2012
Ford Focus Electric

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$39,200
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NHTSA tested vehicle score
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NHTSA tested vehicle score
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2012 Ford Focus Electric 2012 Ford Focus Electric 2012 Ford Focus Electric 2012 Ford Focus Electric 2012 Ford Focus Electric 2012 Ford Focus Electric 2012 Ford Focus Electric 2012 Ford Focus Electric 2012 Ford Focus Electric 2012 Ford Focus Electric 2012 Ford Focus Electric 2012 Ford Focus Electric 2012 Ford Focus Electric 2012 Ford Focus Electric 2012 Ford Focus Electric 2012 Ford Focus Electric 2012 Ford Focus Electric 2012 Ford Focus Electric 2012 Ford Focus Electric 2012 Ford Focus Electric 2012 Ford Focus Electric 2012 Ford Focus Electric

Notable features

All-electric version of Focus compact
Four-door hatchback
Range up to 100 miles
Full charge in three to four hours
Standard navigation system
Best Buy to provide charger installation

The good & the bad

The good

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

The bad

Gradual national rollout
No gasoline backup
Range varies with temperature, terrain
Requires home electrical upgrade
See all specifications

Expert 2012 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 redesigned 2012 Ford Focus compact hatchback. Ford says the car’s range will be “up to 100 miles,” but the EPA hasn’t rated the car yet. Nissan made the same claim for its Leaf electric car, whose range is EPA-rated at 73 miles.

As a battery-electric car with no gas backup, the Focus Electric’s direct competitors are the Leaf and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. 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 three to four hours using a 240-volt home charging station, roughly twice as fast as the Leaf.

Pricing hasn’t been announced, but the Focus Electric should be eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit. It will begin delivery late in 2011 in select markets: Boston; Chicago; Denver; Detroit; Los Angeles; San Francisco; San Diego; Seattle; New York; Washington, D.C.; Orlando, Fla.; Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Houston; Phoenix; Tucson, Ariz.; Portland, Ore.; Raleigh/Durham, N.C.; and Richmond, Va.

Exterior
The 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. There are modest “Electric” badges all around.

The Focus Electric features a modified but still prominent grille — ironic because the electric car has less cooling demands than internal-combustion engines. The nose is otherwise smoother and is free of fog lights to improve aerodynamics. LED running lights adorn the headlight clusters. The wheels are distinctive 17-inch alloys with Michelin Energy Saver low-rolling-resistance tires.

Interior
The Focus Electric accommodates up to five occupants in standard cloth seats. The folding backseat is split 60/40 like the higher gas-powered trim levels. (Lower trims have a single-piece folding bench.) Other standard features include push-button start, a touch-screen navigation system and Sony nine-speaker stereo with Sirius Satellite Radio.

Twin LCD screens flank the speedometer, with a battery-charge display in place of a fuel gauge. The gauges can be configured to show charge range versus the anticipated distance of your trip, and they can also display a diagram to show the range situation at a glance. Bluish butterflies populate or disappear to indicate how efficiently you’re driving and how much battery range you have versus your intended trip.

With a feature similar to those on the Leaf and Chevrolet Volt, owners can preheat or precool the cabin on grid power with the charging cable. This preserves the battery charge for miles of range once the car is unplugged and driven. (Heat and air conditioning use electric power, decreasing range.) The feature can be scheduled ahead of time or activated remotely using a MyFord Touch owner website or smartphone app.

Under the Hood
The Focus Electric uses a 23-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack that’s heated and cooled by liquid to maximize range and life expectancy. An electric motor or motors (yet to be announced) drive the front wheels to a top speed of 84 mph.

A 6.6-kilowatt onboard charger works with the 240-volt charging station to fill the battery pack in half the time required by the Leaf, according to Ford. (The Leaf’s onboard charger has lower capacity and thus charges more slowly.) A 120-volt cord for charging from a common household outlet is included, but it takes at least three times as long as the 240-volt system. Ford estimates the charging station hardware and installation will cost about $1,499, but prices vary widely.

Safety
As required by law of all 2012 models, the Focus Electric has standard antilock brakes, traction control and an electronic stability system. Six airbags are also standard.

2012 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 redesigned 2012 Ford Focus compact hatchback. Ford says the car’s range will be “up to 100 miles,” but the EPA hasn’t rated the car yet. Nissan made the same claim for its Leaf electric car, whose range is EPA-rated at 73 miles.

As a battery-electric car with no gas backup, the Focus Electric’s direct competitors are the Leaf and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. 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 three to four hours using a 240-volt home charging station, roughly twice as fast as the Leaf.

Pricing hasn’t been announced, but the Focus Electric should be eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit. It will begin delivery late in 2011 in select markets: Boston; Chicago; Denver; Detroit; Los Angeles; San Francisco; San Diego; Seattle; New York; Washington, D.C.; Orlando, Fla.; Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Houston; Phoenix; Tucson, Ariz.; Portland, Ore.; Raleigh/Durham, N.C.; and Richmond, Va.

Exterior
The 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. There are modest “Electric” badges all around.

The Focus Electric features a modified but still prominent grille — ironic because the electric car has less cooling demands than internal-combustion engines. The nose is otherwise smoother and is free of fog lights to improve aerodynamics. LED running lights adorn the headlight clusters. The wheels are distinctive 17-inch alloys with Michelin Energy Saver low-rolling-resistance tires.

Interior
The Focus Electric accommodates up to five occupants in standard cloth seats. The folding backseat is split 60/40 like the higher gas-powered trim levels. (Lower trims have a single-piece folding bench.) Other standard features include push-button start, a touch-screen navigation system and Sony nine-speaker stereo with Sirius Satellite Radio.

Twin LCD screens flank the speedometer, with a battery-charge display in place of a fuel gauge. The gauges can be configured to show charge range versus the anticipated distance of your trip, and they can also display a diagram to show the range situation at a glance. Bluish butterflies populate or disappear to indicate how efficiently you’re driving and how much battery range you have versus your intended trip.

With a feature similar to those on the Leaf and Chevrolet Volt, owners can preheat or precool the cabin on grid power with the charging cable. This preserves the battery charge for miles of range once the car is unplugged and driven. (Heat and air conditioning use electric power, decreasing range.) The feature can be scheduled ahead of time or activated remotely using a MyFord Touch owner website or smartphone app.

Under the Hood
The Focus Electric uses a 23-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack that’s heated and cooled by liquid to maximize range and life expectancy. An electric motor or motors (yet to be announced) drive the front wheels to a top speed of 84 mph.

A 6.6-kilowatt onboard charger works with the 240-volt charging station to fill the battery pack in half the time required by the Leaf, according to Ford. (The Leaf’s onboard charger has lower capacity and thus charges more slowly.) A 120-volt cord for charging from a common household outlet is included, but it takes at least three times as long as the 240-volt system. Ford estimates the charging station hardware and installation will cost about $1,499, but prices vary widely.

Safety
As required by law of all 2012 models, the Focus Electric has standard antilock brakes, traction control and an electronic stability system. Six airbags are also standard.

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

83% of drivers recommend this car
4.3 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.3
Interior 4.3
Performance 4.3
Value 4.5
Exterior 4.7
Reliability 5.0

Most recent

  • By CC from Wilsonville
    Test drove this car
    February 10, 2018

    Not enough juice

    The specs say it'll go 100 miles on a charge; however, it'll only go 40. If it were 100, I would have bought it. It would've made a great commuter car for me.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 3.0
    8 people out of 8 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • By Daveb from Sylva, NC
    Owns this car
    April 1, 2017

    Might buy the Versa instead

    I bought this car based on my positive experience of my 2014 Focus gas. The 2012 Focus EV that I purchased for $9500 had just come off a lease and had just over 20,000 miles. Needless to say the price I paid was about a quarter of the MSRP and made it a geat value. Other than one recall for faulty door latches I have had no mechanical problems in the 10 months I have owned the car. Pros: At my electricity rates where I live I can easily charge my car for less than a dollar and under the right conditions can go 70 plus miles. One of the reasons I chose this car over the Versa was the exterior styling of the car. To me it has a sleeker appearance than the Versa, but this is matter of opinion. The front seating is comfortable and the controls are easy to reach. The car has very good 0-60mph pick up and I have never struggled merging into traffic. The car handles well, but has a wider turning radius the my Focus gas. I don't know if this is because of changes between the 2012-2014 models or because of the diffrerence in weight distribution between the gas and electric models. The SYNC entertainment system took some getting used to, but once you figure it out, it's an O.K. system. Cons: First let me say I live in a moderately rural area in N.C. . To give you an idea of my drive I am in the mountains and am 12 miles from my local city of 10,000 people. Some of my cons would not be pertinent to someone that lives in a big city or in a year long warm climate. On a full charge during warm months I can reasonably expect to go about 70 miles on a full charge. The A/C seems to have little impact on that mileage. When the temperature drops below 50F, the mileage takes a substantial hit by an estimated 10% for every 10 degrees, and using the heat adds probably another 5% drop. For that reason when it gets cold I normally find myself using my the gas Focus and if I do drive the EV I turn the heater on and off when the car gets a little warm inside to try to extend the mileage. This makes for a much more uncomfortable drive. One reason I might choose a Versa over the Focus would be that this car seems to be a gas car that they yanked the gas motor out and put an electric motor in, and not designed from the ground up as an EV like the Versa. My driveway is gravel and about 1/3 mile long. It is pretty level except for about 200' that has a moderate grade. My gas Focus never had any problems on this grade, but the EV tires would slip and spin telling me this car is rear heavy. A Versa owner nearby at my request drove up my driveway and had no problems. I finally had to put paved runners up this section to assist my E.V. at a substantial cost. The battery takes up a very large portion of the rear of this hatch so this might be something you need to explore. The back seat is very cramped for adults but would probably be fine for young children. This car has the worst low beam headlights I have ever used. Somehow Ford has defied physics and managed to stop light rays at about 50 feet. It is almost pitch dark about 50 feet in front in dark conditions. My local Ford dealer says the lights are not adjustable.This might not be a problem if you live in a well lite city. On the flip side this car has the best high beams of any car I have ever owned. Driving down my local backroads I am constantly having to switch between high and low beams as I come across appoaching traffic. Summary: I hope it doesn't sound like I am unhappy about purchasing this car because I am not. Most of the complaints I have would not be a problem if I lived in a big city. This is my first EV and don't forsee myself ever not having one unless a cheaper fuel source comes along or electricity rates go crazy. You do have to plan some of your trips and in my rural location I could not make it only with this vehicle. If you live in a similar location / climate as me and don't have access to a gas vehicle I would definitely recommend you look at a hybrid or one of the new long range EV's coming out, but expect to pay around $35-40k before incentives for a new one. I plan on living with this car for a few years and when the long range EV's start coming off lease with a substantial discount like this car did I will probably buy one.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    8 people out of 8 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By EV Lover from Columbia, MD
    Owns this car
    April 19, 2015

    Ford's best kept secret

    I love my new Ford Focus EV. I test drove one back in 2012 and liked it better than the Nissan Leaf. It has a more attractive inside, felt more solid than the Leaf and looks better on the outside as well. I recently bought a used 2012 for half the price of new. I don't know why Ford doesn't market this car more aggressively, it's highly competitive with any EV out there. That's another reason why I chose it above the Leaf - I want folks to know it exists!
    • 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 First Electric Car Owner from Cincinnati, Ohio
    Owns this car
    June 22, 2014

    A really practical electric car

    I bought a used 2012 Focus Electric with only 5,600 miles, in June 2014 for $20,000. I chose it because 1. it has a very useful range (75 miles) that perfectly fits my needs (30 mile round trip commute plus errands) 2. it looks great and not odd like some other electric cars and 3. it has a very high end set of interior features: Nav, Voice Control, Bluetooth, Sirius XM, heated seats, heated mirrors, rain sensing wipers, auto headlight, ...these are all standard. I strongly recommend the car especially as a low miles used car, it's great value. It is very cheap to operate: Costs me about $2.50 for 75 miles. It drives well. My only criticism is the trunk is small and the rear seat legroom is small. But for a commute car it is nearly perfect.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By First All Electric Auto from New Hope, MN
    Owns this car
    August 12, 2013

    Ford Electric Focus

    Very happy with the Ford Electric Focus. I installed a Level 2 charger and the car charges in less than 3 hours. The regenerative braking adds energy back into the batteries at a rate of about 1 mile of energy for every 1 block of braking. My longest trip has been 64.2 miles, had 83 miles on the battery at the start of the trip and had 25 miles on the battery at the end of the trip.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    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 ffe12-guy from Saint Louis, MO
    Owns this car
    April 8, 2013

    The perfect car for my current needs.

    I found a 2012 Ford Focus Electric in Saint Louis, MO. It was a pre-owned with only 1K miles. I test drove one at the auto show, and liked it very much. It is loaded with everything you can think of. Performance is great, and fits my daily drive of 25 miles or so. The range is in the mid seventies. I charge with the 120V, and I am able to have a full charge every day. Sony sound system is fantastic and the Ford MyTouch works great with my S2 phone. The leather seats are very comfortable, and it has power driver seat. Great handling and acceleration, even at highway speed. From a stop, the torque is a beast! Great looks and great engineering! Not a lot of storage, but I can always lower one of the back seats to fit anything extra large. I do not miss the gas station! Great job Ford!
    • 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
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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See all reviews

Latest news from cars.com

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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

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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2012 Ford Focus Electric?

The 2012 Ford Focus Electric is available in 1 trim level:

  • (1 style)

What is the electric range of the 2012 Ford Focus Electric?

The 2012 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 2012 Ford Focus Electric reliable?

The 2012 Ford Focus Electric has an average reliability rating of 5.0 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2012 Ford Focus Electric owners.

Is the 2012 Ford Focus Electric a good Hatchback?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2012 Ford Focus Electric. 83.3% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.3 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.3
  • Interior: 4.3
  • Performance: 4.3
  • Value: 4.5
  • Exterior: 4.7
  • Reliability: 5.0

Ford Focus Electric history

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