Ford Focus Car Tax UK
2026/27 VED Rates
The Ford Focus sits cleanly in the mainstream-family-hatchback VED window. Most trim levels (1.0 EcoBoost mHEV, 1.5 EcoBlue diesel) land in Band G with a first-year rate of around £455, then drop to the £200 standard rate from year 2 onwards. Only the ST 2.3 EcoBoost crosses both the higher Band J CO2 line and the £40,000 list-price threshold for the expensive-car supplement.
£455
1.0 EcoBoost year 1
Band G (111-130 g/km)
£200
Year 2+ standard
All under £40k trims
£2,270
ST year 1
Band J (171-190 g/km)
Focus engine breakdown
| Variant | UK list price | Year 1 | Year 2+ | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 EcoBoost 125 mHEV (around 115 g/km) | From around £27,000 | £455 | £200 | Band G. Under £40k so no supplement; standard rate year 2+. |
| 1.0 EcoBoost 155 mHEV (around 120 g/km) | From around £29,500 | £455 | £200 | Band G. Under £40k, standard rate year 2+. |
| 1.5 EcoBlue diesel 120 (around 120 g/km, RDE2) | From around £30,500 | £455 | £200 | Band G petrol-equivalent rate (RDE2). Under £40k. |
| ST 2.3 EcoBoost (around 175 g/km) | From around £40,000 | £2,270 | £640 | Band J. Top trim crosses £40k - supplement applies years 2-6. |
CO2 figures vary by exact spec (transmission, wheel size, drive mode). Check the WLTP-combined CO2 figure on the Ford UK configurator for your build before applying the band lookup. Standard £200 rate from year 2 unless trim crosses the £40,000 list-price threshold.
5-year total VED comparison
For a new 1.0 EcoBoost 125 mHEV registered 1 May 2026:
- - Year 1: £455 first-year rate
- - Year 2-5: £200 standard rate, four years
- - 5-year total: £455 + (4 x £200) = £1,255
For an ST 2.3 EcoBoost registered the same day:
- - Year 1: £2,270 first-year rate (Band J)
- - Year 2-5: £640/year (£200 standard + £440 supplement)
- - 5-year total: £2,270 + (4 x £640) = £4,830
The ST's 5-year VED bill is nearly four times the mainstream EcoBoost. The hot-hatch tax penalty is real and concentrated in the first year plus the 5-year supplement window.
Related guides
Source: gov.uk/vehicle-tax-rate-tables (2026/27 schedule). Verified June 2026.