Overview & Reviews

For 2014, the Ford Focus is essentially unchanged.

• Nimble handling
• Strong engine
• Refined and quiet ride
• Abundant list of upscale and high-tech options.
• Stylish and well-made interior

• Quirky automatic transmission response.
• Infotainment controls are finicky to learn and use
• Backseat is a little short on legroom

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 154.00

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  Taking a chance with Ford.... So far, so good! - 2014 Ford Focus
  By noahsride - December 13 - 6:14 am

  Ive owned mostly imports for the past 10 yrs and I just decided to move on from my 07 Mazda3 with 160k on it, so I took advantage of Black Friday and got a very good deal on a Focus Hatch Titanium. It came down to the Mazda3, Cruze Diesel, Golf Diesel or Focus. I was seeking MPGs, sportiness and comfort. All were great cars w/ their own pros/cons, something about the Focus grabbed me. Ford has caught my eye w/ their recent designs and Id had a great experience w/ a Sport Trac so I decided to give Ford a try. So far the car has been awesome (~2k miles). I drive a ton for work, so Ill keep you posted on progress. If youre considering the Focus, I highly recommend it.

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  Very impresssive - 2014 Ford Focus
  By rasm - November 17 - 1:47 pm

  Very sporty and good looking car,1100 miles driven and loving every minute of it.

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  easy to find in any parking lot - 2014 Ford Focus
  By M. Rohde - October 1 - 5:07 am

  great value..reliable ...really good pick-up...love this car!

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  So much Better than Expected. We Love it... - 2014 Ford Focus
  By Ken Smith - September 6 - 8:25 am

  I was hesitant in purchasing this car based on reviews related to the tranny. I had purchased several vehicles; however, from Jordan Ford with exceptional service through the years, so because it was certified, and because we liked the sporty looks, we took the plunge. We noticed the slight surge with the transmission, and I asked the service manager about it. He said; "you traded in a hot rod five-speed Mustang for this and you wound up with a hi-tech transmission that permits the features of an automatic transmission with the optional benefit of a sport shift manual". The engineering permits either option. "Youll notice a slight shudder initially accelerating in the fully automatic mode", he said. In the sport shift mode, youll control it much as you did your five-speed manual in the Mustang." My main driver is a pickup truck, but when the wife allows me to drive the Focus, I choose the sport shift mode which is lots of fun. We just completed a 2,300 mile road trip and the Focus performed like a champ. Wish my truck had that navigation system... We averaged 38 mpg on the trip and were quite comfortable, considering the size of the vehicle. Plenty of room for our stuff with the hatchback and the Ruby Red with oversized 18" wheels/tires and Titanium trim got lots of looks and nice comments. To those who dont understand the tranny, read the manual to get the gist of the sport transmission, and enjoy the ride!

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  The Ford Focus Electric doesnt get enough credit - 2014 Ford Focus
  By Tim - May 15 - 3:36 am

  I have had a lot of cars in my time (VW, Honda, Mazda), and this car is definitely the best value for my money that I could ever imagine having. There is one caveat... you have to be able to drive the car within its range. This probably isnt the car for you if you live in a cold climate, and you need to keep it plugged in if you live in a hot climate. However, I would call this car a luxury car, and to drive a car of this quality every day I would easily spend 3 times as much in overall costs. Range... If you drive this like any other car, then your range will probably be 70 miles on an average day, but only around 45 miles at 32 degrees. The great thing is that traffic actually increases your range. I couldnt imagine a better car in traffic. It is comfortable, quiet, and using the low range mode means you rarely have to touch the brake pedal. Battery... I just tested the battery, and after 2 years I have not had any loss. The car has a cooling system on the battery. Maintenance/Repairs/Warranty... I have had no maintenance costs. The car has been in the shop for 21 days in 2 years for work on the charging system. However, I have a backup car so that has not been an issue. The great thing is that the charging system/battery is warranted for 8 years/100k miles. As long as you can deal with the car being in the shop periodically, then this isnt a problem. Again, I look forward to 8 years of very low maintenance costs. Exterior... I love the exterior. I have the white pearl paint, and the paint quality is very good. I love Mazdas and Hondas, but their paint is notoriously bad and cheap. Its nice to have good paint for a change. Interior... This is one of the nicest cars I have ever had. The leather seats are of high quality, and it feels like a luxury car. It is very quiet, and there is no emissions to breathe in. Cargo space is very small due to the battery placement, but i love the fact that i can put items in the back without them sliding around. Ride... The ride and handling is very good. The car is heavy, so it rides well, and the handling is very good. Performance... The car is very slow off the line up to 5 miles an hour. However, in real world driving most people to take off quickly from the line. The car has a very smooth start. The rest of the time the performance is very good. Acceleration is great once you have started, as the electric motor provides instant torque. It is most impressive while going up a hill. If I need to pass going up a hill, I am around the car in front of me before they have a chance to react (too many people like to speed up when you pass them :) ). Value... I got an amazing deal, as Georgia had the $5000 tax credit. So, my effective price was only around $17500 with all the incentives. I have had no costs at all for the car over two years (no oil changes), and with electricity so inexpensive my only significant cost is depreciation. Depreciation has been steep with gas prices so low now, but the cars depreciation will be negligible over the next 3-4 years. Most people dont realize that the true cost to a car is not its purchase price, but its depreciation and repair costs. We had a 2007 Acura TL type S and a 2003 VW Passat. The Passat actually cost us twice as much as the Acura TL due to the poor depreciation of the VW and very high repair costs. The Focus Electric has a high depreciation hit when you first buy it, but it is very low after that. Features... I love the auto start. On a hot day I start it before we get in and it is so much cooler than any of the rest of our cars. The heated seats keep me warm on the days that are 60 degrees, so I dont use the heater that much. I love the low range. I use it often in traffic, coming down hills, or going through traffic lights. It slows you down without having to use the brakes, and the power is reclaimed through regeneration. Things you have to learn how to do... Keep it charged. We have a backup car, so if we forget to charge it, it is not a big deal for us. If you dont have a backup car that could be an issue. Keep it cool. During the hot summer months, heat degrades the battery. So keep it inside or plugged in. You probably will need a level 2 charger installed.

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  Reliable and Fun to Drive - 2014 Ford Focus
  By rebelnate - December 23 - 9:31 am

  I bought this car in August of 2014 from the dealer and drove it off the lot with 10 miles on it. I now have around 39,400 miles in 26 months. I also have the 5 speed manual transmission. The only issues I have had with the car were replacing a tail light bulb and then 2 tires because of nails. It is peppy for a small car and has more horsepower than the other cars in its class, (which is something I looked for). On interstates going the speed of traffic on open highways I average 35.5 mpg. On 2 lane highways with a lower speed limit I have averaged between 39 and 44 mpg of 200 mile round trips. It handles well in all types of weather. The AC cools off the car quickly in the hot days of summer. The bluetooth syncs easily with my phone, however I have had to resync it once. The legroom is the back is a little poor but it is a small car. The resale value of the car is poor because of issues with automatic transmission however but the manual transmission editions are reliable and fun to drive. I would easily consider buying one with a manual transmission again.

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  Great Little Car, - 2014 Ford Focus
  By Michael Lehman - October 11 - 1:34 pm

  People are all complaining about the transmission issue that these cars are having. Yes, I understand thats a problem but Ford is well aware and working on taking care of it. My review isnt based on the transmission alone (which I did have to have my clutch replaced) but I am not going to complain if Ford is willing to extend the warranty and keep my car running until they come up with a fix. Overall, amazing little car. I have always wanted one of the new focus sedans and was able to find mine at a dealership pretty decently priced. Fuel economy is amazing, handling is excellent, its sharp looking and the performance is not like other 4 cylinder vehicles. I think Ford has designed an excellent little car.

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  Reliable and fun to drive - 2014 Ford Focus
  By Anne - December 5 - 9:21 pm

  I bought a new/preowned 2014 Ford Focus Sedan, basic model (not an SE or Titanium), 5-speed, manual transmission. It had 16,000 miles on it at purchase. After driving it daily for 2 years, it now has 33,000 miles on it. I have only taken it in for new tires at 30,000 miles. I have had no trouble with this car at all and it is a pleasure to drive! (Mind you I change the oil and rotate tires whenever the timer on the car tells me to) In 2016 it still looks new and runs like new. I highly recommend it to drivers who enjoy controlling the car with a stick shift, good power, a sleek look and the decent gas mileage that comes with a compact car.

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  runs good so far - 2014 Ford Focus
  By leo - April 21 - 2:33 am

  The engine is great and the dual clutch transmission is fun to use but you cannot drive like a grandma in low gears, just give it extra gas and it should be ok. I also start off in L gear and then shift it to drive at around 15mph. I was watching a ford tech on youtube saying you should also go from zero to 60 quickly 4 or 5 times and that will help your shudder and clutch problems in the lower gears. I really have only had one shudder but that was when I was light on the gas pedal at a very low speed....I also know someone who had trouble with a 2012 but it is now fine after stealer ship worked on it, cAR has 70k. Her son is a ford tech btw...hopefully I am one of the lucky ones. Anyways, I have a 64 mile round trip to work and my 2014 focus and 2007 5 speed focus that I sold never failed me. The 07 is still running with 165k on odometer...ford extended the transmission warranty to 100k on the dct. I use synthetic oil and engine is outstanding

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  Best daily driver Ive owned - 2014 Ford Focus
  By Weldy McWeldski - May 2 - 1:45 pm

  **MANUAL 5 Speed Transmission** I purchased my focus in January of 15 for a little over $16,500. Ford was offering some massive model year end rebates and I couldnt have asked for a better price. I have put 45,000mi on the car since I purchased it and have had absolutely zero problems or complaints. (Still on original tires, brakes, etc.) Overall the focus offers decent fit and finish for its segment; my cloth seats are comfortable and supported, the gauge cluster is well laid out, etc. Im 61" and can enter/exit or cruise long distances very comfortably. As with any car Ive owned, I wish it had an extra 100hp,; but the 2.0l is plenty quick for what it is. The clutch engagement and pedal feedback are above average, the gearshift has a little slop but engages with confidence at every gate and provides a relatively short throw. Braking effort is mild, the focus stops quickly in an emergency but in everyday usage the rear drum brakes cause for a little more frontal braking dip than Id prefer. Handling is excellent for the price: very responsive steering with little wheel effort and a firm but grippy stance. Suspension is on the firm side; though aside from lightly feeling every bump, it by no mean invokes discomfort. Honestly, I beat the living crap out of this car. 6500rpm in 2nd gear while merging onto the freeway every day, double gear downshifts for passing, E-brake slides every time it snows, etc. I work in a steel mill with no paved roads, and this car handles potholes and ruts Id never expect of something with such a low stance. Ive nailed potholes that would swallow a motorcycle and kept on cruising without a hitch. I can truthfully say that I am astonished at the reliability and resilliance of the Focus, especially considering the torture I expose mine to regularly. I cant really speak for clutch life; but at 45,000mi, mine behaves like it did when it was new even after teaching my fiancée how to drive stick. So here comes the bad stuff/things that irritate me, and really its all very petty. The cup holder placement makes shifting a little awkward when youve got a thermos stuffed into either one. One instance in January with an external temperature of -15°f, the center screen that displays radio station information failed to power on until I restarted the car. Never had the issue again after that, but its worth noting that I have never experienced any issues starting the engine in cold weather. The radio/speakers are a typical stock system, so dont get your hopes up if you buy the SE version like I did. Sound quality is pretty good, but aside from that Its exactly what youd expect from a commuter car. The glove box interior space is a little weird... Very deep but not very tall. If you keep a gun in there, youre going to have a hard time reaching into the abyss to find it with your seatbelt still on (Id suggest a shoulder holster, because the center console isnt much better.) Save the glovebox for storing baseball bats, crossbows, or fishing poles. The brake/gas pedal spacing and pad size make heel/toe shifting nearly impossible, but thats probably just a carryover from the cars automatic transmission configuration. Its not a race car, so I guess I cant complain too loudly. Traction control has to be manually deactivated through the menu displayed between the speedometer and tachometer every single time you start the car. Its be okay if it was just a TC on/off button on the dash, but this set-up requires navigating several menu screens and a 5sec wait time. If you drive in the snow often and intend to paddle through rough spots with high speed wheel rotation, its a pain to go through all that trouble every time you plan to drive. Annoying, but livable. My car came equipped with a sunroof I neither ordered or asked for, but it wasnt listed as a charge on the option sheet so I guess I just got an extra. I dont use it much; but once when I clicked the switch to shut it, the pane of glass bounced back open after closing like It had encountered an unexpected blockage. Second time it closed and stayed that way, Ive not experienced the issue since. Lastly, theres this weird little pocket sewn into the left front corner of the front passenger seat that doesnt exist on the drivers seat. Its a pocket, whats the big deal? Well its a worthless pocket with no justifiable purpose or shape. The best use Ive found for it is stashing a spare lighter or small amounts of stuff best kept concealed from plain view... Money, drugs, whatever youre into; that pocket is your business. It still irritates me for its obscurity, but you can be the judge. Side note: The headlights are far reaching and well focused, the brights are exceptionally brilliant so if you have a grudge against oncoming traffic - This car is for you. The steering wheel and gauge cluster are exceptionally designed as well. Buy a (manual) Focus, beat the crap out of it and love it forever. Zero regrets.