2013
Ford Focus Electric

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$39,200
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New 2013 Ford Focus Electric
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Owner reviewed vehicle score
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
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NHTSA tested vehicle score
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2013 Ford Focus Electric 2013 Ford Focus Electric 2013 Ford Focus Electric 2013 Ford Focus Electric 2013 Ford Focus Electric 2013 Ford Focus Electric 2013 Ford Focus Electric 2013 Ford Focus Electric 2013 Ford Focus Electric 2013 Ford Focus Electric 2013 Ford Focus Electric 2013 Ford Focus Electric 2013 Ford Focus Electric 2013 Ford Focus Electric 2013 Ford Focus Electric 2013 Ford Focus Electric 2013 Ford Focus Electric 2013 Ford Focus Electric 2013 Ford Focus Electric 2013 Ford Focus Electric 2013 Ford Focus Electric 2013 Ford Focus Electric

Notable features

All-electric version of Focus compact
Four-door hatchback
Range up to 76 miles
Full charge in as little as four hours
Standard navigation system
New safety features

The good & the bad

The good

Based on capable gas car
Zero tailpipe emissions
Eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit
Rapid charging times (240 volts)
Off-peak charging capability

The bad

No gasoline backup
Battery pack significantly limits cargo room
Range varies with temperature, terrain
Likely needs home electrical upgrade for quickest charging
See all specifications

Expert 2013 Ford Focus Electric review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By Cars.com editors
Full article
our expert's take

Vehicle Overview

The Focus Electric is Ford’s first consumer-oriented battery-electric vehicle, based on the Ford Focus compact hatchback. Ford says the car’s range will be “up to 100 miles,” but the EPA has rated the car around 76 miles per charge. Its primary competitor is the Nissan Leaf.

Like Nissan, which has contracted AeroVironment to assess and install charging setups at buyers’ homes, Ford will be working with Best Buy and its Geek Squad tech-support operation to manage third-party electrical contractors.

Ford estimates that a depleted Focus Electric battery pack will recharge in as little as four hours using a 240-volt home charging station, roughly twice as fast as the Leaf.
New For 2013
The 2013 Focus Electric gets a new driver’s knee airbag as well as four-way adjustable front and rear head restraints.

ExteriorThe Focus Electric shares the overall shape of the Focus hatchback, but it has a few distinguishing elements. A dead giveaway is the charging port — which is surrounded by an LED display that indicates charge status while the car is plugged in — on the driver-side front fender. It also has a unique, prominent front grille — ironic because the electric car has less cooling demands than a car with an internal-combustion engine. The nose is otherwise smoother and free of fog lights to improve aerodynamics. Exterior features include:

  • Unique 17-inch alloy wheels with low-rolling-resistance tires
  • LED running lamps with high-intensity-discharge headlights
  • Rear spoiler
  • “Electric” badges

InteriorTwin LCD screens flank the speedometer, and there’s a battery-charge display in place of a fuel gauge. The screens are configurable and include a mode where bluish butterflies populate or disappear based on driving efficiency.

Like in the Leaf and Chevrolet Volt, owners can preheat or precool the cabin on grid power before a trip. This helps preserve the battery’s charge when driving because less energy needs to be spent heating or cooling the interior. The feature can be scheduled ahead of time or activated remotely using a smartphone app. Interior features include:

  • Seats five in standard cloth seats; leather upholstery available
  • Heated front seats
  • 60/40-split folding backseat
  • Touch-screen navigation system
  • Sony audio
  • Sync with MyFord Touch technology
  • Push-button start

Under the HoodThe Focus Electric uses a 23-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack that features liquid heating and cooling to maximize range and the battery’s life expectancy. A 143-horsepower electric motor drives the front wheels to a top speed of 84 mph. Mechanical features include:

  • Regenerative braking
  • 6.6-kilowatt onboard charger for 240-volt charging
  • 120-volt charging cord for common household outlets and slower charging
  • Single-speed automatic transmission

Safety
Standard safety features include:

  • Antilock brakes
  • Electronic stability system
  • Traction control
  • Side-impact airbags for the front seats
  • Side curtain airbags
  • Driver’s knee airbag

2013 Ford Focus Electric review: Our expert's take

Vehicle Overview

The Focus Electric is Ford’s first consumer-oriented battery-electric vehicle, based on the Ford Focus compact hatchback. Ford says the car’s range will be “up to 100 miles,” but the EPA has rated the car around 76 miles per charge. Its primary competitor is the Nissan Leaf.

Like Nissan, which has contracted AeroVironment to assess and install charging setups at buyers’ homes, Ford will be working with Best Buy and its Geek Squad tech-support operation to manage third-party electrical contractors.

Ford estimates that a depleted Focus Electric battery pack will recharge in as little as four hours using a 240-volt home charging station, roughly twice as fast as the Leaf.
New For 2013
The 2013 Focus Electric gets a new driver’s knee airbag as well as four-way adjustable front and rear head restraints.

ExteriorThe Focus Electric shares the overall shape of the Focus hatchback, but it has a few distinguishing elements. A dead giveaway is the charging port — which is surrounded by an LED display that indicates charge status while the car is plugged in — on the driver-side front fender. It also has a unique, prominent front grille — ironic because the electric car has less cooling demands than a car with an internal-combustion engine. The nose is otherwise smoother and free of fog lights to improve aerodynamics. Exterior features include:

  • Unique 17-inch alloy wheels with low-rolling-resistance tires
  • LED running lamps with high-intensity-discharge headlights
  • Rear spoiler
  • “Electric” badges

InteriorTwin LCD screens flank the speedometer, and there’s a battery-charge display in place of a fuel gauge. The screens are configurable and include a mode where bluish butterflies populate or disappear based on driving efficiency.

Like in the Leaf and Chevrolet Volt, owners can preheat or precool the cabin on grid power before a trip. This helps preserve the battery’s charge when driving because less energy needs to be spent heating or cooling the interior. The feature can be scheduled ahead of time or activated remotely using a smartphone app. Interior features include:

  • Seats five in standard cloth seats; leather upholstery available
  • Heated front seats
  • 60/40-split folding backseat
  • Touch-screen navigation system
  • Sony audio
  • Sync with MyFord Touch technology
  • Push-button start

Under the HoodThe Focus Electric uses a 23-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack that features liquid heating and cooling to maximize range and the battery’s life expectancy. A 143-horsepower electric motor drives the front wheels to a top speed of 84 mph. Mechanical features include:

  • Regenerative braking
  • 6.6-kilowatt onboard charger for 240-volt charging
  • 120-volt charging cord for common household outlets and slower charging
  • Single-speed automatic transmission

Safety
Standard safety features include:

  • Antilock brakes
  • Electronic stability system
  • Traction control
  • Side-impact airbags for the front seats
  • Side curtain airbags
  • Driver’s knee airbag

Safety review

Based on the 2013 Ford Focus Electric base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Overall rating
5/5
Combined side rating front seat
5/5
Combined side rating rear seat
5/5
Frontal barrier crash rating driver
5/5
Frontal barrier crash rating passenger
4/5
Overall frontal barrier crash rating
5/5
Overall side crash rating
5/5
Rollover rating
5/5
Side barrier rating
5/5
Side barrier rating driver
4/5
Side barrier rating passenger rear seat
5/5
Side pole rating driver front seat
5/5
10.1%
Risk of rollover
Side barrier rating driver
4/5
Side barrier rating passenger rear seat
5/5
Side pole rating driver front seat
5/5
10.1%
Risk of rollover

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
3 years / 36,000 miles
Corrosion
5 years
Powertrain
5 years / 60,000 miles
Battery
8 years / 100,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
5 years / 60,000 miles

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
Fords and many non-Ford vehicles up to 10 years old with less than 150,000 miles
Basic
90-Day / 4,000-Mile (whichever comes first) Comprehensive Limited Warranty
Dealer certification
139-point inspection
See all CPO program details

Consumer reviews

92% of drivers recommend this car
4.5 / 5
Based on 13 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.7
Interior 4.8
Performance 4.8
Value 4.4
Exterior 4.8
Reliability 4.5

Most recent

  • By john from california
    Owns this car
    August 7, 2023

    car burns very little fuel.you can full the charge

    i bought the car 6 mounths before . this is an amazing car . i like it so much even i love it ! ford is very trusty brand i knew it . thank you
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By tennlock from Atlanta, GA
    Owns this car
    August 21, 2020

    Fun, quick, reliable

    4+ years and zero maintenance. I bought it used and it has been perfect for my use-case, which is driving to work, running around town, and taking kids to and from. The battery is small, so it's not ideal for a 1-car family, but is perfect as a low-cost 2nd car (appliance, as I like to call it) or for a teen driver. Plug it in, charge it up, and it always works.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    11 people out of 11 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By ChrisL from Steamboat Springs, CO
    Used to own this car
    May 29, 2018

    Great commuter car

    I loved owning this car. In addition to reducing the gas bill and my carbon footprint, it required almost no maintenance, had great acceleration, was comfortable, and got me back and forth to work (32 miles roundtrip) twice on a single charge. The storage space is limited by the battery, but for a simple commuter car that's not much of a concern. The only reason I recently parted ways with this vehicle was that I moved to the mountains, about 100 miles away from the nearest Ford dealership approved to work on EV's. I got a "Stop Safely Now" message on the car, which would disable the vehicle once it came to a stop. The local Ford dealer wouldn't even look at the car, so I was forced to tow it to the nearest dealer with an EV technician. The car didn't have the range to make it there, even if it was safe to drive, and Ford would only reimburse me for the first $100 of a tow. So eventually I bit the bullet, paid big bucks, and got the Focus down to a dealer that replaced the high voltage battery cable, and fixed the problem. But because of the logistics, it ended up being too much hassle to own this car away from a metro area with a qualified dealership. So my suggestion to prospective buyers: make sure you live near an approved Ford dealership that works on EV's, get the extended warranty that covers the drive train and electrical system, and make sure you can install a 240V electrical outlet at your home for fast charging on the car. If you can check off all those things, and have a commute less than about 70 miles roundtrip, do not hesitate to buy this vehicle. For around $10k it's a steal!!!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 4.0
    9 people out of 9 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By ayman mahmoud
    Owns this car
    July 28, 2017

    Easy business

    Great ...
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 6 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Electric Cars 4 life
    Owns this car
    March 31, 2016

    The next best thing

    My boyfriend I just purchased this Ford Focus after doing a lot of research on electric cars. We had purchased the Nissan Leaf a year ago but unfortunately got into a bad accident which left us having to find an alternative. Thankfully, we decided to do some more research and came across this car! Thank goodness we did because we are absolutely over the moon with it. Wonderful looking car exterior and interior. Rides so smoothly, acceleration on the car is excellent and had more features than the Nissan leaf. It can go around 70-85 per range and now a days with many public places installing charging stations makes it more conveinient to charge when running errands, etc.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    4 people out of 4 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Electric car advocate from Santa Cruz, California
    Owns this car
    January 6, 2015

    Not enough advertisement for this car!

    My wife and I drove and reviewed many electric cars over the course of 3 years. We finally installed solar energy in our home which prompted us to look very seriously We truthfully did not know that Ford offered an electric car. After we visited a local Ford dealer we were so impressed we bought it. We have been very happy and surprised. It is so fun to drive, and we have achieved up to 110 mile range (even though they said we would get 77). We love seeing how we start with a certain range, and come home having used very little after a lot of driving. If people knew how cool they were they would definitely look at electric cars - we don't care what the price of gas is anymore!
    • Purchased a New car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    3 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By FORD FOCUS EV Enthusiast from hawaii
    Owns this car
    June 11, 2014

    This car is a unexpected disappointment

    10800 miles new original owner. Almost 42 days in the dealership with no resolution of an issue associated with the Stop Safely Now Light. I have had all the Recalls completed; my car is up to date. Techs cannot figure out the issue nor can the company Technicians which are on the phone. My dealer has now parked the vehicle with wire harnesses pulled from the car. I am now headed to arbitration for this vehicle. Here was the issue: The car would lose all electric power while in driving mode in traffic; the third and final straw: I was left stranded in a busy intersection with no power in the traffics way. The car was able to drift in neutral off the highway intersection to a side area. I used this car for my children commute to/from elementary school. I have no idea if it is software or mechanical; but this design has a systems flaw - mine reared its head at 10800 miles.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 1.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 1.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By FocusEV from Los Angeles, CA
    Owns this car
    December 27, 2013

    Apart from Tesla, the best EV available

    I've had my FFE for three months, and I've driven 7500 miles without a drop of gas. It's quiet, smooth, has plenty of power. It goes up the freeway passes with plenty of reserve. Range is about 70 miles with normal freeway driving. It will go 85, but you will zen out and love driving 65 with great economy and range. It doesn't look dorky like a Leaf, it's under-the-radar. Plan on getting a 220 Volt charger, it makes the thing so much more practical. Between the government rebates, Ford discounts, and gas savings the car is practically free to own. It's not just for neighborhood use....the car saves money when it's on the road covering miles and saving gas. I charge up at home and at work (which is free to me) so for 2000 miles a month, my electricity bill went up only about $30. Be sure to check this out, don't get a Volt or Leaf just by default.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Mike from nj
    Owns this car
    December 26, 2013

    Ford Focus Electric

    Pro: - Gas free - I power with 100% wind energy - Lease was $3750 down, $188/month for 2 yrs. Great deal - Great styling and quality Con: - Trunk space minimal due to battery - Lack of public charging/range anxiety Notes - Range varies with temperature: 40 miles if charging outside on a 20 degree day. 93 miles if charging in summer - Gains 20 miles of driving range per hour on 240 volt charger - An electric only car is perfect if you have a 2 car household. Use the EV for 95% of your running around and the legacy vehicle for the 5% of the time you need to drive long distances. For a 1 car household, get a plug in hybrid like the Volt or Ford's Energi line - Several recalls in effect
    • Purchased a New car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Pastrdj from Melbourne, FL
    Owns this car
    August 3, 2013

    Amazing vihicle

    I have owned this car for three months and it has been fantastic. We installed solar panels on the roof of our house so we are driving completely on sunshine. No carbon footprint, smooth, quick acceleration, ultra quiet, sharp looking, reliable...If you can get by with driving less than 80 miles between charges, it's a terrific car.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By P.D. from Melbourne, FL
    Owns this car
    May 27, 2013

    Remarkable Car

    A nearly perfect car for my driving needs. Smooth, quiet, fast, fun, and no gasoline ever. If you need to drive over 100 miles in a day or carry a ton of stuff, look elsewhere, but other than that, I highly recommend it.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Green Roger from Atlanta, GA
    Owns this car
    March 11, 2013

    Very nice!

    Ride is very nice, acceleration is invigorating, interior is excellent quality, no gas what is there not to like. If it had ECO cruise (like in the C-Max) it would be a 5 star ride for my 80 mile commute. Great job Ford!
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
See all reviews

Latest news from cars.com

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Featured

49,000 Ford Focus Electric, Fusion Energi and C-Max Energi Cars: Recall Alert

Approximately 49,000 model-year 2012-15 Ford Focus Electric and model- year 2013-15 Fusion Energi and C-Max Energi electric vehicles are being recalled. Read more
See all news

Ford dealers near you

See all Ford dealers near you

FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2013 Ford Focus Electric?

The 2013 Ford Focus Electric is available in 1 trim level:

  • (1 style)

What is the electric range of the 2013 Ford Focus Electric?

The 2013 Ford Focus Electric can travel 76 miles on a single charge depending on electric motor and battery options.

EPA-estimated range is the distance, or predicted distance, a new plug-in vehicle will travel on electric power before its battery charge is exhausted. Actual range will vary depending on driving conditions, trim level, driving habits, elevation changes, weather, accessory usage (lights, climate control), vehicle condition and other factors.

Is the 2013 Ford Focus Electric reliable?

The 2013 Ford Focus Electric has an average reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2013 Ford Focus Electric owners.

Is the 2013 Ford Focus Electric a good Hatchback?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2013 Ford Focus Electric. 92.3% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.5 / 5
Based on 13 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.7
  • Interior: 4.8
  • Performance: 4.8
  • Value: 4.4
  • Exterior: 4.8
  • Reliability: 4.5

Ford Focus Electric history

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