1.0 Focus Active vs 1.0 Civic

[TVRBRZ]

Son is upgrading from a starter car to something a bit bigger and more capable. Insurance is identical for the shortlist of a Honda Civic 1.0T SR or a Focus Active 1.0T in the 123hp tune. Approx 2020-2022 MY.

Out to drive both over the weekend but I'd appreciate any thoughts, concerns on either. Focus Active is the practical choice (he does outdoorsy stuff) whereas the Civic seems to be the sportier choice.

Many thanks!

[Hammer67]

Mate of mine has had a 17 plate 1.0 Civic from new.

Now on about 85k miles.

Now on it`s 3rd engine and turbo.

Wet belt.

HTH.

[TVRBRZ]

Hammer67 said:

Mate of mine has had a 17 plate 1.0 Civic from new.

Now on about 85k miles.

Now on it`s 3rd engine and turbo.

Wet belt.

HTH.

Oh, that's very un-Honda like

[Hammer67]

TVRBRZ said:

Hammer67 said:

Mate of mine has had a 17 plate 1.0 Civic from new.

Now on about 85k miles.

Now on it`s 3rd engine and turbo.

Wet belt.

HTH.

Oh, that's very un-Honda like

Indeed, I`ve done a few jobs on it as well, brakes, speed sensors, wheel bearings etc.

It`s a lovely thing to look at and sit in but driving it isn`t great, not exactly fast or economical either.

I`d certainly not buy one with that engine, or anything with a wet belt, I suspect the Focus you mention will have one of those as well.

[wyson]

Honda aren’t the brand they used to be. Early 1.5 turbo Civics suffered from oil dilution issues. They changed the piston ring design, but not before a slew of early engine failures.

Both those 1.0’s have wet belts. Just reams of people moaning they munch engines around 40k miles. Belt changes are £1.5k to £2k. I’d avoid them and anything with the Peugeot 1.2 Puretech, although the belt changes on those are about £600 at an indy. Could at a pinch be considered a maintenance item. I’d get it done every 3 years or 30k miles for peace of mind.

I drive a Peugeot 3008 1.2 Puretech (2 year lease thankfully) and get 20mpg on the school run so echo the sentiments about these small capacity turbos having poo real world fuel economy. For comparison a Volvo XC40 with a 2 litre 190bhp turbo was getting low 30’s in the same circumstance. I guess the mild hybrid system was helping there, but still.

Edited by wyson on Thursday 24th October 18:50

[TVRBRZ]

Ew. I'd just assumed it was Japanese and therefore impeccable.

1.0T in either can more a factor in insurance costs (young driver). Thanks for the heads up on the Honda, the Focus does seem better value mileage and age for the choice near us

[wyson]

Focus 1.0 has the same wet belt design and the same problems.

[TVRBRZ]

wyson said:

Focus 1.0 has the same wet belt design and the same problems.

Hmmm. Worrying. But cheap to insure. I'm thinking that a good extended Ford warranty is essential. That is useful info because it discounts a nice example from an Indy that did not have a good warranty compared to a Ford dealer. Thanks Wyson

Edited by TVRBRZ on Thursday 24th October 18:58

[CrgT16]

I know slightly off topic but I had a Civic with the 1.5T and sold it at 92K from new. Nothing but reliable and average 50mpg! Appreciate it does not have a wet belt but if he can stretch to the 1.5 it is a very solid car. Mine was a 2020 model sold just a few months ago. Cheap service and good to drive if you enjoy driving. Def have a look at those.

[Alfa Pete]

Has he considered a Mazda 3 instead. Proper displacement 4 cylinder engine and decent fuel economy .

[TVRBRZ]

Alfa Pete said:

Has he considered a Mazda 3 instead. Proper displacement 4 cylinder engine and decent fuel economy .

Nice cars but originally discounted due to the 2.0L engine and the effect on insurance. I'll suggest he gets some quotes

[Gas1883]

I’ve had 2 focus 1.0 , the first was brought at apx 64,000 & ran perfectly until apx 96,000 , it then lost power & we were told could be vacuum pump / wet belt / turbo or various other things , we got rid as no- one seemed to be able to say for sure what the actual fault was , and I didn’t want to Chuck loads of money at it ( online shows it’s still on the road , so I suspect not a serious fault .
I brought my present one was brought at apx 46 ,O00 and is now on 64,000 & has had one fault , oxygen sensors , replaced and car runs perfect
I’ve no doubt like any car engines have gone at 30,000 but I’ve had 2 , one at 96,000 & one at 64,000 so it’s obviously not every one
I’d add I’ve mates with all sorts , who had 10 x the issues with there cars I’ve had , last time we went on hol we took the focus as bil wouldn’t risk his a6 Audi as it spends more time in the garage than on the road , he changed to Audi as he’d had that many issues with bmw / merc .
My daughters 1.0 fiesta vignale is a 69 plate and runs perfect , only one issue , brittle window switches .

[BenS94]

That later Focus has the newer, improved "Fox" engine with a timing chain. More torque too than the previous car. Impressive.

[wyson]

Gas1883 said:

last time we went on hol we took the focus as bil wouldn’t risk his a6 Audi as it spends more time in the garage than on the road , he changed to Audi as he’d had that many issues with bmw / merc .

Talk about jumping out of a frying pan into a fire! Did he consider a Lexus?

[TVRBRZ]

BenS94 said:

That later Focus has the newer, improved "Fox" engine with a timing chain. More torque too than the previous car. Impressive.

Ben, do you know when the "Fox" engine came in? The favourite is a 2022 Ecoboost, thanks (and thanks Gas1883 for the info too)

[BenS94]

TVRBRZ said:

Ben, do you know when the "Fox" engine came in? The favourite is a 2022 Ecoboost, thanks (and thanks Gas1883 for the info too)

I'm mostly certain all MK4 Focus' have it.

Open the bonnet and if the dipstick goes in to metal, essentially, it's the Fox. If plastic, it's the wetbelt.

[TVRBRZ]

Many thanks!

[stevemcs]

While the newer 1.0 Focus does have a chain, the oil pump is still driven by a belt.

[Mr Mill]

stevemcs said:

While the newer 1.0 Focus does have a chain, the oil pump is still driven by a belt.

No common issues with oil pumps being driven by a belt in oil. Ford and VW have been doing this for at least a decade with multiple diesel engines. The timing belt disintegrating was the issue in the previous 1.0 petrols.

[TVRBRZ]

Mr Mill said:

No common issues with oil pumps being driven by a belt in oil. Ford and VW have been doing this for at least a decade with multiple diesel engines. The timing belt disintegrating was the issue in the previous 1.0 petrols.

Good to know, many thanks