focus? After such cars, I would not even look at him. I had a nine, ten, Lancer 6, Lacetti, Priora, Octavia, and now Focus 3, Euro 5. What a stupid felt boot does not go even more ...
What is kinetic energy, in general terms, is represented by everyone who at school in physics lessons sometimes looked at the board, and not at the "wounded-killed" in sea battles on a piece of paper in a cage. To put it simply, all moving bodies possess kinetic energy, and the value of this energy depends on their speed. mv ^ 2/2, remember that?
The beautiful formula would have remained on paper if not for Ford of Europe designer Martin Smith. It was he who was able to depict this law of mechanics with the lines of the car body, and it turned out just fine. According to the idea of \u200b\u200b"kinetic design", "expression occurs through crisp, dynamic lines and surfaces" (from an interview with Martin Smith). The appearance of the third Focus looks really dynamic. However, this is not a new product, so it will be superfluous to describe the appearance of Ford. Moreover, the Focus 3 is famous not only for its design, but also for the concept of a "global" car, first used by Ford.
This means that the third Focuses for the markets of Europe, America and Asia are almost identical. The engine and control settings are slightly different, but in general the Focus is the same everywhere. The design turned out to be more European than American, and this is understandable: the developers were engaged in it in Cologne, where the European center of Ford is based, responsible for the development of C- and B-class cars and commercial vehicles.
In connection with "globalization" and "kinetics" the question arises: what platform was used to build Focus 3? By and large, this is the same C-car platform of the 2003 model, but with a very large number of point upgrades. But it is precisely the presence of this platform that allows Focus owners to use spare parts from, for example, Mazda 3. In addition to the "matryoshka", almost the same platform is used on Mazda 5, Ford C-Max, Grand C-Max, Kuga, as well as on Volvo models C70, C30 , V50 and V40. But enough to speak unfounded, it's time to look under the hood of the car, shake the suspension, touch the plastic, pick up the paint and get behind the wheel. Here we will immediately see what distinguishes the previous generation Focus from the third Focus, and what benefit this can bring to the owner. Or not, which is also quite likely.
Engine
The hood, finally, can be opened humanly, and not like on previous Fords, with a lock under the emblem (in fairness, we note that such a mechanism has been introduced on American Focuses from the very first generation, - ed.)! Maybe this deprives the car of some kind of "family" chip, but for me it is much more convenient. So, Duratec Ti-VCT, 1.6 liter, 125 hp. What can you say about this motor? I would strongly advise against trying to do something here yourself. Well, except that the air filter is easy to change.
Replacing the timing belt on your own is almost impossible. More precisely, without special devices for fixing the camshafts and crankshaft. Whether to buy these "adaptations" is a moot point, it is unlikely that such an investment of money will be profitable. Moreover, the frequency of replacement according to the regulations is very impressive: 120 thousand kilometers. The service master advises not to wait for this run, but to change the timing belt with a run of 100-110 thousand. The price of the belt, however, "bites": the original costs 2,600 rubles, but, for example, the cheapest analogue is only 600 (hmm ... I would not risk it). The video can be bought for 2,050 (in the service where we examined the car), you can find it for 4,000 rubles, but, for example, the popular SKF will cost about the same two thousand. At the same run, the pump will need to be replaced (for example, Airtex will cost 2,400 rubles), which will cost 500 rubles. It's not a pity once every 100 thousand, it's acceptable. Valve adjustments are best done by your dealer. When performing this procedure, adjusting glasses are installed, which will more accurately select and install the "officials". The 2012 cars had one defect: the variable valve timing sensor often could not withstand the oil pressure at high engine speeds and was leaking oil. It expired strongly, so there were cases that the matter was not limited to one replacement of the sensor. Taking into account the fact that the oil pressure lamp lights up only in those cases when the engine becomes very bad, you need to monitor this yourself. After 2012, this part underwent modernization, and in later Focuses there is no trouble with it. Another "surprise": the Focus 3 does not have a hatch for accessing the fuel pump (just as the previous Focus did not have it). "So what?" Some will ask. We answer: he also does not have a fuel filter - more precisely, it is part of the fuel pump. Therefore, its replacement is carried out with the removal of the gas tank, and then it all depends on the owner's imagination. Masters, of course, advise changing the pump assembly - just in case. But you can also suffer with the replacement of the filter element. Some are trying to simplify the work and cut a separate fuel filter into the line. The pump is usually not enthusiastic about this idea and shows its protest with an untimely death.
On our car, under warranty, we changed not only the variable valve timing sensor, but also the power steering pump.
Why is the maintenance of the third Focus easier than the second? The specialist is happy to point at the brake fluid reservoir: now a person can reach its neck, and not just an octopus with a syringe in dexterous tentacles.
At Focus 2, the access to the throat was closed by the air intake duct grill and the drainage flap.
Chassis and brakes
The Focus suspension can be called a real highlight of the car. Front - McPherson, there is nothing to surprise. And here is the back - the proprietary multi-link Control Blade system. She steers the car very well, and even rapid lane changes imitating the "moose test" are not only predictable, but somehow fervent, but very accurate. Well, what will it cost to repair such a suspension?
Here Focus puzzled us a little. True, it's nice: after running 74 thousand kilometers in three years, he kept his suspension in perfect condition. Several times we bypassed all the elements and only from the N-th attempt we were able to detect a small detachment of rubber on the silent block of the front suspension arm. There is no sense to change it yet, but at least we could find something. This is a very decent result! However, the work on replacing the running elements is inexpensive, as are the parts themselves. For example, the original stabilizer strut will cost about 800 rubles, a good analog can be bought for 300, and a replacement in the service will cost 500. A defective silent block found costs about one and a half thousand, replacement - 800 rubles.
Just in case, we asked about the cost of replacing the ball joint. An analogue of TRW can be bought for 800 rubles, you will have to pay exactly the same amount for the work. Balls are riveted here, but when replaced, they are usually attached to bolts. Well, if it suddenly turns out to "shake" the car so that it is impossible to do without replacing the entire rear suspension of the Control Blade, then in the service it is quite possible to keep within 20 thousand rubles. On the forums, you can read long threads about the seals of the mechanical gearbox axle shafts that flow. They are changed under warranty, but they still flow. We have a PowerShift “robot” here, and it was not possible to test the popular rumor “in kind”. The axle shafts are dry and the CV joints look almost perfect.
1 / 3
2 / 3
3 / 3
But servicing the brakes at a dealer is a mercilessly expensive thing for this class of cars. You can change the pads for 6 thousand. Prices in a regular service are far from being so cosmic: work - 600 rubles, the pads themselves - from 2,000 for good ones to 2,500 for excellent ones. You can find bad ones, they will be even cheaper, but is it necessary? And for 1,500 it will be possible to change the disks, if there is such a need. Here, of course, the "officials" went too far with prices. However, this is their business, they also need to live on something.
A matter of minutes
It would be more logical to write something about the body and paintwork, but I deliberately put this subtitle. Because the time has come for short, but simple advice to the owners of Focus, who want to keep this paintwork as long as possible. Take a closer look at the gap between the rear fender and the bumper. Is there still paint at the junction? This is good, which means that there is still an opportunity to prolong its existence. It is at this point that the paintwork is violated from the constant contact of body elements exposed to vibration. If in Russian - paint peels off. But there is a way out, and even several. First, you can glue the edges of the elements with a transparent polyurethane film. It will look almost invisible and tidy. Secondly, you can glue the same with tape, vinyl, smear with silicone, which will be somewhat "collective farm" and in most cases will not solve the problem. But it is necessary to protect this place: the painting at the Focus is frankly weak and will not tolerate "streaks" between the elements for a long time.
The same picture is observed at the point of contact between the fifth door and the rear bumper. Sedan owners have nothing to fear, but hatchback owners should start adjusting the door. The stock of profiles of rubber seals is quite enough to painlessly slightly raise the door and make the gap a little larger than the factory one. This will increase the distance between the rear lights and the door, but only you will know about it, but the paint will live longer. On our Focus, an additional "Shumka" is made and a rubber seal is glued around the hood. In general, this is a good way to keep the engine compartment clean, Focus loves to spray the engine with all sorts of rubbish from the street. Some do it easier, gluing not the hood itself, but the places where it fits (including the headlight housings) with a conventional window seal. It turns out pretty neat and practical.
If your hands still itch or you just have a healthy desire to do something good, then you can change the bulbs in the headlights yourself. For this they need to be removed, but they are fastened with two bolts, there is nothing complicated here. It will be much more exciting to try to sink the caliper piston of the rear disc brakes when replacing the pads. It is useless to press: the piston can only be screwed in using a special tool, and in the absence of one, ordinary pliers. They need to rest against the grooves on the piston and twist clockwise. The piston will then slide into place. The owner of the third Focus, most likely, will not have to deal with anything more serious. Is that meditation in order to relieve negative emotions arising from the sound of the steering rack, the knock of which is practically impossible to correct, since it is due to its design.
