Overview & Reviews

The Ford Focus has been completely redesigned for 2012. An all-electric-drive version of the Focus is also new.

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

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

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 267.00

• 

  Fun car with some quirks - 2012 Ford Focus
  By Old Pony - December 20 - 12:25 pm

  I purchased this car new after my 99 Mustang got blown up by a mechanic replacing its thermostat...arg. Didnt want to pay the price for a new Mustang and didnt like any of the used ones on the lot. I chose the Focus because basically Im a Ford guy and I thought it might tone down my driving style stepping down to something more civil in my old age lol. Pros: This is a great handling car and feels very similar to a 72 Datsun 240Z I owned when I was younger. I live along the coast of Northern California and have taken it through the paces so to speak. It is an automatic, but handles the twisties fine. No mechanical issues to report, but I should mention that I drive this car with the traction control off (when traction control on it is terrible in some situations, but be warned you will need to hold on the wheel if you accelerate hard from a stop if turned off). Cons: Im not real comfortable with the seat build..kinda like Ford designed it to fit all sizes and I wish it felt snugger. The brakes are great when Im alone in the car, but found that they could be better with a passenger. My car is actually an SE auto with a few extras. Stereo is barely passable for my taste. Resale value is still pathetic, but I think this is more a mentality. Overall Im very happy with this car. Allows me to still have some fun and feel comfortable driving. I got a 2012 Honda Civic once as a loaner during some routine maintenance..not even close when it came to driving experience and ergonomics.

• 

  So far so good - 2012 Ford Focus
  By Sharina - October 26 - 3:32 pm

  Ive had this car a little over a year and its been great. Ive had 2 recalls since getting it and I just brought my car in and it was fixed and I was done. I dont mind the recalls. As long as its fixed for free. My car has never stalled, but it did do that weird thing where youre speeding up and it hesitates a little, but it doesnt happen too often. I got my car with a lot of miles...like 64000 when I bought it for 15 thousand. They could have given me better price because I still owe 10 thousand and the car is worthe like 6 thousand now... Ive had no issues. My car works wonderfully! I mean sometimes it takes a second for the air to turn on, but I love my car and I know Ill have it for a while. Ill probably end up getting a Ford again after this...

• 

  Im Still Happy - 2012 Ford Focus
  By Jim - July 20 - 7:10 am

  First off, let me say that this car has a dual-clutch PowerShift Transmission. Its not an automatic transmission where you have a torque convertor and you simply step on the gas and go. You have to learn to drive this car with your right foot. Its not rocket science, and keeping the car in the right RPM range for the task at hand is pretty simple. I cant help but think that a lot of the folks who have problems with the way it drives have 2 skills: Stomp on the gas or stomp on the brakes. After 42,000 miles the car drives just fine, and with a little right foot control can be a lot of fun to drive. Im getting 30 MPG in mixed driving, and other than oil changes and keeping the tires inflated to the proper pressure ( the original tires are still in good shape at this juncture) have had zero problems with the car. I like the interior, I like the way the car looks, and I like the way it drives. Guess Im just lucky.

• 

  Great on gas, but improvements needed - 2012 Ford Focus
  By Adam Holly - March 14 - 10:09 am

  Decent power, but Ford needs to put a 6 speed manual in it! 3000 RPM cruising at 115 km/h is absolutely absurd. The MTX-75 needs to be retired. Fun facts about the S: No low washer fluid indicator, and you cannot turn the traction control off on the S, short of pulling the fuses for it under the hood. Phenomenal on gas, however. Even with winter tires, its not great in the snow, partially due to the low ground clearance. Tuxedo black metallic paint is gorgeous when clean! The build quality is good, save for the stupid mud flaps Ive lost both front ones because the clips dont hold, and the rear ones are barely hanging on. Only been in the shop once for a wheel bearing when new (warranty)

• 

  Drives good. Dash set-up sux. Synch Sux. Forced loss of privacy really sux.. - 2012 Ford Focus
  By dez88 - February 25 - 12:59 pm

  Handles great. Stops ok. Has been reliable. Shifting is good once you learn to let it shift like a manual. Gets nowhere near the mileage it claims. Synch absolutely sucks eggs. Controls for blinkers /wipers /doorlocks /windows/ sound system/phone....it all is really bad...comical in some cases. Ford FORCES agreement to sharing your info with their "marketing partners". It is really BAD BUSINESS! I get sleazy, liar, cold callers saying things like "I am with the warranty department for your Ford Focus" when they are not...trying to sell me an aftermarket warranty. I have Fords extended warranty. Ford does not allow you to opt-out. You will need new phone number if you buy a Ford.

• 

  REALLY!!!! - 2012 Ford Focus
  By shebamidnightr - September 29 - 9:54 am

  I bought my focus brand new and for the first two years it ran like a dream the gas was good the car is cute then one day my car just randomly starts cutting off while in motion I took it to ford and they didnt and wouldnt fix it Ive been to the dealership at least 4 times in the last month just to end of being told that its the fuel pulposion system and that its 2000.00 to fix and by the way it isnt covered under warranty!

• 

  Great Car - 2012 Ford Focus
  By cjames15 - July 3 - 2:37 pm

  I bought a 2012 ford focus SEL with 18,xxx miles on it and I only have problems with shifting every once in awhile. The MPG is wonderful. In city ill drive for power and acceleration and I still get 25 mpg. on Highway here in Alaska ill put on cruise at 74 mph and I got 43 mpg. LOVED THAT. Handles amazing on corners too. plus its all stock

• 

  2012 Ford Focus SEL - 2012 Ford Focus
  By carbrokedad - April 15 - 12:02 pm

  I bought this car for my 18 year old daughter to take to college. It had 42,000 when purchased. She has driven it 6,000 miles so far and is very happy with the car. The car has the peculiar shifting issues due to the automatic/manual transmission, but does not have any oil leaks or other problems that have been mentioned in previous reviews. I just went to visit a college with her that was 700 mile trip and car got 34 mpg. Im very happy with that as her previous vehicle best was 24 mpg. The passenger seat was rather uncomfortable for me but Im an old man. The stereo/sound system (sync) seemed me to sound very good. The back shelf has dry rotted around vent holes as others said.

• 

  Okay... but disappointed - 2012 Ford Focus
  By kann993 - April 15 - 11:54 am

  I purchased this car seven months ago. Its okay, but I definitely regret buying this car. I did not know the automatic transmission was not your usual automatic its a dual-clutch auto manual, which causes it to be jerky in stop and go traffic (which for me is every day). This is so annoying and there is nothing Ford can do. Ive already had the clutch replaced. I guess its just how this car is. The audios dial isnt true to what it actually sounds like. A "6" sounds like what should be a "15". I also dont like how theres no interior storage. The little storage they have on the door handles are so tiny I dont know what could fit in it. I am trading this car in for sure.

• 

  I "was" so happy - 2012 Ford Focus
  By daisyp - April 8 - 2:17 am

  I was so happy when I first bought this car but like another reviewer said, I soon regretted ever buying it. I have been to Fords service department so many times, people joke and say "Hi, you again?" The transmission in this car is a disaster, The car jerks and rattles so much, Im in constant fear its going to shut off. It took over 4 times of me taking the car in to Ford for them to finally admit there was something wrong with the transmission, before that they kept saying "Oh thats normal". The air conditioning gets hot and cold on its own and they also say they cant find the problem. So Im done with this car and in the process of the Lemon Law.