Ford Focus ST Review 2015: The Well-Mannered Rat-Pack Brat
What's hot: Fabulous grip, hot-hatch performance, comfortable on-road, superb seats.
What's not: Could it be a tad too refined? Needs more ‘noise' at the pipes, and manual only.
X-FACTOR: Absolutely positively one of the best of the hot-hatches for on-road balance and daily-driver appeal. It is also sinfully quick… (the line starts here sinners)
Vehicle Style: Small performance hatch
Price: $38,990 plus on-road costs
Engine/trans:184kW/360Nm (overboost) 2.0 litre turbo | 6spd man
Fuel consumption listed: 7.3 l/100km | tested: 9.4 l/100km
OVERVIEW
I'm guessing, but I figure there are probably three things you want to know about Ford's new updated Focus ST.
Is it as capable as the Golf GTI? Is it as mad as the Renault Megane RS 265, and is it as sublimely quick as Subaru's long-standing benchmark, the WRX?
The answer is "yes" for the first, then "no" and "not quite".
So, if you're shopping for a GTI and don't take a look at the Focus ST, then you'll be buying with only half the picture.
But if you want something as barking mad on-road as the Megane - and we mean that in the nicest possible way - then you'll have to buy the Megane, the Focus ST is quite a bit more civilised.
And as quick as the WRX? No, and certainly not around a mountain road. But the WRX has the inherent advantage of all-wheel-drive, and an extra dollop of power - 197kW against the Ford's 184kW.
But like all in this ‘small car performance segment', there is little in it, little to separate this rat-pack on power and performance alone.
So, yes, we've no doubt the WRX will show its heels to the Focus ST on a mountain road shoot-out, but the Ford stormer will be clinging to its pipes.
The updated ST is, in every way, a very appealing and well-resolved car. Fast? Certainly, but also beautifully trimmed, comfortable and as solid as a vault.
And you will want to drive the wheels off it.
INTERIOR | RATING: 4/5
- Eight-inch colour touch-screen, satellite navigation and Sync 2 infotainment
- Voice control access to navigation, climate control and mobile phones
- Bluetooth connectivity, high-end audio, MP3, USB port and audio streaming
- Emergency assist (available across the Ford vehicle range)
- Keyless entry, push button ignition, auto stop/start
- Leather and fabric monogrammed Recaro sports seats
- Leather trimmed multi-function wheel
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