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2008 Ford Focus Safety Review

July 23, 2008

SAFETY | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

rear seats lack head restraints
Edmunds

Five stars, driver and passenger front impact protection; three stars, side impact protection; four stars, rollover resistance
NHTSA

Not rated
IIHS

The 2008 Ford Focus performs well in federal frontal crash tests, but side impacts are a concern.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tested the 2008 Ford Focus and awarded it five stars for frontal impacts and three stars for side impacts. Its rollover rating is four stars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has not yet tested the Focus.

Edmunds reports, "Six airbags are standard on all Focus models. This includes front seat side-impact airbags as well as head curtain airbags for both front and rear seat occupants. The rear seats lack head restraints, and stability control is not offered." A "tire-pressure monitor" is also standard on the Ford Focus, according to ConsumerGuide.

Edmunds notes "Antilock brakes are optional on all trim levels" on the Ford Focus 2008; "traction control" is available as well, according to MyRide.com.

Additionally, regarding visibility from the Ford Focus 2008, MyRide.com remarks "the view all around is very good" and that the "angle of the windshield relative to the driver provides an excellent view of the road."

Conclusion

The 2008 Ford Focus gets good front-impact crash ratings, but many safety systems are optional or unavailable—and side impact results are low.

SAFETY | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:rear seats lack head restraintsEdmundsFive stars, driver and passenger front impact protection; three stars, side impact protection; four stars, rollover resistanceNHTSANot ratedIIHS The 2008 Ford Focus performs well in federal frontal crash tests, but side impacts are a concern. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tested the 2008 Ford Focus and awarded it five stars for frontal impacts and three stars for side impacts. Its rollover rating is four stars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has not yet tested the Focus. Edmunds reports, "Six airbags are standard on all Focus models. This includes front seat side-impact airbags as well as head curtain airbags for both front and rear seat occupants. The rear seats lack head restraints, and stability control is not offered." A "tire-pressure monitor" is also standard on the Ford Focus, according to ConsumerGuide. Edmunds notes "Antilock brakes are optional on all trim levels" on the Ford Focus 2008; "traction control" is available as well, according to MyRide.com. Additionally, regarding visibility from the Ford Focus 2008, MyRide.com remarks "the view all around is very good" and that the "angle of the windshield relative to the driver provides an excellent view of the road." ConclusionThe 2008 Ford Focus gets good front-impact crash ratings, but many safety systems are optional or unavailable—and side impact results are low.  2008 FORD FOCUS STYLING | [6 out of 10] MyRide.com: "Undesirable styling" Edmunds: "Bland interior design" Car and Driver: "Styling is revised within and without" Automobile: " Ford's cute child grew into a homely adult" The 2008 Ford Focus is the product of a major redesign of ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The 2008 Ford Focus is up against tough competition. The 2008 Honda Civic offers great variety, such as coupe and sedan body styles and multiple powertrains, including hybrid and natural gas. The 2009 Toyota Corolla is especially attractive in its top trim level, though less so in the base trim. The 2008 Focus also has to compete against the Mazda3, a perennial enthusiast favorite for its handling. Comparatively, the Hyundai Elantra and Dodge Caliber trail this pack in overall refinement and style, and without a Focus SVT model, Ford has nothing to line up against the 285-horsepower Caliber SRT4.

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See the Ford Focus in Other Years:

2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000

Comments (4 total)

  1. By Galen Gareis #1, Posted: 8/12/2008

    Three stars side impact not on 4 door.

    The four door rates 4 stars side impact, only the two door is 3 stars in the side impact, so the car rates right in there with all the small cars on the market at 4 or better all the way around.
    The interior materials are NOT PVC based so they will outlive the soft touch material that everyone covets,to a bad ending. Ethylene and TPE based plastic is MUCH better wearing and resistant to water and organic stains. If you don't drink hydrocarbons inside your car (oil based liquids), the material will hold up like iron. A fine trade-off in my book as I keep my car 15 years or longer.

  2. By George #2, Posted: 8/15/2008

    Difficult to look at...

    What the... they have done with the Focus? I think that this is Ford's solution to raise F150's sales: Build ugly cars to avoid people buy one.

  3. By Milton Oliver #3, Posted: 8/21/2008

    Technical Support Engineer

    I bought the wife a 2008 Focus SE so far she has put about 1500 miles on it. I find the car to be fuel efficient 29.5 in mixed driving a 35+ on the highway of course this depends upon your driving style. The ride is a bit stiff but the car handles well. Overall we bought the car for economy and price as a daily commuter. We are well satisfied with it, it was the best bang for our buck overall.
    If we wanted a luxury or sports car we would have bought one. So be realistic what do you look for when you buy a car price, economy, performance, reliability etc you get what you pay. Most of all do the research and hop to get all of the above.

  4. By Danielle #4, Posted: 3/4/2009

    lovemycar

    Well, someone said this is nothing but an upgraded Ford ZX2, and your right it is... But a great upgrade if you ask me. I had my little ZX2 for 8 years before it got totaled and this 2009 Focus SE is what I bought to replace it. I am very happy with it for the most part, although it has been in the Dealership repair shop for 2 months of the that I have had it. I do get frusterated with it, but it is the first year of the new design and I have to understand that there will be flaws. But I do love the way it rides, I love the SYNC system, it is very roomy even in the back. My boyfriend is 6' tall and can sit comfortably back there. It has a very quiet engine and handles very well. I feel very safe driving it, and it gets great gas mileage!!! I drive 68 miles each way to work daily, and I could not have made a better choice for the drive!!!

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