Focus: yearly fuel cost
The 2024 Ford Focus is one of Britain's favourite family cars, but how much will it actually cost you at the pumps? At 8,000 miles a year and £1.45 per litre, expect an annual petrol bill of about £1,083 — roughly £90 a month, or £20.80 a week. Its WLTP combined figure of 48.7 mpg trails the hatchback segment average of 53.9 mpg in our 20-car dataset, so the Focus is slightly thirstier than the class norm despite its modest 125 PS output and 10.0-second 0–62 time. Over a five-year ownership stretch, fuel totals around £5,400. That makes it competitive rather than class-leading on running costs — fine for loyal Focus fans, but worth knowing if fuel economy tops your priority list.
In the real world, the Focus typically returns 45–46 mpg in mixed use against the 48.7 mpg WLTP claim — a gap that widens on short winter trips when the engine never reaches temperature. Petrol-specific savings come from three places: shifting up early and keeping revs below 2,500 rpm, avoiding the 80 mph cruise where drag soars, and using supermarket fuel alongside a periodic branded top-up to keep injectors clean. Tyre pressures deserve a monthly check, as does clearing the boot of heavy clutter. Verdict: the Focus rewards smooth, unhurried driving — adopt that style and the gap to the official figure shrinks to almost nothing. Filling up at supermarket forecourts rather than motorway services can also shave 8–10p per litre off every tank, which compounds nicely over a year of commuting.