[Duff]

So I'm getting pretty close to ordering a new car. The biggest thing I had seen that I didn't like was the size of the fuel tank, at 12.1 gallons. I visited a dealer today and he gave me a new ST-specific brochure which lists the tank at 14.5 gallons. So I started digging:

Focus ST Brochure: 14.5 gal (12.1 imp gal) https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B7MFxKXywSo_dDlWN2JmdTRidHc

Ford's US Website: 12.1 gal
2013 Ford Focus | View Vehicle Cargo Capacity | Ford.com

Edmunds First Drive: 14.5 US gal
2013 Ford Focus ST First Drive Specs

Ford U.K.: 55L (14.5 US gal) for the standard Focus 5-door; 60L with the diesel engine
Ford Focus iBrochure

Ford Canada: 46.9L (12.1 US gal) for the standard Focus
Ford Focus | Ford Canada

Ford Australia: 55-62L (14.5-16.3 US gal), depending on trim. ST listed as 62L, or 16.3 gallons
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B7MFxKXywSo_Ui1pYl9SaDJuSVE
Ford Australia - eBrouchre - New Focus Preview

As far as I'm concerned, 12.1 gallons is too small, 14.5 is OK, and 16.3 would be perfect. It just so happens that the difference between Imperial and US gallons is the difference between 12.1 and 14.5, when converting from 55L. Is it possible that Ford has repeatedly make a unit conversion error here? If not, who's going to be first to try to order the big Australian tank?

Any help figuring out exactly what's been installed would be appreciated. Seems to be pretty inconsistent with the whole "One Ford" thing. Who's going to own up to running out of gas already?

 

[Kragbax]

Duff, Welsome to the site! That's a great question, and a lot of references checked.

I don't have my manual in front of me, and the car is new (I haven't put 100 miles on it yet), but if I had to guess I think it's 12.1. The reason? When I left the dealer with a full tank of gas it gave a driving range of just under 300 miles. It pretty much counted down from there, and I averaged about 25MPG (according to the onboard trip computer, city/highway driving). 300miles/25gal = 12mpg. Of course it might keep the last 2 gallons in reserve, not counting them on the distance to drive display. I haven't had it long enough to really know.

 

[Duff]

Let me know if you go past 12.1 gallons. I'm really hoping there's just some miscommunication between the European and US Ford people, and that the tank is really 14.5 gallons. I'm going to be really tempted to order a 16 gallon tank from Australia if it will fit.

 

[Now534]

I just filled my tank up this morning and only put in about 10.5 gallons (low fuel light just turned on as i pulled in the gas station) On the gauges it said i still had 20 miles to go until empty.

 

[mehturt]

The UK site mentions 62l for ST as well. My first fueling was 56l.

 

[yourdoinitwrong]

I have only filled up a few times but the one time the fuel light came on there was approx 40 miles to empty and the car took about 11 gallons. The 12.1 gallons seems correct. While not a major problem, I do wish the car had a larger tank.

 

[adaycj]

I only got 11.8 gallons in mine after driving a dozen or so miles under "0 miles" on the display. I'm too chicken to go further, but if there is 14.5 gals on board it is not useable anyway.

I agree that 12.1 isn't enough. I also agree that the transscription of data from market to market has been troublesome. Gear ratios have been like this too. My opinion is that the for the 2013 US market you are looking at 12.1 gallon tank.

 

[ST2Focus]

The American version of the ST holds between 12.1 and 12.4 gallons.

 

[AlbertY]

There's no way it's 14.5 gallons.

 

[AlbertY]

My previous car (Mazda 3) had a 14.5 galloon tank, which was reasonable.

 

[dr.stevil]

same here. Filled up when my light came on and put approx 10.2 gallons in it.

Don't mind the size too much. Filled the car with ethanol free 91 gas for 40.00 or so and get roughly 300 miles out of it... no complaints. Much cheaper and better mileage than the other car

 

[RoachRage]

My previous car (Mazda 3) had a 14.5 galloon tank, which was reasonable.

Meaning of course that 12 gallons is NOT reasonable! Ha ha!

 

[ny tdi]

The UK site mentions 62l for ST as well. My first fueling was 56l.

Wait, are you saying that UK ST's have a 16.1 US Gallon tank? WTF?! If this have ANYTHING to do with that darn full size spare in my trunk, I might just explode. Kaboom.

1) I hate that the full size spare makes our US trunks (boots) so small
2) It would suck if the full size spare (and the larger wheel well in the trunk) were also responsible for our puny 12.1 US gallon gas tanks!

AGRHHHHH!!!!

 

[mehturt]

I did not find an answer to this yet, let me ask my dealer.
On the other hand, I "love" the spare tire, I think I'd never buy a car without it.
EDIT: btw. I'm not from UK, I was just referring to the fact that the OP got the info wrong, based on the UK site

 

[Alex00322]

It's really not that unreasonable. You can get 300 to 340 miles out of a tank if you drive economically. Sure you might fill up a bit sooner but you'll still be getting the same mileage whether its 5 gallon tank or 50 gallon tank. I wouldn't let the fuel tank size weigh so heavily on your decision of keeping the car or not. The performance and fun more than makes up for it.

 

[KBY2KGT]

Averaging about 10.5 gallons per fill up with ~50 miles to empty per the computer.

 

[FocusST_Addict]

It is possible that both the US/Canadian ST and the UK ST have the same size tank of 14.5 gallons. Ford may have limited the amount of fuel that can be put in the US/Canadian ST to get its EPA gas mileage up.

Chevy did a similar thing with the Cruze Eco. It has the same size tank as the regular Cruze, but has something in the gas tank that causes the gas pump to shut off before it is full.

 

[mehturt]

So I checked with the dealer (and even in my car documents), and it's really 62l here in EU (or 16 gallons), not sure why you get less in the US, since the car should be pretty much the same.

 

[RPhilMan1]

So I checked with the dealer (and even in my car documents), and it's really 62l here in EU (or 16 gallons), not sure why you get less in the US, since the car should be pretty much the same.

You also have an estate.

 

[nandalora]

You also have an estate.

Bingo!