One of the sources describing the Trojan horse says that 50 elite Spartan warriors were hiding in it. Having bought the same number of third-generation Ford Focus station wagons, one of the taxi companies could share the fate of the fallen Troy.

At one time, this company, which has its own fleet and service, actively used the second generation Focus, which has proven itself as a taxi. The number of cars reached one and a half thousand, and some of them are still in service. When updating the fleet in favor of Focus 3, the good reputation of its predecessor played - it was planned to order 700 cars. But things did not go beyond a test purchase of fifty copies.

42 cars remained in the company's Moscow fleet - the remaining eight were sent to St. Petersburg. All cars - with a 1.6 liter engine (105 hp) and a manual transmission (traditional option for taxi companies). Typically, cars are operated for three years without a mileage limit. New "tricks" are less than three years old, and so far the most nimble of them has managed to roll 160,000 km.

Cars are serviced according to the manufacturer's regulations. During the warranty period - only in dealer services. Then, if it is not possible to agree on favorable conditions, - in your technical center. The third Focus also lives in the ZR park (2011, No. 4, 10, 11; 2012, No. 6; 2013, No. 11). He has already managed to collect a sufficient number of sores, but not all of them appeared on taxi cars.

ON THE LEVEL

The biggest problem is the bodywork, starting with the layout of the cabin and ending with the location of various components under the hood.

Most customers complain about the cramped interior, and when ordering a taxi, they ask to send any other car.

The cost of restoring the front of the car after an accident has increased significantly compared to its predecessor: more elements suffer, in addition, spare parts have become more expensive. In many cases, insurance companies write off cars because repairs are not worth it. The trunk lid has also become more expensive - due to the large plastic lining on it.

No paint quality issues so far. Potentially vulnerable thresholds are covered with plastic overlays.

The engine control unit is located very unsuccessfully - behind the front left wing, practically on the inside of the fender liner (as on the Mondeo). It costs about 35,000 rubles and suffers even with minor accidents. Yes, you do need to wash your car. In the taxi depot, "bath procedures" are carried out twice a day - and water somehow gets inside. As a result, corrosion affects the connectors not only on the block itself, but also on the wiring harness, which costs the same money. Adds fuel to the fire and deformation of the fender liner due to temperature differences: for this reason, water and reagents penetrate even more actively.

A sandwich of engine and air conditioner radiators is located very close to the front of the car. Easy road accident - and knots under replacement.

Clearance is noticeably less than the second "Focus". When reversing off the curb, even a light bumper bump is enough to crack the radiators. At the same time, the air conditioner tube laid under them is also damaged. These three ill-fated nodes have already been changed on 35 machines!

Insufficient clearance (120 mm) is a headache for drivers who have to drive for clients to summer cottages.

APPLE FROM APPLE TREE

The motor remained as reliable as the previous Focus. The only drawback is the small resource of the attachment belt.

On two cars there were problems with gearboxes: both jammed in the second one (the same trouble happened to our editorial "Focus"). The dealer replaced the boxes under warranty, but did not want to disclose the details of the defect. The clutch was changed on five cars with a run of about 40,000 km. But here the reason is rather in not very careful operation. Oddly enough, none of the machines have leaked the right gearbox oil seal, although this is a fairly common phenomenon.

The weak point in the suspension was the front wheel bearings and rear shock absorbers. Their resource is very low. Shock absorbers do not tolerate a full load of the car: they were changed on 32 cars after 25,000 km of run. The resource of new spare parts is about the same. The front support bearings turned out to be twice as survivable as those of the editorial "Focus": they are enough for 80,000 km. The front shock absorbers were changed only on two cars after 70,000 km.

The electric rail is working flawlessly so far. It turned out to be more reliable than the previous hydraulic one, which was changed due to knocks on all machines even before 160,000 km of run.

Driver's windows are often fooled: in automatic mode, they work every other time. There were no other problems with the cabin electrics.

Heated windshields are very delicate and constantly crack from temperature changes.

On the third "Focus" much less often than on its predecessor, the bulbs in the headlights burn out. And the engineers also got rid of water getting into the trunk lid lock mechanism (it often jammed on Focus 2).

SORRY, GOODBYE

The taxi company has been actively working with Ford since 2005. Much of it was built specifically for "tricks". The decision to refuse further cooperation was very difficult, but it had to be made: Focus 3 turned out to be ill-suited for working in a taxi and constantly brings losses.

As a result, the taxi company preferred the new Octavia. Its advantages have already been appreciated at the local technical center and on public roads, and it was also possible to quickly establish cooperation with the manufacturer. But if Focus 2 were still in production, the company's fleet would be predominantly made up of them.

OPINIONS

mechanics: "Focus 3" remained the same maintainable as its predecessor. Something has become easier (for example, replacing the cabin filter), and something more difficult - in particular, changing the front wheel bearing. But in general, the architecture of the car has not fundamentally changed.

Drivers: share the opinion of customers. The logic is this: after all, there was a successful Ford Focus 2 car, but they managed to spoil it. Most annoying is the tightness in the cabin and insufficient clearance. And the fact that driving performance is still at a good level can hardly be reconciled with this.

FRUITS OF COOPERATION

At one time, the engineers of the Ford company very actively cooperated with the taxi company. Official meetings were constantly held, at which proposals were made to refine the second "tricks" - and many of them were embodied. Such a high level of interaction is rare today.

Thank you for your help in preparing the material LLC New Transport Company

Ford Focus always finds its buyer, regardless of generation. The first Focus will please those who appreciate good driving performance, and the second - those who are looking for an inexpensive roomy car, devoid of serious flaws.

The Ford Focus Mk.III debuted in 2011 and went through a facelift in 2015.

The third Focus can compete with any of its predecessors, but, unfortunately, it has lost some of its practicality. Inside is not as free as in the Ford Focus 2. Part of the space was eaten by an enlarged front panel, which forced the driver and passenger seats to move back. As a result, the second row became a little tighter.

You don't have to rely on a big trunk either. The 5-door hatchback with a spare tire under the floor offers just 300 liters. Far from ideal and station wagon, which has at its disposal 490 liters. Disappointing and sedan. Instead of the standard 500 liters for the segment, the owner will find only 475.

As befits a modern car, Ford Focus 3 can be equipped with numerous security systems, in particular: parking assistant, lane change warning system, automatic high beams, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring system. Most of them were available only in the richest trim levels and only for a fee.

Many people will like the interior design. It looks nice and modern. True, the multimedia screen, by modern standards, seems too small.

Engines

Ford Focus 3 got a wide range of powertrains. The backbone is formed by 1.6-liter aspirated Duratec with a capacity of 85, 105 and 125 hp. As an alternative for Europeans, a 1.0-liter 3-cylinder EcoBoost was available with a return of 100 or 125 hp. A 1.6-liter EcoBoost was also offered there, generating 150 or 182 hp. In Russia, the top was appointed Duratec with a capacity of 2.0 liters, developing 150 hp. After restyling, its place was taken by a 1.5-liter Ecoboost with a return of 150 hp.

On the European market, cars were also offered with diesel engines of 2.0 and 1.6 liters. Both turbodiesels were created jointly with the PSA concern, but the aggregate part does not completely coincide with the French counterparts used by Peugeot and Citroen.

Which engine to choose?

Those who buy a Ford Focus 3 with a mileage of more than 100,000 km, of course, should only consider gasoline aspirated. This is the safest choice. In the event of a malfunction, the motor will not require large repair costs. The 1.6-liter Duratec uses a Ti-VCT variable valve timing system and port fuel injection. The main thing is to periodically check the valve clearance and change the timing belt every 120,000 km. The 2-liter engine has a chain-type timing drive. And instead of distributed injection, it is equipped with direct injection.

The EcoBoost series motors have a similar design to Duratec. But turbocharging and direct injection radically change the character of the engine. It becomes not only dynamic, but also economical. At least as long as the driver maintains a calm manner of driving. It should be understood that the Ecoboost series units are a typical example of downsizing. Small engines operate at high loads and therefore have a limited resource.

As for diesel versions, it is better to choose a 2-liter engine. But it will be difficult to find it. 2.0 TDCi is devoid of serious shortcomings and is able to overcome more than 200,000 km without any problems. Reliable enough and 1.6 TDCi. Both turbodiesels need periodic timing belt replacement.

Typical problems and malfunctions

Transmission

In general, the third Ford Focus is not a problem car. In any case, if the PowerShift robotic gearbox is not installed. The most harmless ailment is oil leakage in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe right axle shaft. It is much more unpleasant if the TCM box control module fails (35,000 rubles) or the clutch unit wears out prematurely (30,000 rubles).

The leakage of the oil seal of the right axle shaft is also observed in cars with a manual gearbox.

Engines

Fortunately, the mechanical part of gasoline engines does not cause any problems. You only have to deal with trifles, such as a worn-out right support of the power unit (7,000 rubles), a failed oxygen sensor (3,000 rubles), a fuel pump in the tank (15,000 rubles) or a leaking timing solenoid valve (3,000 rubles).

It is worth noting that the fuel system of the 2-liter Duratec uses a high pressure pump. HPFP is sensitive to fuel quality. A neglectful attitude to the choice of gas stations can cost the owner from 20 to 30 thousand rubles.

At the moment, there are few complaints about EcoBoost. Among the recurring faults, only mass air flow sensors (MAP) are listed. There are also complaints about the engine control program, in which errors are periodically detected. However, the problem is typical for all powertrains, which Ford solves with regular software updates.

Chassis

The suspension is able to withstand 100,000 km without intervention. Later, you will have to replace the stabilizer links, thrust bearings, and sometimes one of the front levers. After 150,000 km, it is the turn of wheel bearings and shock absorbers.

For your information: the suspension was equipped with two interchangeable types of levers - steel and aluminum. In the first case, the ball joint can be replaced separately, and in the second case, only together with the lever.

Steering rack knock is a common thing. Extraneous sounds, as a rule, pester only on unpaved surfaces, where the car moves quite rarely. Fortunately, this defect does not affect security. In rare cases, repairs may be needed to the electric power steering (10-20 thousand rubles).

Electrician

Power supply problems occur after 150-200 thousand km due to generator failure, as a result of brush wear or a voltage regulator malfunction. You will have to pay about 10,000 rubles for a new generator, and about 3,000 rubles for a regulator.

Electrical failures can also be caused by a failure of the BCM (GEM module). Water from the washer gets on its contacts.

Body and interior

Corrosion, if it occurs, is only on the elements of the chassis and exhaust system. Its presence does not cause any concern. After winter, you should check the shutters that cover the radiator grille to quickly reach the operating temperature of the engine. Due to contamination, they may remain in the closed position. The device was installed only on diesel modifications.

Quite often, owners complain about fogging of the front and rear optics. In addition, they note the periodic appearance of a small amount of water in the trunk (from the vents hidden by the bumper) or in the front passenger's feet (from the air conditioning evaporator).

Sometimes the head unit or the electric window drive fails (drive corrosion). With age, interior elements and the stove motor begin to make noise (7,000 rubles).

Market situation

Today, a worthy copy can be purchased for 440,000 rubles. Among the proposals, versions with a 1.6-liter gasoline aspirated dominate. There are four times fewer cars with a 2-liter Duratec, and diesel modifications and inflatable Ecoboost can be counted on the fingers.

Conclusion

Of course, the third Focus is not the best representative of the class. He lacks interior space, and the workmanship is average, but he is held in high esteem in the secondary market. Nothing surprising. Focus falls short of the ideal quite a bit, and the cost of purchase and maintenance is low.

The fact that Ford does not stand aside from technological progress, moreover, is actively introducing its inventions into production cars, cannot but rejoice. The most striking confirmation of this is the 3rd generation Ford Focus, which in 2011 outperformed its main platform competitor, the Mazda3.

At that time, the Japanese only set about developing the SkyActive chassis and engine line for future generations, and the designers of the American brand were already “fighting” on all fronts, introducing new engines, transmissions and a number of options into their brainchild, which the “matryoshka” dreams of to this day. .

So has the legendary Ford really won the undeniable leadership in the segment? Yes, at first it may seem that way, but why don't the owners of the 3rd Focus shout about the obvious advantage of the model? Could it be a weak spot?

Duratec here, Duratec there

To the dismay of all Focus fans, the 3rd generation "civilian" cars did not receive turbocharged Ecoboost engines. Under the hood, the models were placed mainly “aspirated” Duratec with a volume of 1.6 liters (with a capacity of 125 and 105 hp), in terms of characteristics and design, more reminiscent of a relic of the last century than a look into the future. Motorists were even more surprised by the 85-horsepower engine, released after a certain time period after the start of sales of the 3rd generation Focus. At the same time, the phase change system has not disappeared from the gas distribution.

All variations of the 1.6-liter engine have a software “suffocation”, but the happy owners of the 125 hp versions. after a run of 120-130 thousand, they are sad about the need to remove the "offal" from 2 catalysts. It is for this reason that the owners of such a car need to take fuel quality very seriously (the exhaust system is also equipped with 4 oxygen sensors, which means that they have 2 times more chances of breakdown than weaker engines).

In addition, the entire line of power units is subject to one “disease” - deposits in the combustion chambers, which invariably leads to uneven operation and difficult engine starting. It is worth noting that this problem in all its glory manifested itself even during the warranty period of operation, after which a new control software was installed on the car, and the “ailment” passed.

Another problem of the 3rd generation is considered to be oil leakage through the solenoid valves of the phase change system, but replacing these elements can solve it.

Phase change valve leakage is a big place for many models

The 2-liter GDI chain installation, developed on the basis of Duratec 1.8, is also worthy of detailed consideration, however, the Japanese from Mazda made the direct intake and phase change system for it. But most importantly, it was the 2-liter engine that turned out to be the most reliable, with the least number of weak points. There is, of course, a small percentage of malfunctions of fuel injectors and high-pressure fuel pumps, but such problems arise in most cases due to untimely or poor-quality maintenance. This engine is especially sensitive to an oil change, which is optimally carried out every 9-10 thousand km.

But the entire line of gasoline units has a common weak point in the form of the right support of the internal combustion engine, which in rare cases runs more than 50 thousand km (and the original part costs about 11 thousand rubles). This "draconian" pricing policy of Ford leads to the search for analogues, and the best option in this situation would be to buy the original from Volvo, with a more enticing price tag.

The original ICE pillow is expensive and often leaks

Diesel on the 3rd generation is extremely rare, maybe for the reason that it is much more difficult to properly maintain engines of this type than gasoline versions? But upon closer examination, it turns out that there are relatively few problems with such a unit, because such motors are equipped exclusively with PowerShift (wet clutch), by analogy with Galaxy, Kuga, Mondeo and S-Max.

And again the same problems

Ford designers decided not to equip the 3rd generation of cars with CVTs, which had not been officially installed on cars intended for the Russian market before, but Focus did not receive the traditional “automatic” either. Looking at the situation, one gets the impression that Ford was encouraged by the volume of sales of original parts in Volkswagen with DSG, and decided to supply us Focus equipped with “robots”.

The clutch is the weakest point of robotic transmissions. However, the main culprit is the control program, which sacrifices the resource of nodes for the sake of comfort of movement.

In fact, this step is aimed at maintaining global trends, even despite the fact that VAG engineers to this day cannot cope with the "childhood diseases" of their gearbox equipped with 2 clutches. Yes, Ford tried to deprive PowerShift of all problems, but, unfortunately, to no avail.

The beginning of the "adventures" usually lies in the periodic software updates for PS, and some are even luckier, because it becomes necessary to replace the TCM.

The TCM block also sometimes fails.

The starting “shudder”, which can also occur when shifting gears, means the need to eliminate the leak of the engine crankshaft or the gearbox input shaft, followed by clutch flushing and adaptation. If this is not done on time, then the owner will have to change the clutches, which are quite expensive.

The occurrence of a metallic rattle at the moment of switching, or the absence of several gears, signals a wedge of the pressure fork, and this ailment is “treated” only by replacing the part.

In the event that flashing does not solve the problems with jerks when switching PS, a mandatory replacement of the friction clutches follows, because there is no other way to get rid of this trouble.

The PowerShift box itself rarely asks for repairs.

It is very interesting that in the secondary car market there are a lot of buyers who are eager to get their hands on a 3rd Ford with a traditional automatic transmission. This, of course, plays into the hands of dishonest businessmen who pass off PowerShift as a simple “box” and are silent about problems with the reliability of the gearbox.

But if you have already become a “happy” owner of a Ford Focus III with PS, you should not be discouraged, because with proper care, this transmission will behave predictably. The main thing is to follow a few basic rules of use:

- Do not accelerate too sharply;

– Use manual mode more often;

- Switch the selector to the "P" position when standing in traffic jams;

– Keep track of new software releases for PowerShift.

Fortunately, the mechanical transmission is deprived of all these “diseases”, for the trouble-free operation of which you only need to monitor oil leaks through the drive seals (mainly the right one). Although, for the sake of justice, it is worth saying that AMT is also not without this drawback.

Actuator leakage is fixed inexpensively. The main thing is not to wait until the transmission loses oil. In general, follow

Steering rack - "diseases" for the sake of progress

Innovations that have affected the global auto industry have not bypassed the 3rd generation Focus, and first of all this concerns the electric power steering (most likely, you can forget about traditional power steering in new models). Although, here, too, significant improvements were required, since some of the owners were faced with “auto-steering” in the wrong direction and even with a decrease in the efficiency of this mechanism. In the vast majority of cases, dealers offer to change the EUR and at the same time the steering rack, which can upset the motorist without the assistance of an amplifier.

The EUR, “sick” with auto-steering, will either have to be treated or changed. Otherwise, driving is dangerous.

In general, rack problems have been known even before, and even on other models outside the Ford brand. It consists in the rapid wear of the plastic bushing of the steering shaft, which is accompanied by knocks when turning the steering wheel. The new rail solves the problem only for a short period, but a steel sleeve turned by a skilled craftsman is considered the best way out of this situation.

The new steering rack on the Ford Focus is obscenely expensive. Fortunately, the node can be repaired relatively inexpensively and at the same time deprive it of its weak point forever

The most problematic place in the Ford Focus 3 suspension is considered to be the rear shock absorbers, which are overly sensitive to overloads and after 50 thousand mileage they begin to let fluid through the stem seals.

The rest of the chassis parts are quite reliable and durable, and calmly “nourish” more than 100 thousand, although the stabilizer struts, front hub bearings and front shock absorbers are “surrendered” to this milestone. But the silent blocks adequately withstand more than 150 thousand km, which, together with the hardy elements of the rear suspension (more than 200 thousand km.), Is a very worthy indicator.

The rear multi-link in conditions of adequate driving will be flexible and silent for a long time

The same can be said about the picky braking system, which did not notice such common troubles as caliper knocks and lining squeaks. The life resource of the front pads on a car with 1.6 liter units is about 40 thousand, while the clutches on two-liter cars last about 1.5 times less.

sudden cracks

The body of the 3rd Focus as a whole does not present unpleasant surprises, well, except for the heated windshield, which costs a lot of money and can scratch or crack from completely harmless influences. That is why owners of the 3rd generation often complain about cracks on the windshield that suddenly appear in severe frosts.

Crack in the glass - causes pain for the owners and prepares for unforeseen considerable costs

Another “surprise” will be poorly functioning locks, mainly due to skewed door hinges (sometimes uneven gaps between these body elements can be observed with the naked eye). The main culprit for this can be considered the notorious domestic assembly, which left its mark on the quality of the Focus III.

The most vulnerable spot of the Focus 3 body is the front bumper. Few manage to keep it intact

With regards to completely harmless moments, we note the periodic fogging of the headlights of the Focus, as well as the rare change of the Ford badge located on the trunk lid (the coating peels off).

Cheap is not a sign of poor quality

Complaints about the cheapness of materials in the interior of the 3rd generation Focus are mostly groundless, because the interior of the car retains its original appearance for a long time. The only exceptions to the rule are the front seats, which need covers, as well as the gearshift lever, from which the coating quickly slides off. Cabin deflectors also require careful handling, as the brittle plastic can crack. Squeaks in the cabin, as a rule, occur in the areas of the door cards and the center console, which means that it will not be easy to eliminate extraneous sounds.

The interior of the 3rd Focus is quieter than its predecessor, and the materials are better, but squeaks still appear

A fairly common "sore" Focus III can be called damage to the circuit of the electric trunk opening mechanism and the subsequent failure of the button. True, the manufacturer was able to take into account this drawback and supplied dealers with improved wiring harnesses.

Trunk won't open? It's time to change the wiring harness

Fans of high-quality sound complain about the fragility of the high-frequency speakers located in the doors of the car. Determining this malfunction does not take much time, since nasty creaking sounds are heard even at minimum volume.

A trifle, but unpleasant

Another feature of the model is associated with rain sensors, because they can suddenly work on a fine day and stay idle when it rains.

Should I take a second-hand third Focus?

Yes, the list of shortcomings of the 3rd generation Focus is considerable, but at the same time, the model cannot be called an outsider of the class. The power units here are quite reliable, the chassis is very strong, and there are not so many expensive problems with auxiliary equipment.

The most obvious "headache" of Focus owners can be considered a robotic PowerShift and the lack of a worthy alternative to it. Perhaps, in this way, the manufacturer wanted to cash in on the sale of parts or reduce the cost of production? True, this does not make it any easier for us.

In any case, the work on the creation of the Ford Focus III was truly enormous, although in practice it is the introduced innovations that give the greatest number of failures. But let's not forget that progress follows the path of trial and error, and no one expected high reliability, such as from the ultra-conservative Toyota Corolla, from Focus.

Typical condition Focus with mileage 100 tkm

After the first "hundred" Focus III, as a rule, is fresh enough and ready for another of the same marathon, but this is only under normal service conditions. There are already problems with this. Many owners, having seen the prices for spare parts, inadequately save on the purchase of spare parts. Therefore, brake discs worn to death, a huge crack in the middle of the windshield, a leaky engine mount or Chinese spare parts are more likely to be the norm for it. Most sellers consider it necessary to correct the mileage, especially for cars on the "robot". Interestingly, there were few cars with the “dead” PowerShift box, I think, all due to the fact that it is almost impossible to hide the defect even from a blind buyer.

We are talking about a car whose popularity in Russia has gone through all the stages of glory. And indeed it is. For all the years of its existence, in the domestic market, Ford Focus has overcome milestone of 800 thousand cars sold, while the car itself has undergone 3 body generations and several restylings.

Today is not beyond the threshold, already the fourth generation of Focuses (expected in 2019). But the level of attraction, to a truly people's car, among Russians is gradually starting to cool.

Based on the analysis of sales over the past 10 years, it is safe to say that the peak of popularity, fell precisely on the second generation of the car, namely at the turn of 2006-2009. At the same time as the global economic crisis hit...

The appearance of the third generation, first occurred in early 2010, and the start of active sales in the Russian Federation began a little more than a year later. The new series was built on the platform of a younger brother, and its design was slightly modernized by improving the rear independent suspension and subframes. It is also worth noting that now the automaker has refused to produce cars in the hatchback body with three doors and a coupe-cabriolet.

Today, a range of three main power units is available to the domestic consumer. As standard, a 1.6-liter gasoline engine with a power of 105 hp is considered, which can be paired with both a 5-speed manual transmission and a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Separately, I would like to mention the motor, which is rarely found on the market and is installed exclusively for hatchbacks. Petrol aspirated 1.6 l. 85 hp, doing its job only in tandem with the "mechanics". A sort of economy option, available only in the lowest configuration.

The middle option in the line of power plants belongs to a 1.6-liter gasoline unit with a capacity of 125 hp. and a torque of 159 N.m. This engine considered the most sought after among domestic motorists and apparently the best in the line. It has good and torquey dynamics, low fuel consumption and better maintainability compared to the powerful turbocharged counterpart 1.5 EcoBoost.

The top-end turbocharged gasoline engine of the EcoBoost family, with a displacement of 1.5 liters, produces 150 horsepower and a torque of 240 N.m. According to the manufacturer, this unit was created specifically for Russian conditions. Its features are considered to be the consumption of 92 gasoline and quick warming up in winter. By car, it is used only with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

As for diesel engines, they are not officially supplied to Russia, although in other countries, their sales occupy the lion's share. If you are offered a used version with a diesel engine, then most likely this car was imported from abroad.

For better or worse was the Ford Focus 3

What are the pros and cons

1. Suspension. Compared to the previous series, the chassis design has been finalized and modernized. Settings have acquired more comfortable notes. Now, small holes and cracks in the asphalt are practically not noticeable. In the front, MacPherson strut is also used, and at the back there is a traditional multi-link. This tandem has won more than once in stability and controllability over the "semi-independent". By the way, the obvious rival of the Focus, the Skoda Octavia 3, in the lower trim levels, has an ordinary beam at the back.

2. Salon space. The quality of the finish in the new generation has grown by almost two heads compared to its predecessor. The central panel is made of soft-touch plastic, the steering wheel has become much more comfortable and has recesses for the fingers, and ergonomics as a whole has acquired a sporty character. The front passenger seats, as if borrowed from famous sports cars, and the lateral and lumbar support, as if hugging the driver. In general, it is worth noting that the interior design has received a certain space theme, a little familiar to us from some American cars, General Motors Corporation. But note that nothing of the kind is found in German, Asian or Japanese competitors.

3. Noise isolation. Inside the Ford Focus 3, it has become much quieter. The owners of both previous generations know firsthand how annoying the roar of the engine and the whistle of the wind can be. Now the situation has changed for the better. But in order to feel in the cabin, all the charms of silence and tranquility, you need to take the car in a richer configuration. (the level of sound insulation depends on the configuration)

4. Lots of support systems. A whole breakthrough in this area belongs to the Ford concern. In the basic equipment, cars are already equipped with electronic stability control, traction control, emergency braking assistance, hill starting, as well as ABS and EBD. Few of the competitors can boast of such a “bouquet” in the standard package. As for the top versions, here the "American" is trying to be ahead of the rest. Here and an innovative parking assistance function, and an automatic deceleration system, and blind spot monitoring, and a tire pressure monitoring system, as well as cruise control with the option of adjusting speed limits.

5. Reliable motors. Since ancient times, the Ford Focus slogan sounded like: "Quality changes everything!". And this is truly true. If somewhere it was possible to save money on a car, it was definitely not on its engine. All Focus motors have good traction, unpretentiousness and high resource. These indicators, among other things, have been repeatedly confirmed on commercial vehicles, special services cars and taxis.

Value for money, quality and reliability

A little about the pros and cons

With large external dimensions, it is quite crowded inside the cabin, especially for rear passengers. In front, the place is eaten up by a large central panel and anatomical chairs. At some point, it seems that everything is specially done this way, for better functionality and convenience. To some extent, this is true, but only the excess of free space, unfortunately, has diminished. Legroom for rear passengers is extremely small (the shortest wheelbase in the class affects), and the slope of the roof puts pressure on the head even for not tall people. Perhaps this is one of the most major shortcomings cars, "large on the outside, cramped on the inside." The Skoda Octavia has been recognized as the niche leader for more than one year, since the Mazda 3 or Kia Sead is also significantly inferior to it.

Not high ground clearance can be an extremely unpleasant factor for lovers of nature trips or fishing. At the start of sales ground clearance was only 14 centimeters, and after a while, for Russia it was increased to 16.5 cm. Cars imported from Europe are usually a little lower.

Front wheel bearings, in bad road conditions, rarely take care of more than 50 thousand km, and even less with a sloppy driving style. The element of the "American", apparently, urban highways with good coverage and no country road.

Weak rear shock absorbers, the average resource of which is almost 2 times less than the front ones. Therefore, a full load of stern for a car is highly undesirable, and there is not much space in the trunk.

The windshield is easily cracked and chipped by rocks. If heated glass is installed, in addition to everything else, it still has a tendency to crack from overheating in winter.

The first "Focuses" of the third generation left the assembly line not so long ago, or rather in 2011, so it is still quite difficult to evaluate the body of the Ford Focus in terms of its resistance to corrosion and draw appropriate conclusions about whether it is worth buying the third generation Focus, yet early. Even on the oldest specimens, if they have not had time to visit a serious accident, rust spots cannot be seen. But the fact that the paintwork of the Ford Focus III is rather weak can be stated already now. You can easily find small scratches and chips on most cars. In addition, many Focus suffer front optics. On cars from the first batches, there were ill-fitting doors. Fortunately, the manufacturer dealt with this problem very quickly, but you also need to choose the Focus for the purchase more carefully.

Small assembly flaws can be seen inside the car. Most often, Focus owners complain about uneven gaps between plastic parts in the cabin. Another typical complaint is the creaking of plastic and “crickets”, which most often start up in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe radio and the seat belt attachment point on the B-pillar. Otherwise, inside the "third" Ford Focus rather pleases its buyers in the secondary market.

A 1.6-liter engine with a capacity of 85 horsepower for a fairly large car is frankly weak, and therefore, lovers of dynamics should not buy a Ford Focus with such an engine, to tell the truth. The purchase of a used car with such a power unit is unlikely to be justified. And the same volume of 105-horsepower engine will not make a fast car out of the Focus. Although in terms of reliability, as well as the 125-horsepower version, it is good. So far, the owners complain only about the characteristic chirp, which intensifies when warmed up. When buying, however, you should not be afraid. The noises that frighten many motorists are nothing more than a feature of the injectors. But with unstable work, tripling and insufficient traction after a cold start, it will no longer be possible to put up with it. 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 complaints about the two-liter gasoline engine with 150 horsepower. It, like smaller engines, works with a characteristic chirp, but does not cause problems. Unless you have to use exclusively high-quality fuel. However, in any case, lovers of savings should not buy a 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 the "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 fit of the stuffing box on the conveyor, which led to damage to its edge. Over time, of course, the problem was solved, but the owners of the Focus with a manual gearbox still had an unpleasant aftertaste. There are also complaints about the PowerShift dual-clutch transmission. When driving for a long time in sluggish traffic jams, it begins to shift gears with noticeable jerks. Yes, and in terms of reliability, PowerShift loses to traditional "machines". The first serious problems can begin after 100 thousand kilometers. So when buying a Focus with this gearbox, you should not refuse diagnostics in any case.

The third-generation Ford Focus suspension has proven to be quite reliable. Most owners have yet to deal with the replacement of its consumables. However, to call it absolutely problem-free will not work with all desire. And all because with the onset of frost, the Focus suspension begins to make extraneous sounds. Most often, an unpleasant creak is created by the stabilizer bushings.

There were no problems in the steering. And the problems are quite serious. Already after 7-10 thousand kilometers, many owners of the “third” Focus had to deal with tie rod play and steering rack tapping. Most often, the rail was changed under warranty, but even after the replacement, after the same 10 thousand kilometers, the knocks reappeared. And everything would be fine, but the owners of used Ford Focus will have to change the rail no longer under warranty, but at their own expense. And this pleasure cannot be called cheap. Yes, and besides the steering rack, there are enough troubles. Problems with the electric power steering on the Focus occur quite often.

It turns out that it was not in vain that the third generation Ford Focus was accepted by our motorists with restraint, and they turn their attention more to the previous - the second generation of the car. Problems with him, though not a huge number, but enough. But after all, competitors do not differ in exemplary reliability. 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

Weak/problematic areas:

• Weak paintwork, prone to scratches and chips.
• Fogging front optics.
• Poorly fitted doors on early batch models.
• Poorly adjusted gaps in the plastic inside the cabin.
• Squeaks and "crickets" in the cabin.
• Weak 1.6 liter engines.
• Leaking right axle seal.
• Fragile PowerShift dual clutch transmission.
• Tie rod play and knocks in the steering rack.

Strengths / reliable sides:

• Modern salon interior.
• Reliable engines.
• Reliable suspension.