Ford Focus 1.0 S-T EcoBoost… Worth It or Avoid?

My current company lease on a Ford Focus (non-ST Line) is ending, and I’m debating whether to buy a Ford Focus ST Line myself. I could afford to purchase one outright after four years using my car allowance (£4,400, which is likely to increase).

Anyone have good or bad experiences with this car? Or are there better options under £16k? I know the used car market isn’t great right now, but I’d rather put the £4,400 toward owning something instead of a lease.

I’m looking at an 18/19 plate, something like this:

AutoTrader listing

Two coworkers have the 2021 1.0 ST-Line autos, and both are already on their third engine. Ford covered the costs, but still… not a great sign.

If you’re set on a Focus, I’d go for the 1.5 EcoBoost—it’s a much stronger engine.

Isn’t the ST and ST-Line completely different? Different specs, body, trim, etc.?

Jovi said:
Isn’t the ST and ST-Line completely different? Different specs, body, trim, etc.?

Yeah, my bad—meant to say ST-Line.

You mentioned buying an ‘ST,’ but the one you linked is an ‘ST-Line’—very different cars. Just making sure you’re aware!

If you’re after the 1.0 ST-Line, you’d probably be better off looking at a Honda, SEAT, Skoda, Toyota, Kia, or Hyundai alternative. Ford’s build quality has really gone downhill, and their service departments aren’t much better.

@Zeek
Agreed. I had an ST-Line as a rental for a weekend (not by choice—was given as an ‘upgrade’) and was totally underwhelmed.

Wouldn’t spend my own money on one.

Pip said:
@Zeek
Agreed. I had an ST-Line as a rental for a weekend (not by choice—was given as an ‘upgrade’) and was totally underwhelmed.

Wouldn’t spend my own money on one.

Yeah, I meant ST-Line—typo on my part.

Hard pass. All 3-cylinder engines are junk. They’re unbalanced and get overworked in anything bigger than a Fiat 500.

Some people seem to think that just because a reliable 2.0 turbo can make 250bhp at 2,000 RPM, a 1.0 turbo can reliably make 125bhp at the same RPM.

They probably also believe a 500cc car engine making 63bhp would last forever. (Motorbike engines don’t count—completely different torque/rev needs)

Ford’s 1.0 EcoBoost is what happens when those people design cars. If you want reliability, don’t reward this kind of thinking by buying one.

@Pax
Car makers have been pushing 3-cylinder engines since the '90s, and they’ve always been terrible. Even Toyota’s attempts at them are rubbish.

The 1.0 EcoBoost struggles even in a Fiesta, let alone a heavier Focus. If you really want a Focus, go for the 1.5 or 2.0—you’ll have fewer headaches.

Ford engines are some of the worst you can buy these days. Honestly, I’d rather get a Hyundai.

This engine has a major design flaw, and Ford only recently fixed it.

This one is a better deal for the price: AutoTrader listing

The one you linked isn’t that great for the spec—no heated seats, and the driver’s door window module is faulty. That’s £150 to replace since Ford only sells the entire module, not just the switches.

The concerns about the engine have some truth to them. These need oil changes every year at minimum because the cam belt runs in oil—if you skip service, it’ll fail.

We’ve had a Fiesta with the same engine for about five years, and it’s been fine, but in a heavier car like the Focus, the 125PS version isn’t exactly quick.