Used car guide

Used Ford Focus RS: the years to buy and the years to skip

Every Ford Focus RS from 2016 to 2018: what each year typically sells for (about $26,500 to $34,000), its crash rating, and whether it's a year to target or skip. The best bets are 2018. Look harder at or skip 2016–2017.

2016–2018 Ford Focus RS

A rally-bred hot hatch with a turbo four, torque-vectoring all-wheel drive and a drift mode.

Years to target: 2018. Look harder at or skip: 2016–2017. It has a below-average reliability record.

$34,000typical asking price, target years

22 mpgcombined, EPA

5 seatsall-wheel drive standard

Ford Focus RS 2016 to 2018 by model year
Year	Typical price	Verdict	Crash rating	Typical miles
2016	$26,500	Skip	5 of 5	~85,000
2017	$29,000	Skip	5 of 5	~80,000
2018	$34,000	Target	5 of 5	~70,000

Worth knowing

Skip 2016–2017. The 2.3-liter turbo can fail its head gasket, causing coolant loss and white smoke; Ford revised the gasket for later builds.
Early engines can suffer head gasket failure and the ride is very firm, so ask for records of the gasket fix.
Performance cars like this usually cost much more to insure than an average car, often 30% or more. Get a quote before you buy.
Budget for higher running costs: summer performance tires cost about $700 to $1,200 a set and wear quickly, and brakes cost more than on a regular car.

The trim we'd park in our garage

Look for an RS2 for heated seats and nicer trim, or a 2018 car, which got the revised head gasket and, on Limited Editions, a front limited-slip.

On the test drive

Check the coolant level and look for white exhaust smoke or rough running on startup, signs of head gasket failure. Pay for an inspection at an independent shop that specializes in the brand.

Safety tech

Automatic emergency braking: not offered in this generation.
Adaptive cruise control: not offered in this generation.
Blind-spot monitoring: not standard in this generation, so check the listing.

Also worth comparing at this price

Toyota GR Corolla 2023 · $36,000
Honda Civic Si 2024–2025 · $29,500–$30,500

Find one near you

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Looking at a specific listing? Check if it's a good buy.

Prices are typical dealer and private asking prices from used listings, collected in September and October 2026, for an average-mileage car. Years with too few listings are estimated from nearby years. Crash ratings, recalls and owner complaint counts come from NHTSA public records. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you buy. Spot something off? Let us know.