With gas prices having risen considerably in recent months, with the current 3.990 dollar per gallon value being nearly a dollar up on where it was just one year ago, according to the Energy Information Administration, opting for some form of electric vehicle is more attractive than ever.While electricity prices from public chargers can still be pretty expensive, the beauty of an EV is that you can top it up at home using your own power plan. Big savings can be made as a result, though drivers who need to cover considerable mileage may still find them too restrictive.Owners who only need a daily runaround, which spends most of its time being flung around tight city streets, could find that an affordable used EV could be the best antithesis to the specter of rising fuel prices. More specifically, a preloved Ford Focus Electric stands out as an excellent option if this approach appeals to you. They can be found at dirt cheap prices in 2026, and are also very effective at being practical runarounds. Ford's Green Hatchback Is Nippier Than Its Gas-Powered Sibling Ford For starters, the Focus Electric is superior to its gas-powered equivalent at zipping around city streets. While it may lack outright power, with its 143 horsepower playing the 160 hp produced by the standard Focus' 2.0-liter inline-four powerplant, its 184 lb-ft of torque puts it just shy of 40 lb-ft clear.Torque is more important than power regarding acceleration and at lower speeds, with power making more of a difference when talking about medium and top-end speed. Plus, the Focus Electric's single 107 kW electric motor provides instant torque, meaning you won't need to wait long for the engine to spool up before you have access to the grunt available.While it still gets to 60 mph considerably slower than the gas Focus, the instant torque comes in very handy in city settings, where you'll spend most of your time going from 0 to 30 mph. It handles pretty similarly to the gas car, too, given it's based on the same underpinnings. The Focus' Range Isn't Outstanding, But It Should Be Adequate For City Use Ford The Focus Electric is available in two different flavors. While the single electric motor remains the same in each example, cars built between 2012 and 2016 come with a 23 kWh battery pack, while later specimens built between 2017 and 2018 were afforded an enlarged 33.5 kWh unit. The latter not only offers extra battery capacity, but it's also a little more efficient. While earlier cars are rated with a combined EPA MPGe of 105, the upgraded Focus Electric can manage 107 MPGe.The upshot of this is that while a Focus with the 23 kWh battery setup can run for 76 miles on a single charge, the 33.5 kWh-equipped machines can manage 115 miles. While neither of these figures are particularly impressive, given the gas Focus can reach upwards of 400 miles on a single tank of fuel, they should prove adequate as long as you keep it running in the city.Being an errand car, it's likely you won't need to cover more than 30 miles at a time, and you can top it up overnight using your home power supply. As a result, not only would the Focus Electric be nippier than the gas version, but it would also be cheaper to keep moving. EV Depreciation Means The Focus Electric Is Great Value In The Used Market Ford Aside from being cheaper to keep charged than it is to have a gas Focus filled, the Focus Electric is also worth around the same used. This is notable given the difference in price between the two models when they were new, with the Electric selling for around $11,000 more than a base Focus SE.EVs tend to depreciate heavily anyway, but the Focus Electric was so unpopular due to its elevated price and restrictive range that barely anyone bought one. While Ford was selling around 200,000 Focus units a year on average, it never managed to eclipse the 2,000 mark across any 12-month period the electric vehicle was offered.According to data from the CarBuzz Marketplace, the average used value for a 2017 Focus Electric currently stands at just $9,677, which is pretty awesome value for a car less than 10 years old. It gets even better too, as the Focus isn't just some tiny runabout that can squeeze two people in and that's your lot, as it's so much more capable than that. Ford's Electric Focus Retains Its Practicality, For The Most Part Ford Since the Focus Electric is built upon the same platform as the standard offering, it retains the same cabin configuration. This means you get a spacious compact hatchback to make use of, which can fit five people comfortably within its confines. The only drawback comes when you factor in cargo space, as the Electric's battery pack is placed underneath and behind the rear seats. This results in a drastic reduction of trunk capacity, with the Focus Electric providing 14.2 cubic feet of room when the seats are up. By comparison, the regular Focus has 23.8 cubic feet of space to play with.Therefore, those who regularly fill the trunk with stuff need to be wary that the Focus Electric will provide more limitations in this area. If you're more concerned about passenger space within the main cabin, there's nothing to worry about. It's Also Decently Equipped Ford Despite costing so little on the used market, you also get plenty of standard equipment that'll help keep your daily commute as effortless as possible. Satellite navigation is thrown in with the base model, as are heated seats and climate control. Cruise control is also on the menu, as is Bluetooth connectivity and Keyless Entry and Start. It isn't exactly a $100k Lexus, but for around $10k, a tidy Focus Electric provides plenty of toys that ensure it functions effectively as a versatile city slicker. There Are Key Elements To Factor In When Buying A Used Focus Electric Ford While used EVs like the Focus Electric can be appealing due to their relative lack of running parts, which means there is a lot less to go wrong with the machine's drivetrain, there are some negative elements you need to bear in mind.Chief among these is the state of the car's battery pack, as these will deteriorate over years of use, which reduces the overall capacity that it can hold. This could cause issues with charging it, as well as reduce its total range. It's a good idea to try and carry out a battery health check before you buy, so that you know what to expect day to day. Replacing the battery pack can cost thousands, so you'll want to ensure that it's in decent shape.Another element to keep in mind is that the Focus Electric's running gear will go through more than that of a standard Focus. Due to the heavy battery and powertrain setup, the Electric tips the scales at 692 pounds heavier than the regular model. This will put extra strain on components such as the brakes, suspension, and tires, so these are key points to investigate when looking at a used specimen. You'll also have to tackle these parts faster in your ownership, so expect to spend money more frequently to ensure these elements are up to standard. Ford's Electric Hatch Is A Great Used Option For Those Needing A Nippy And Efficient Job-Doer Ford All in all though, a used Focus Electric makes sense if you're after a nippy and practical errand-runner that'll prove cheap to run over years of service. Being able to put the rising gas price situation firmly in the back of your mind is a very useful benefit, as is how efficiently you'll be able to get your smaller jobs done. Make sure you bear the usual checks a used EV demands, and the Focus Electric should prove to be a dependable servant for years to come.Sources: Ford, CarBuzz Marketplace
