2017 Ford Focus Road Test and Review

Assembled in Wayne, Michigan, the new 2017 Ford Focus successfully competes against a long list of high-value compact sedans and hatchbacks including the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Chevy Cruze, Mazda3, Hyundai Elantra, Subaru Impreza, VW Golf and Nissan Sentra.

Now in its third-generation, the sporty Ford Focus is perpetually one of the best-selling cars in its class. It’s available in a wide variety of configurations, including the all-electric Focus Electric and two high-performance hot hatch models, and it has proven popular because it’s fun to drive, offers exceptional style and an upscale interior. 

For this road test and review, we spent five days driving a 2017 Ford Focus SEL around Los Angeles. The value-packed SEL trim level is new for 2017 and equipped the hatchback with such luxuries as a standard power sunroof, 17-inch wheels, and dual-zone climate control.

Let's take a closer look at the 2017 Ford Focus.

Ford offers the 2017 Focus in two body styles and seven distinct trim levels. The Focus is available as a four-door sedan in the S, SE, SEL and luxurious Titanium trim levels. There is no S trim offered on the five-door hatchback, only SE, SEL and Titanium. Then there’s the Focus Electric hatchback and the two hot rods, the front-wheel drive five-door Focus ST and the hottest hatch of them all, the all-wheel drive Focus RS.

Prices start at $17,650, including an $875 destination fee, for a Focus S Sedan with a 2.0-liter normally aspirated 160-hp four-cylinder engine and a 5-speed manual transmission. A 6-speed automatic is available for an additional $1,095. This engine with the automatic transmission is standard on the SE hatchback, SEL sedan and hatchback and Titanium sedan and hatchback.

For a boost in fuel economy, the SE sedan gets a unique 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine rated at 123 hp. It’s available with a 6-speed manual transmission or the 6-speed automatic. The 143-hp Ford Focus Electric starts at $29,995. It’s quick and fun to drive, comes with standard heated seats and navigation and it can travel about 100 miles on a full charge.

For enthusiast drivers willing to pay a premium for additional performance, Ford offers the 2017 Focus in two flavors, hot and on fire. The turbocharged Ford Focus ST and Ford Focus RS compete for enthusiast dollars and car magazine covers with the Honda Civic Si and Type R, Subaru WRX and STi, Volkswagon Golf GTi and Golf R, as well as Mercedes-Benz GLA45 AMG.

The front-wheel-drive Focus ST is popular because of its impressive performance but also because it represents such a high value. With a starting price of $25,650, the ST comes standard with a 252 hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a 6-speed manual transmission and 18-inch wheels and tires. An automatic transmission is not available on the ST or the RS.

If you’re really serious the Focus RS offers 350 hp and all-wheel drive to get that power to the road. It’s powered by a cranked-up version of the turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder, a 6-speed manual transmission and it has four drive modes including “Track” and “Drift." Prices start at $36,995.

Today Ford’s design team is soaking up the praise for its high-dollar GT sports car, retrofuturist Mustang, and hot-selling SUVs, but those design themes all began with the third-generation Focus back in 2012. This is a great looking car.

Although the sedan is attractive, our SEL hatchback in the new for 2017 color of White Gold was a real head turner. Sleek with a fast windshield and a low, wide stance, the Focus looks a class above some of its competition, especially with the SEL’s standard 17-inch wheels and tires. So many cars come and go at our house that comments from other family members are rare, but the Focus drew attention from my wife. “That Focus is a great looking car,” she told me. “It’s simple and aggressive looking, but it’s not overdone. It isn’t trying too hard. And I love the color."

Titanium models wear a little chrome trim around the grille and greenhouse, which I like, while the hot ST model and hotter RS both wear aerodynamic enhancements like deeper front spoilers and larger rear wings. They’re not exactly understated, but they don’t look cartoonish either.

Our Focus SEL hatchback test vehicle, which cost $23,640, was equipped with the optional Cold Weather Package. For $645 it added heated outside mirrors, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. That seems like good deal. The heated front seats have three levels. They heat up quickly and are properly toasty. Still, a heated steering wheel in a car with no push-button start or navigation system seemed a bit strange.

Seat comfort is high. At first, the seat padding feels a bit spongy, but after a few minutes, you realize the support is there. High-quality materials and build quality are everywhere. The design isn’t as modern and some in the class, but its control placement is excellent. Thanks to the height-adjustable seat and tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel even shorter drivers will get comfortable.

Visibility down the road is also very good, however, the A-pillars on either side of the windshield seem to be thicker than they should be and the tall rear seat headrests do block some of the rear view.

In crash testing, the 2017 Ford Focus gets a rating of 5 stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing, it scored the highest Good rating in four tests and an Acceptable rating in the small overlap front impact test. Some cars in this class, like the Subaru Impreza and Honda Civic, have better scores.

There is seating for five, but the Focus’ rear seat is smaller than many of its competitions. If you’re over six-feet tall, forget it.  Younger families will appreciate the Sentra’s easy to reach LATCH connectors in the outboard seats and easily accessed upper tether anchors.

Ford’s three-year/36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty is competitive in the class. However, the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte come with a five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage.

Like its backseat, the Focus’ cargo space is tight for the class. The sedan’s trunk offers 13.2 cubic feet, while the hatchback offers 23.3 cubic feet. The Honda Civic, Mazda3 and Nissan Sentra offer more. If more is needed, every Focus comes standard with a 60/40 split fold-down rear seats. Drop the rear seats, which first requires flipping the seat bottoms forward and removing the headrests, adds about 20 cubic feet of additional storage.

Storage inside the Focus’ interior is also a bit limiting. The center console bin and door pockets are small although the two front seat cupholders are large and well-placed. There is a perfectly sized cubby with a USB jack ahead of the shifter for your phone.

Ford pioneered the modern infotainment system in this class and the company’s Sync system, while not always perfect, has been continuously improved. Today’s version called Sync 3 is the finest system Ford has ever brought to market. Its menus are simplified and its reaction time to your inputs has been quickened. It’s also compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and has nice big 8-inch screen. Sync 3 is standard on SEL and up trim levels.

A rearview camera is standard across the range. Blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and rear cross traffic alert, however, are only available in the Titanium trim in the $795 Technology package.

The Focus’ fuel economy is admirable. With the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and the standard 5-speed manual, the Focus S Sedan is rated 25 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. That engine with the 6-speed automatic is rated 26 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. I recorded 27 in our SEL test vehicle with very limited highway use.

Those looking for more efficiency should shop the SE Sedan. Its 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine is rated 27 mpg city and 38 mpg highway with the 6-speed automatic transmission and a heady 30 mpg city and 40 mpg highway with the 6-speed manual.

Ford’s Focus has long been one of the most enjoyable cars in its class to drive. The Focus is blessed with an athletic chassis and an exuberant engine and the result is a visceral driving experience that’s rewarding beyond the arrival at your destination.

Around town, the Focus’ ride is compliant, even with our SEL’s 17-inch tires, and the 160-hp 2.0-liter makes plenty of power. There’s a nice kick around 4,000 rpm, and another surge closer to the engine’s 6,500 rpm redline. Speed was not a problem for our test vehicle. And the 6-speed automatic transmission was smooth and well geared and it has a Sport setting to dial in more immediate response.

The Focus’ communicative steering is among the best in the class and it’s one of the reasons this car is so fun to drive. Handling is also among the best. Out test vehicle had plenty of grip and was fun to toss around.

Although the fuel economy numbers of the turbocharged 1.0-liter in the SE Sedan are tempting, stick with the more powerful four-cylinder engine. It’s nice piece and if you drive it with a light foot its mileage is strong on the highway.

Overall the Focus packs a winning combination of comfort, style, and family friendly features. It’s a high-value option in the compact sedan and hatchback classes.  And the hot rod ST and RS models are so cool, they’re destined to become classics.