Ford Focus (hatchback / sedan / estate) · Mk3 (C346)
Generation 3 2011–2018
Refined and well equipped, with two famous traps: the 1.0 EcoBoost's wet timing belt and degas hose (overheating) and the dry-clutch Powershift (DPS6) on 1.6 petrol/diesel automatics. The 1.6 Ti-VCT manual and 2.0 TDCi (wet-clutch Powershift is fine) are the sensible picks; the ST is a great hot hatch.
Photo: Damian B Oh · CC BY-SA 4.0
Recognition
How to tell it apart
- •Pre-facelift: narrow upper grille and large lower trapezoid; facelift: wide 'Aston' upper grille, slimmer headlights
- •Kombi estate; ST has centre exhaust, RS has wide arches
2014 facelift
- Aston-style grille, new headlights and interior with SYNC 2 (later SYNC 3)
- 1.5 EcoBoost 150/182 replaced 1.6 EcoBoost; 1.5 TDCi replaced 1.6 TDCi; 2.0 TDCi 150
- ST 250 continued, ST TDCi 185 added; RS 350 (2016)
Engines
Engines
1.0 EcoBoost · 100 hp
2012–2018
Petrol · Manual · FWD
Three-cylinder with a wet timing belt (in oil) and a degas hose that can fail and cook the engine. Needs proof of belt replacement and coolant system work.
1.0 EcoBoost · 125 hp
2012–2018
Petrol · Manual / Automatic · FWD
Same engine, more power (140 hp variant too). Same wet belt and coolant caveats; lively when healthy.
1.6 Ti-VCT · 105 hp
2011–2018
Petrol · Manual / Dual-clutch automatic · FWD
Old-school naturally aspirated 1.6 (85/125 hp variants too): the durable, LPG-friendly choice, with a manual. The dry Powershift automatic is the trap.
1.6 EcoBoost · 150 hp
2011–2014
Petrol · Manual · FWD
Quick (182 hp variant too) but the 1.6 EcoBoost had overheating and cylinder head cracking issues (recalls). Proof of coolant system work matters.
1.5 EcoBoost · 150 hp
2014–2018
Petrol · Manual / Automatic · FWD
Facelift four-cylinder turbo (182 hp variant too); better than the 1.6 EcoBoost. Conventional 6-speed automatic available.
1.6 TDCi · 115 hp
2011–2014
Diesel · Manual / Dual-clutch automatic · FWD
Improved DV6 (95 hp variant too); DPF and turbo still need care. Dry Powershift on automatics: avoid.
1.5 TDCi · 120 hp
2015–2018
Diesel · Manual / Dual-clutch automatic · FWD
Facelift small diesel (95/105 hp variants); economical; dry Powershift on automatics.
2.0 TDCi · 140 hp
2011–2014
Diesel · Manual / Dual-clutch automatic · FWD
Strong diesel (115/163 hp variants); the wet-clutch Powershift (DCT450/MPS6) on this engine is durable with oil changes.
2.0 TDCi · 150 hp
2014–2018
Diesel · Manual / Dual-clutch automatic · FWD
Facelift 2.0 with 370 Nm; wet Powershift. The long-distance Focus.
ST 2.0 EcoBoost · 250 hp
2012–2018
Petrol · Manual · FWD
250 hp turbo four, Recaros, manual only. Check for tuning, coolant leaks and a healthy clutch; a very good hot hatch.
ST 2.0 TDCi · 185 hp
2015–2018
Diesel · Manual / Dual-clutch automatic · FWD
Diesel ST: ST chassis and seats with the 185 hp diesel; practical and rare.
RS 2.3 EcoBoost · 350 hp
2016–2018
Petrol · Manual · AWD
350 hp, AWD with drift mode. Early cars had a head gasket issue (recalled). Check for a stock map and completed recall.
| Engine | For sale now | Years | Gearbox · drive | Sought after | Robust | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.0 EcoBoost · 100 hp Petrol · 1.0 EcoBoost 100 · Fox | 153 | 2012–2018 | Manual FWD | Three-cylinder with a wet timing belt (in oil) and a degas hose that can fail and cook the engine. Needs proof of belt replacement and coolant system work. | ||
1.0 EcoBoost · 125 hp Petrol · 1.0 EcoBoost 125 · Fox | 359 | 2012–2018 | Manual / Automatic FWD | Same engine, more power (140 hp variant too). Same wet belt and coolant caveats; lively when healthy. | ||
1.6 Ti-VCT · 105 hp Petrol · 1.6 Ti-VCT · Sigma Ti-VCT | 149 | 2011–2018 | Manual / Dual-clutch automatic FWD | Old-school naturally aspirated 1.6 (85/125 hp variants too): the durable, LPG-friendly choice, with a manual. The dry Powershift automatic is the trap. | ||
1.6 EcoBoost · 150 hp Petrol · 1.6 EcoBoost · Sigma EcoBoost | 91 | 2011–2014 | Manual FWD | Quick (182 hp variant too) but the 1.6 EcoBoost had overheating and cylinder head cracking issues (recalls). Proof of coolant system work matters. | ||
1.5 EcoBoost · 150 hp Petrol · 1.5 EcoBoost · Dragon (1.5) | 145 | 2014–2018 | Manual / Automatic FWD | Facelift four-cylinder turbo (182 hp variant too); better than the 1.6 EcoBoost. Conventional 6-speed automatic available. | ||
1.6 TDCi · 115 hp Diesel · 1.6 TDCi · DV6 (PSA) | 339 | 2011–2014 | Manual / Dual-clutch automatic FWD | Improved DV6 (95 hp variant too); DPF and turbo still need care. Dry Powershift on automatics: avoid. | ||
1.5 TDCi · 120 hp Diesel · 1.5 TDCi · DV5 (PSA) | 298 | 2015–2018 | Manual / Dual-clutch automatic FWD | Facelift small diesel (95/105 hp variants); economical; dry Powershift on automatics. | ||
2.0 TDCi · 140 hp Diesel · 2.0 TDCi 140 · DW10C (PSA) | 58 | 2011–2014 | Manual / Dual-clutch automatic FWD | Strong diesel (115/163 hp variants); the wet-clutch Powershift (DCT450/MPS6) on this engine is durable with oil changes. | ||
2.0 TDCi · 150 hp Diesel · 2.0 TDCi 150 · DW10F (PSA) | 77 | 2014–2018 | Manual / Dual-clutch automatic FWD | Facelift 2.0 with 370 Nm; wet Powershift. The long-distance Focus. | ||
ST 2.0 EcoBoost · 250 hp Petrol · Focus ST · 2.0 EcoBoost | 82 | 2012–2018 | Manual FWD | 250 hp turbo four, Recaros, manual only. Check for tuning, coolant leaks and a healthy clutch; a very good hot hatch. | ||
ST 2.0 TDCi · 185 hp Diesel · Focus ST TDCi | 22 | 2015–2018 | Manual / Dual-clutch automatic FWD | Diesel ST: ST chassis and seats with the 185 hp diesel; practical and rare. | ||
RS 2.3 EcoBoost · 350 hp Petrol · Focus RS | 24 | 2016–2018 | Manual AWD | 350 hp, AWD with drift mode. Early cars had a head gasket issue (recalled). Check for a stock map and completed recall. |
Versions
What the badges mean
Ambiente / Trend
commonbase
2011–2018
Basic and mid trims.
Titanium / Titanium X
uncommonequipment line
2011–2018
Top regular trims: climate, alloys, SYNC, often half-leather, keyless and bi-xenon on X.
ST-Line
uncommonequipment line
2016–2018
ST styling and sport suspension on regular engines. Not an ST.
Watch out: Frequently listed as 'ST'; the engine (1.0/1.5 EcoBoost or diesel) tells the truth.
ST
uncommonperformance model
2012–2018
2.0 EcoBoost 250 or 2.0 TDCi 185, sports suspension, Recaro seats, ST body kit with centre exhaust.
Watch out: ST-Line is not an ST.
RS
rareperformance model
2016–2018
350 hp AWD with torque vectoring, Recaros, wide body.
Options
Options that matter
uncommon
Bi-xenon with LED DRL
Titanium X option.
rare
Adaptive cruise control
Rare on Focus.
uncommon
SYNC 2 / SYNC 3 navigation
The 8-inch touchscreen system; SYNC 3 is much better.
uncommon
Sony audio
The premium audio.
uncommon
Leather / half-leather
Titanium option.
uncommon
Active Park Assist / camera
Ford's self-parking; useful.
common
Heated seats / Quickclear windscreen
Winter benefit.
uncommon
Keyless (Ford KeyFree)
Keyless.
rare
Panoramic roof
Rare.
uncommon
Lane keeping / driver assistance pack
Assistance.
uncommon
Tow bar
Practical.
common
17–18 inch wheels
Visual.
Before you buy
What to know
Strengths
- +Excellent chassis and refinement for the class
- +1.6 Ti-VCT and 2.0 TDCi are durable
- +Well equipped for the money; strong supply
Expensive when they fail
Powershift DPS6EcoBoost engine repairDPF
Polish market
Deep market. The 1.6 Ti-VCT manual and 2.0 TDCi cars are the safe buys; 1.0 EcoBoost cars need belt paperwork; ST holds value.
Known weak points
- serious1.0 EcoBoost wet timing belt and degas hoseBelt runs in oil and degrades (change by 10 years/240,000 km, earlier in practice); the coolant degas hose can split, causing overheating and engine failure. Recalls covered part of it.Check: Ask for timing belt and degas hose/coolant work invoices; look for coolant loss.
- seriousPowershift DPS6 dry-clutch automatic (1.6 petrol/diesel, 1.5 TDCi)Shudder, slipping and TCM failures; many were repaired repeatedly. Avoid unless recently rebuilt with paperwork.Check: Confirm whether the automatic is the dry DPS6 (small engines) or the wet DCT450 (2.0 TDCi); feel for shudder.
- serious1.6 EcoBoost overheating / head crackingCoolant loss and cylinder head cracks led to recalls and engine replacements.Check: Ask for coolant system recall completion and any engine replacement.
- moderateDiesel DPF/EGR and dual massStandard ageing items; deleted DPFs on cheap cars.Check: Ask whether DPF/EGR are original; listen for flywheel rattle.
- noteRustBetter than Mk2, but arches and sills on salted-road cars.Check: Inspect arches.
- noteElectricsSYNC freezes, door latch recall, parking sensors.Check: Test SYNC and doors.
From the market
Real cars on sale right now
From the market
Engines actually on sale
Grouped from 1821 live listings: what people are selling, at what price and mileage.
| Engine | Share | Typical price | Median mileage | Gearbox · drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1.0 Petrol · 125 hp 1.0 EcoBoost Titanium | 18% | 19 900 PLN | 145 345 km | Manual / Automatic · FWD / RWD |
1.5 Diesel · 120 hp 1.5 TDCi DPF Start-Stopp-System Titanium | 12% | 25 900 PLN | 198 373 km | Manual / Automatic · FWD |
1.6 Diesel · 115 hp 1.6 TDCi Titanium | 10% | 16 900 PLN | 222 807 km | Manual · FWD |
1.0 Petrol · 100 hp 1.0 EcoBoost Edition | 8% | 18 900 PLN | 143 683 km | Manual / Automatic · FWD / RWD |
1.5 Petrol · 150 hp 1.5 EcoBoost Titanium ASS | 6% | 31 999 PLN | 146 075 km | Manual / Automatic · FWD |
1.6 Diesel · 95 hp 1.6 TDCi Trend | 5% | 13 900 PLN | 242 000 km | Manual · FWD / RWD |
1.6 Petrol · 105 hp 1.6 Trend | 5% | 21 499 PLN | 172 873 km | Manual / Automatic · FWD |
2.0 Petrol · 250 hp 2.0 EcoBoost ST | 4% | 49 000 PLN | 162 000 km | Manual / Automatic · FWD |
From the market
Price by model year
Typical price and mileage for each model year on sale.
From the market
Most common versions
- Titanium63
- TDCi Titanium49
- TDCi Trend47
- Trend47
- Titanium ASS34
- Edition29
- TDCi Edition18
- TDCi Titanium ASS18
From the market
Equipment seen most often
Electric front windows 100%Leather steering wheel 96%Driver airbag 96%Passenger airbag 96%Radio 90%ABS 90%USB socket 88%Electric door mirrors 88%ESP stability control 84%Fog lights 82%Front curtain airbags 82%Front side airbags 82%Steering wheel audio controls 80%Front armrest 78%
Our picks
Versions worth looking for
1.6 Ti-VCT 105/125 manual Titanium
The durable, cheap-to-run Focus.
2.0 TDCi 150 Kombi with wet Powershift
The long-distance family Focus.
ST 250, unmodified
A great hot hatch.