Ford Focus Electric – The Best Gas-Free Cars On The Market

The Focus Electric is one of the best gas-free cars on the market. It’s inexpensive to run and accelerates effortlessly. Moreover, excellent handling, a composed ride, and a quiet interior make it rewarding to drive.

Ford Focus Electric

We got the equivalent of 107 mpg overall, 1mpg better than the rival Nissan Leaf. And we got about 80 miles on a full charge. The Environmental Protection Agency rating is 76 miles per charge.

But this electric car can’t escape some inherent deficiencies in the Focus, including a cramped rear seat and frustrating MyFord Touch audio and climate controls. In addition the large, lithium-ion battery pack consumes much of the modest cargo space and creates an inconvenient slope in the load floor.

Quiet punch

The 143-hp electric motor instantly delivers power, which makes the car feel much quicker than its 10.2-second 0-to-60-mph acceleration time. Energy consumption is about the same in our city and highway tests.

Although the car is quick off the line, the throttle is touchy, and oddly, it has no “Eco” mode to squeeze out more range. Like other electrics, running the heater cuts into the range significantly, but it provides quick heat.

Although the car is quick off the line, the throttle is touchy, and oddly, it has no “Eco” mode to squeeze out more range.

A dedicated 240-volt Level 2 charging station can replenish the Focus from empty in less than 4 hours thanks to its 6.6-kWh onboard charger. A full charge takes about 20 kWh, which would cost about $2.20 at the national average electricity rate of 11 cents per kWh. You can also charge with the provided 120-volt cord, but that can take up to 16 hours. A smart-phone app can keep track of the car’s state of charge, show the available range, direct you to a public charging station, and log charging times.

The supple and controlled ride befits a luxury car. Bump isolation is impressive, and ride motions are subdued. Ti’s eerily quiet inside as the car glides effortlessly down the road.

At our track, drivers confidently navigated our avoidance maneuver at a good clip with strong tire grip and slight under-steer.

Quick steering with good feedback makes the Focus Electric fun to drive, and the heavy battery, sitting low in the chassis, helps quell body lean. At our track, drivers confidently navigated our avoidance maneuver at a good clip with strong tire grip and slight under-steer.

Bump isolation is impressive, and ride motions are subdued. Ti’s eerily quiet inside as the car glides effortlessly down the road.

A digital” brake coach” display helps drivers maximize the energy recaptured by regenerative braking. It becomes a game to get the most out of riding the brakes, but the touchy pedal takes some getting used to.

Comfortable, yet cramped

A padded dashboard, chrome accents, and piano-black plastic highlight the inviting interior. We found a few bad fits and rough edges, though.

The glowing ring around the charge port indicated the battery’s charge level.

Drivers have good room behind the tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. Front seats are supportive and nicely contoured. But the power seat doesn’t tilt independent of height. Rear-seat leg room is tight, and the car is too narrow to seat three across  comfortably.

The instrument cluster includes two digital readouts with many configuration. The Sync system lets you use voice commands to control personal electronic devices and program the navigation system, which reduces distraction. Connecting a Bluetooth phone is easy and allows pausing, stopping, and advancing streaming audio.