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Ford Focus vs Renault Megane: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Ford Focus is the more reliable used buy: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 10.6 percentage points ahead of the Renault Megane on first-time MOT passes. That comparison covers 102,590 real tests across every generation on the road, not a survey. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.

MOT first-time pass rate

Counted from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test records. “vs age-matched” compares each model against what the national fleet scores at the same age — the only fair better-or-worse number, because an older fleet fails more whatever its build quality.

Ford Focus
Pass rate74.7%
Age-matched national74.8%
Difference-0.1
Tests93,066
Renault Megane
Pass rate60.9%
Age-matched national71.6%
Difference-10.7
Tests9,524

These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly Ford Focus registered 2001–2022 and Renault Meganes registered 2006–2019.

Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0). National first-time pass rate 77.3%. Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a first-time pass; DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. The difference is worked out before rounding, so it can be 0.1 away from the two rounded figures beside it.

Ford Focus

Mk4, 2018–2025 · compact family hatch

The Mk4 Ford Focus (2018–2025) drives brilliantly. The critical check is the 1.0 EcoBoost engine: early non-hybrid cars have a wet cam belt that owners report failing, while the 2020-on mild hybrid uses a chain-driven camshaft. Best-buy: 2021+ mild hybrid. Worst: early 2019.

What goes wrong

  • 1.0 EcoBoost wet-belt failurecritical
    Loss of compression; check engine; belt debris in oil; in worst case complete engine destruction
    Non-hybrid Mk4 1.0 EcoBoost with the original wet cam belt (2018 into 2019/2020). The mild hybrid (2020 on) uses a chain-driven camshaft; a smaller wet belt still drives the oil pump. The cut-over was not a clean model-year change, so confirm by engine code · On cars with the original wet cam belt, independent specialists advise changing it nearer 60,000 miles or 7 years than Ford's original interval · Belt + tensioner + labour: £700–£1,100 preventatively. Engine rebuild after failure: £4,500–£7,000.
    Check: Confirm the engine version by engine code. On an original wet-cam-belt car, ask for a dated invoice for the belt change; no record means budgeting for it now. On a mild hybrid, ask about the oil-pump belt. An oil-pan inspection at an independent garage is the best confirmation.
  • 1.5 EcoBlue diesel oil dilutionmajor
    Engine oil level rising between services; oil smells of diesel
    1.5 EcoBlue diesel, all years · Service interval reduction; in worst cases injector replacement £600–£1,200
    Check: Dipstick check pre-purchase: if oil level above max line, oil dilution is occurring.
  • Rear suspension bushing wearminor
    Knocking over rough surfaces; vague handling
    All Mk4 · 75,000+ miles · £250–£450
    Check: Rough-road portion of test drive.
  • SYNC 3 / SYNC 4 infotainment glitchesminor
    Screen freezes; CarPlay disconnects; reboot needed
    2018–2021 · Free at Ford dealer software update
    Check: Test infotainment fully during inspection.
Typical asking price:
£6,957–£12,995, median £9,295 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 8 October 2026)
Fuel economy:
44–51 mpg real-world for 1.0 EcoBoost 125PS
Vehicle tax:
£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025 (2026/27 rates). A car registered from April 2017 that listed at over £40,000 new (options included) also pays the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 — it is the price when new that counts, not what you pay for it used.
Best years:
2021, 2022, 2023
Years to avoid:
early 2019
Used Ford Focus for saleFull Focus fault guideUsed Fords

Also compare:

Renault Megane

Mk3 2008–2016 and Mk4 2016–2022 · family hatchback

On DVSA’s MOT data the Renault Megane has one of the weakest records of any model we cover: it passes first time 10.7 points less often than cars of the same age, and every registration year with enough tests is below the average for its year. Its one large DVSA recall (R/2013/034, a rear spoiler, builds to October 2009) mostly pre-dates the Mk3, so the evidence is owners’ reports: What Car? names clogging diesel particulate filters on the 1.5 dCi and weak CVT and torque-converter automatics.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2013/034recall
    Rear spoiler may become detached
    22,739 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 1 September 2003 and 31 October 2009
    Large recall — 22,739 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Safety recall R/2014/038recall
    Rear shelf may detach
    3,842 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 31 May 2010 and 14 October 2013
    Smaller recall — 3,842 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Diesel particulate filter — clogging (1.5 dCi)major
    What Car? says the diesel particulate filter fitted to some versions of the 1.5 dCi has been known to clog if the car is not taken on regular long runs, and that the Mk4 has had DPF clogging too. A long run often clears it, but remedial work outside warranty can be expensive.
    Diesel Mk3 and Mk4
    Check: Ask what journeys the car has done: a diesel used mainly for short trips is the risky one. Check for a DPF warning light and ask for any DPF invoices.
  • Automatic gearboxes — CVT, torque converter and EDC dual-clutchmajor
    What Car? says the Mk3 automatic came as a CVT, a torque converter or an EDC dual-clutch depending on the age and engine, and that the CVT and torque-converter gearboxes seem to have more than their fair share of problems.
    Mk3 2008–2016 automatics
    Check: Drive it from cold and warm, accelerating gently and hard, and ask for any gearbox service or repair history. Judder, hesitation or a gearbox warning light is a reason to walk away.
Typical asking price:
not given as a fixed figure — the model guide shows the median and middle 80% of asking prices for the cars advertised on Autoza that day, when at least 10 qualify
Fuel economy:
No sourced real-world figure for the Megane, so none is printed: the official lab figure depends on the engine and on the test cycle the car was approved under, so use the figure for the exact version you are looking at.
Vehicle tax:
£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
Best years:
no single year stands out
Years to avoid:
2013, 2014, 2015
Used Renault Meganes for saleFull Megane fault guideUsed Renaults

Also compare:

Which one suits you

Ford Focus

Good for: Driver-focused family buyers; commuters wanting small petrol; buyers who can verify wet-belt change documentation.

Less good for: Anyone considering an early non-hybrid 1.0 EcoBoost without belt-change evidence.

Renault Megane

Good for: Buyers prepared to pay for a full service history and a pre-purchase inspection, who will avoid a diesel that has only done short journeys.

Less good for: Anyone who wants the model with the best MOT record for its age, or who buys an automatic Mk3 without driving it from cold.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Ford Focus or the Renault Megane?
The Ford Focus. Measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 10.6 percentage points ahead of the Renault Megane on first-time MOT passes, across 102,590 DVSA-recorded tests covering every generation on the road. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.
How do the MOT pass rates of the Ford Focus and the Renault Megane compare?
74.7% of Ford Focus pass their MOT first time (93,066 tests in DVSA's records) and 60.9% of Renault Meganes pass their MOT first time (9,524 tests). The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of the Ford Focus's age average 74.8% and cars of the Renault Megane's age 71.6% — so the Ford Focus runs 0.1 points worse than its age group and the Renault Megane runs 10.7 points worse than its own. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.
Which years of the Ford Focus and Renault Megane should I avoid?
Ford Focus: Early Mk4 1.0 EcoBoost wet-belt failures were catastrophic when they occurred — £4,000+ engine rebuild on a £15k car. The DVSA MOT table on this page rates 2018 registrations above all cars registered that year, so it is not named as a year to avoid. Renault Megane: DVSA’s MOT table rates 2013, 2014 and 2015 registrations below all cars registered those years by 14.6, 17.4 and 15.2 points, the widest gaps in the Megane’s table. These are Mk3 cars; What Car? says the Mk3 was a vast improvement on its predecessors but still names clogging diesel particulate filters and weak CVT and torque-converter automatics. An MOT checks safety items on the day, not engine or gearbox condition, so read the gap as a pointer to upkeep and condition.
Is the Ford Focus or the Renault Megane cheaper to run?
On fuel it depends on the engine. Ford Focus: 44–51 mpg real-world for 1.0 EcoBoost 125PS. Renault Megane: No sourced real-world figure for the Megane, so none is printed: the official lab figure depends on the engine and on the test cycle the car was approved under, so use the figure for the exact version you are looking at. For cars registered from April 2017, vehicle tax works the same way for both: the £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included, plus the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 on a car that listed at over £40,000 new — the price when new, not what you pay for it used. Any Ford Focus or Renault Megane registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 pays a CO2 band instead, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates). Insurance differs mainly by driver and postcode rather than by model, so treat any model-level insurance figure with caution.

MOT figures are counted from DVSA records and are the only measured statistic here. Prices, economy and tax bands are indicative and vary by specification, condition and where the car has lived. Last reviewed: 2026-10-06 / 2026-10-06.