Ford is continuing with its long-established tradition of hot hatchbacks with the latest Focus ST. The Blue Oval has ditched the powerful but inefficient 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine that powered its predecessor in favour of a cleaner but no less potent 250hp 2.0-litre Ecoboost unit, which renders this ST good for 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds and 154mph, with emissions and economy of 169g/km and 39.2mpg – respectable given the performance.
Figures aside, the Focus makes for a sublime drive. It has buckets of mid-range power and emits a deep, guttural bark under acceleration that is music to the ears of any enthusiast. As is typical of hot Fords, the handling is second-to-none, and even though the ride is firm, it isn’t uncomfortable to the point of rendering the car unusable day-to-day.
All the practicalities of the standard Focus are a given, too, so there’s no reason the ST couldn’t be used every day. The sticking point is the cost issue, as the top-spec ST-3 tested here has a P11D of £25,165 (although cheaper ST-1 and ST-2 variants are available) and you’re looking at 67ppm. You’re also unlikely to get near the official economy figure if you take advantage of the performance.
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