Ford Focus ST review

The Focus ST is a sporty, fun-to-drive hatchback that's geared toward high performance. In short, it's Ford's answer to the Volkswagen GTI, which is a modern classic among budget-minded driving enthusiasts.

The ST delivers effortless power and terrific agility. In addition, it has an invigorating exhaust note, is relatively quiet and refined for a pocket-rocket, and provides the practical versatility of a hatchback. Despite its firm suspension, the ST also delivers a relatively civilized ride that doesn't beat you up. We measured a modest 25 mpg overall in our fuel-economy tests.

Drawbacks? The optional Recaro seats fit like a glove, hugging your body relentlessly whether you're flinging the car through corners or cruising the highway. Even drivers who fit the seats found them confining; others found them downright uncomfortable. The cumbersome controls for the MyFord Touch infotainment system are complicated and distracting. Notable torque steer points to the limitations of front-wheel drive. And leg room, which is already tight in the regular Focus, is even tighter in the ST.

Overall, the ST is a sports car that provides an inviting balance of performance and practicality. And it's easier to live with day- to-day than a more hard-core sports coupe such as the Scion FR-S or Subaru BRZ. OK, the similarly priced GTI is more refined, gets better fuel economy, and scored notably higher overall in our testing. But it's not as quick as the ST.

Both cars have had below-average reliability, so regardless of the fun factor, we can't recommend either.

If you're set on an ST, you'll have to shift for yourself, as the 252-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine is matched only with a six-speed manual transmission. That combo serves up plenty of power in any gear, which helps the ST feel even quicker than its 6.6-second 0-to-60-mph runs.

The ST is fun to carve through a twisty road. It stays flat when tackling corners, it's eager to change directions, and the steering is well-weighted and linear. But due to the abundant power, an overzealous throttle application results in notable torque steer. Also, when pushed to its handling limits at our track, the lax electronic stability control system let the rear end slide out quite a bit before it kicked in. Though that can be rewarding for a driving enthusiast in the right conditions, it limited the ST's performance in our avoidance maneuver, where it posted a modest speed and instilled only so-so confidence in our drivers.

One other note: The ST's summer tires provide great grip in temperate climes, but you'll need to swap them for different rubber if you have to drive in wintry conditions.