Ford Focus ST is one hot hatchback
The Ford Focus has always been a decent car in the compact segment. It’s a staple of affordability and reliability in both the US and Europe. Ford turned up the dial with the launch of the Focus ST, adding to the already stout lineup of cars using the EcoBoost engines. This week let’s take a look at the Ford Focus ST hatchback.
My example was delivered with a Performance Blue paint job, 6-speed manual transmission and black and blue two-tone Recaro racing seats. Under the hood is a 2.0L EcoBoost engine pumping out 252 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. This isn’t a slow hatchback by any means and the clutch pedal is very forgiving and easy to manipulate. The ST model provides cool exterior features including a blacked out front grill with red ST badges, 18-inch aluminum wheels, body kit and dual center mounted exhaust pipes. Overall the exterior appearance is very sleek and coupe-like; but this is indeed a 5-door hatchback.
Inside the layout is very tight and driver oriented. The Recaro seats are very snug for an average sized male almost to the point of uncomfortable. That being said, they look amazing, my wife loved them and they add to the appearance of the interior. The dash has vertical air vents that surround the touch screen with available MyFord and SYNC technology. Simple HVAC controls round out the bottom of the center stack. A three gauge cluster is atop the dashboard with boost, oil temp and oil pressure readouts. The steering wheel is the perfect size and thickness and houses an ST logo in the bottom. There are several controls attached to the steering wheel as well as on the face of the wheel. It’s somewhat cluttered but you get used to it after a few commutes.
On the road the ST feels great. It takes bumps well and handles corners with ease. Step on the accelerator and the car jumps to life with very little drama but if you push too hard you may experience some torque steer from the Front-wheel drive layout. Shifting through the 6-speed is a pleasure and one of the easiest gearboxes I’ve driven lately. Overall the car feels good on any road and provides the driver with confidence. There is also a considerable amount of interior space for passengers and their stuff. The trunk swallowed my hockey bag and I was able to slide hockey sticks between the seats with ease.
My wife was disappointed there were no heated seats but was pleased with the front leg room even with our son’s car seat installed behind her. One thing I was not happy with was the fuel economy, and that’s what Ford brags about. I managed to average 18-20mpg which isn’t horrible but Ford claims an average of 26mpg. My guess is the 12.4 gallon fuel tank doesn’t help the mileage numbers but I expected more. Base price for the ST is $23,700 but with options brought the bottom line to $27,795.
The Good – Sporty appearance, roomy interior and go kart feel.
The Bad – Fuel economy, brake dust and Recaro seats.