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In-depth reviews

Ford Focus RS hatchback (2016-2018) - Reliability & safety

The Ford Focus RS inherits the safety credentials of lesser Focus models

Carbuyer Rating

3.2 out of 5

Owners Rating

3.8 out of 5

Read owner reviews
Reliability & safety Rating

3.0 out of 5

Ford Focus RS reliability

The standard Ford Focus was rated poorly for reliability in our 2017 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey of cars currently on sale in the UK. Of the owners who responded, 7.7% reported experiencing a problem with their car at least once.

Owners praise the handling and connectivity, but are less impressed with the ride comfort, exterior styling and practicality, marking down the popular hatchback for its ageing interior and poor build quality.

Safety

The standard Ford Focus on which the RS is based achieved the maximum five-star rating when it was crash-tested by Euro NCAP. Although the RS has a more powerful engine than the rest of the Focus range, it also has large, powerful brakes and four-wheel drive. Anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control and traction control are all standard, while customers can also order Active City Stop as a £200 option.

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Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

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