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Carsales Staff7 Jul 2014
REVIEW

Ford Focus ST: Small Performance Car Comparison 2014

The Focus ST might be aged in this company, but it still has a lot to offer both on track and on road

Ford Focus ST

Execution of intended purpose
Like the Subaru WRX, MINI Cooper S and Volkswagen Golf GTI, the Ford Focus ST has its roots firmly in the small car mainstream. But there’s no confusing it for a regular Focus on the road.

It sits low and mean, a look accentuated by the well-integrated body kit and the 18-inch alloy wheels. The well fitted-out cabin makes you feel like you’re sitting in something special.

Although the grippy, super-comfortable Recaro seats extract a price in terms of rear-seat accommodation (there’s precious little legroom behind a relatively tall front-seat passenger), the general functionality is pretty much the same as a regular Focus, with a 316-litre boot (the spare is a space-saver) and 60/40 split-fold rear backrest that opens up the load area to 1101 litres.

Vision from the driver’s seat is not best in class, hampered around the C/D-pillar as the upswept window line takes its toll.

On the road, the car’s sporting orientation is evident in tyre-induced road noise, and the intake rasp from the ‘sound symposer’ that channels harmonic elements of the engine into the interior.

Fit, finish and finesse
With nearly 20,000kms on the clock of our tester, the Focus ST could have been forgiven for showing its age. But the test car was as drum-tight as it had been the last time we tested it more than 12 months ago.

It’s a promising sign for the Ford’s build quality, which it has to be said, presented exceptionally well across each of this category’s ten test criteria. Indeed, the Focus near levelled the scores of the much newer MINI Cooper S.

From the presentation of the engine bay to the paint finish and the regularity of the panel gaps, the Focus ST proved convincingly well put together. The interior was likewise of a consistently high quality with plastics and carpets. Even the upholstery showed very few signs of wear.

In fact, the only indication of faltering for the Focus ST came from up the back — the parcel shelf covering the cargo bay had a broken lift-string on the left-hand side.

On the road
Deemed the most characterful car on test, the Focus ST showed a dynamic flair that made it the most ‘interactive’ car on circuit.

“It’s a great all-rounder,” said Youlden.

“It pulls well out of corners, has a nice gearshift, and a solid bite when asking for the brakes, which show good resistance to fade.

“But its biggest attribute is its chassis adjustability. It’s the only car here that you can induce corner entry oversteer to help the car turn in. It’s great fun.”

Objectively, the fast Focus ST posted the second slowest lap time (1:01.81). Inside (front) wheelspin and the occasional stability control intervention sapped acceleration.

It also recorded the longest 60-0km/h braking distance (14.7m), though its braking performance was more consistent than most. Off the track, the Focus returned 7.2L/100km in mixed driving, beating the ADR Combined figure by 0.2.

Road testers also enjoyed the Ford’s sharp steering (though the lack of lock is a pain during parking), lovely gearshift and well-resolved ride.

Suitable integration of technology
The Ford Focus ST comes standard with loads of useful tech. From a rich-sounding Sony audio system with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, to an in-depth, high-resolution trip computer, keyless entry and push-button engine start, it really feels the part — even in spite of its age.

Most of the Focus ST's technology is well integrated, but it's overwhelming to begin with due to the overload of buttons and controls you're faced with

There are 20 buttons on the steering wheel alone, which compares to the Renault's four. The dozen or so buttons and dials on centre console seem to engulf the too-small infotainment screen.

Overall, the cabin looks cool and even the tactile indicator stalks have an angular motif. But the tiny satnav screen is hard to read and the input system not as simple to use as that of the Golf.

All four electric windows are one-touch, the wing mirrors are auto folding and the dual-zone climate control works well.

The Focus’ HVAC system features digital temperature displays and is well organised, contributing to the high-tech look of the cabin.

Value for money
At $38,290 (plus ORCs) in base form, the Ford Focus ST is midfield.

It is right up there in terms of its power-to-weight ratio and on-track ability: Like the smaller Fiesta ST, the German-built Focus, looks and feels like a legitimate high-performance hatch.

And its value for money quotient is unquestionable.

The Ford is under warranty for three years/100,000km (with roadside assistance for the first year) and comes with fixed-price servicing stretching out to seven years or 135,000km (whichever comes first).

Of the cars tested here, the Focus ST has the lowest resale value percentage. After one year, the Ford is expected to bring a private resale price that is 76 per cent of the new price.

motoring.com.au's 2014 Small Performance Car Comparison


>> MINI Cooper S

>> Renault Megane RS 265

>> Subaru WRX

>> Volkswagen Golf GTI

Price: $38,290 (as tested, plus on-road costs) Performance figures (as tested):
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol 0-60km/h: 3.8 seconds
Output: 184kW/340Nm 0-100km/h: 7.8 seconds
Transmission: Six-speed manual 80-100km/h: 2.1 seconds
Fuel: 7.4L/100km (ADR Combined) 60-0km/h: 14.7m
CO2: 172g/km (ADR Combined) Lap time: 1:01.81
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP
What we liked: Not so much:
>> Sharp, accurate steering >> Cluttered infotainment array
>> Impressive fit and finish >> C-pillar vision issues
>> Competent dynamics >> Braking performance
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Written byCarsales Staff
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