When selecting a battery for your Ford Focus Mk1 (manufactured between 1998 and 2004), it’s important to pick a model that not only meets your car’s technical specifications but also fits physically into your vehicle’s battery compartment. The Ford Focus Mk1 has different battery requirements depending on the engine type and displacement, making it crucial to choose the correct battery to ensure reliable performance and a smooth driving experience.
For petrol engines such as the 1.4 16V, 1.6 16V, and the 1.6 16V Flexifuel, the optimal battery capacity ranges from 41 Ah to 52 Ah. These engines typically require a cold cranking amperage (CCA) between 360 A and 520 A. Examples of suitable battery models include Bosch S30 01, Bosch S40 01, Bosch S50 01, Exide EA472, Exide EB442, Exide EC412, Halfords HB 063, Halfords HCB 063, Lucas LS063, Varta A17, Varta B18, or Varta C6. Keep in mind that these examples represent a selection of suitable options. It is particularly important for these engines to choose batteries with a reduced height of 175 mm to ensure compatibility with the battery compartment and avoid fitment issues.
When we move to the slightly larger petrol engines, such as the 1.8 16V, the battery requirements increase, demanding a capacity between 53 Ah and 62 Ah, with cold cranking currents between 500 A and 600 A. Exemplary models include Bosch S30 04, Bosch S40 04, Bosch S50 04, Exide EA612, Exide EB602, Exide EC542, Halfords HB 075, Halfords HCB 075, Lucas LP075, Lucas LS075, Varta C11, Varta D21, and Varta D59. The physical dimension of battery height at 175 mm remains a key requirement for compatibility with this vehicle variant as well.
For the high-performance petrol variants like the 2.0 16V, the ST170, and the sporty RS edition, you need a powerful, dependable battery to support higher electrical demands, typically from additional electronic features or enhanced engine components. These engines call for batteries with a minimum capacity of 60 Ah up to 62 Ah, and a cold cranking current range from 540 A to 600 A. Suitable battery examples include the Bosch S40 04, Bosch S50 04, Exide EA612, Exide EB602, Halfords HCB 075, Lucas LP075, Lucas LS075, Varta D21, and Varta D59. Again, the reduced height specification of 175 mm must be strictly observed to ensure correct fitment within your Ford Focus Mk1.
Diesel engines inherently demand stronger batteries due to higher compression ratios and additional electrical loads such as glow plugs and advanced fuel injection systems. For diesel engine models like the 1.8 DI, 1.8 Turbo DI, 1.8 TDDi, and 1.8 TDCi, the recommended battery capacities range between 65 Ah and 74 Ah, providing cold cranking currents between 540 A and 750 A. Exemplary battery models fitting these engines include Bosch S30 07, Bosch S40 07, Bosch S50 07, Exide EA722, Exide EB712, Exide EC652, Lucas LP100, Lucas LS100, Varta E38, Varta E43, and Varta E9. The special attention to the battery height at 175 mm is again critical for ensuring proper battery compartment fitment.
A noteworthy practical consideration is to regularly monitor the state of your battery, particularly its voltage and electrolyte levels, to maintain optimal performance. Did you know that the first-generation Ford Focus was widely praised for its revolutionary handling characteristics due to its advanced suspension setup at the time? However, even the best handling vehicle won’t start without a properly functioning battery, highlighting the importance of careful selection and maintenance.
In conclusion, when selecting a battery for the Ford Focus Mk1, pay close attention to both the electrical requirements and physical dimensions, particularly the reduced battery height of 175 mm across all engine variants. The provided battery models are only illustrative examples of suitable options, and ensuring that your chosen battery adheres to these specifications will significantly improve reliability and driving comfort. Proper selection and regular maintenance of your battery can also help extend its lifespan, offering consistent performance for many years.
Ford Focus in version Mk1 was produced in the years 1998 – 2004. Below we present the specifications of batteries suitable for specific engines.
Basic parameters of batteries suitable for Ford Focus (1998-2004):
| Layout | Terminal types | Base hold-down |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – positive on the right side | 1 | B13 |
Ford Focus Mk1 – petrol engines:
- 1.4 16V
- 1.6 16V
- 1.6 16V Flexifuel
| Model | Capacity and CCA | Dimensions (LxWxH) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bosch S3 S30 01 | 41 Ah 360 A | 207x175x175 mm | More |
| Bosch S4 S40 01 | 44 Ah 440 A | 207x175x175 mm | More |
| Bosch S5 S50 01 | 52 Ah 520 A | 207x175x175 mm | More |
| Exide Classic EC412 | 41 Ah 370 A | 207x175x175 mm | More |
| Exide Excell EB442 | 44 Ah 420 A | 207x175x175 mm | More |
| Exide Premium EA472 | 47 Ah 450 A | 207x175x175 mm | More |
| Halfords Essentials HB 063 | 41 Ah 360 A | 207x175x175 mm | More |
| Halfords Standard HCB 063 | 45 Ah 440 A | 207x175x175 mm | More |
| Lucas Supreme LS063 | 50 Ah 500 A | 210x175x175 mm | More |
| Varta Black Dynamic A17 | 41 Ah 360 A | 207x175x175 mm | More |
| Varta Blue Dynamic B18 | 44 Ah 440 A | 207x175x175 mm | More |
| Varta Silver Dynamic C6 | 52 Ah 520 A | 207x175x175 mm | More |
Ford Focus Mk1 – petrol engines:
- 1.8 16V
| Model | Capacity and CCA | Dimensions (LxWxH) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bosch S3 S30 04 | 53 Ah 500 A | 242x175x175 mm | More |
| Bosch S4 S40 04 | 60 Ah 540 A | 242x175x175 mm | More |
| Bosch S5 S50 04 | 61 Ah 600 A | 242x175x175 mm | More |
| Exide Classic EC542 | 54 Ah 500 A | 242x175x175 mm | More |
| Exide Excell EB602 | 60 Ah 540 A | 242x175x175 mm | More |
| Exide Premium EA612 | 61 Ah 600 A | 242x175x175 mm | More |
| Halfords Essentials HB 075 | 56 Ah 500 A | 242x175x175 mm | More |
| Halfords Standard HCB 075 | 60 Ah 550 A | 242x175x175 mm | More |
| Lucas Premium LP075 | 60 Ah 540 A | 243x175x175 mm | More |
| Lucas Supreme LS075 | 62 Ah 600 A | 242x175x175 mm | More |
| Varta Black Dynamic C11 | 53 Ah 500 A | 242x175x175 mm | More |
| Varta Blue Dynamic D59 | 60 Ah 540 A | 242x175x175 mm | More |
| Varta Silver Dynamic D21 | 61 Ah 600 A | 242x175x175 mm | More |
Ford Focus Mk1 – petrol engines:
- 2.0 16V
- RS
- ST170
| Model | Capacity and CCA | Dimensions (LxWxH) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bosch S4 S40 04 | 60 Ah 540 A | 242x175x175 mm | More |
| Bosch S5 S50 04 | 61 Ah 600 A | 242x175x175 mm | More |
| Exide Excell EB602 | 60 Ah 540 A | 242x175x175 mm | More |
| Exide Premium EA612 | 61 Ah 600 A | 242x175x175 mm | More |
| Halfords Standard HCB 075 | 60 Ah 550 A | 242x175x175 mm | More |
| Lucas Premium LP075 | 60 Ah 540 A | 243x175x175 mm | More |
| Lucas Supreme LS075 | 62 Ah 600 A | 242x175x175 mm | More |
| Varta Blue Dynamic D59 | 60 Ah 540 A | 242x175x175 mm | More |
| Varta Silver Dynamic D21 | 61 Ah 600 A | 242x175x175 mm | More |
Ford Focus Mk1 – diesel engines:
- 1.8 DI
- 1.8 TDCi
- 1.8 TDDi
- 1.8 Turbo DI
| Model | Capacity and CCA | Dimensions (LxWxH) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bosch S3 S30 07 | 70 Ah 640 A | 278x175x175 mm | More |
| Bosch S4 S40 07 | 72 Ah 680 A | 278x175x175 mm | More |
| Bosch S5 S50 07 | 74 Ah 750 A | 278x175x175 mm | More |
| Exide Classic EC652 | 65 Ah 540 A | 278x175x175 mm | More |
| Exide Excell EB712 | 71 Ah 670 A | 278x175x175 mm | More |
| Exide Premium EA722 | 72 Ah 720 A | 278x175x175 mm | More |
| Lucas Premium LP100 | 72 Ah 680 A | 278x175x175 mm | More |
| Lucas Supreme LS100 | 74 Ah 750 A | 278x175x175 mm | More |
| Varta Black Dynamic E9 | 70 Ah 640 A | 278x175x175 mm | More |
| Varta Blue Dynamic E43 | 72 Ah 680 A | 278x175x175 mm | More |
| Varta Silver Dynamic E38 | 74 Ah 750 A | 278x175x175 mm | More |
If you’re still unsure which battery fits your Ford Focus , or if you want to help others in their selection, please send us a photo of your current battery in the comment section at the bottom of the page. You can also send the picture to contact@whatbattery.co.uk (we will place it in the comments to also help other users). Be sure to specify the car model, year, type, as well as the engine capacity and power. We’ll do our best to assist you!