When you think about a Ford Focus, you typically think "safe." You think, "boring." You may even think "cheap-ass-car-that-I'll-drive-until-it-falls-apart." You probably don't think "tight cornering," or "aggressive styling," or "chest-crushing acceleration."
But then there's the Focus ST, Ford's amped up version of the reliable commuter. Under the hood lives a 252 horsepower turbocharged power plant Ford claims can rocket the vehicle from 0 to 60 in six seconds. It is a car designed to bitch-slap other super-quick five-door hatchbacks like the Volkswagen GTI and the Subaru WRX. And it almost succeeds.
Let's get this out of the way first: The car is a blast to drive. The slick-shifting 6-speed manual is smooth with throws that can be achieved with literally a flick of the wrist. Acceleration is spirited (Ford is not bullshitting about that six-second 0-60 time) and maneuvering is taut, with just a smidge of oversteer. The exhaust note has a lovely deep grumble due to what Ford calls an "active sound symposer." Think: a tube outfitted with a body throttle that channels intake din straight into the ST's cabin.
The ST doesn't function perfectly as a true city car. It's nimble, quick from a standstill thanks to the 270 pound-feet of torque at 2,700 rpm, and fairly easy to park. However, it loses points for the laughably huge 39.4-foot turning radius, and the sport-tuned suspension, like most cars of this ilk, is not entirely forgiving — even hitting a shallow pothole at moderate speed feels like 3.4 on the Richter scale. Also, the rear window lacks visibility. When backing up, it's sometimes difficult to see objects behind you — even with your head turned over your right shoulder.
My test car came with the optional RECARO seats. These over-designed racing-style buckets come punctuated with yellow flourishes and red emblems that are about as subtle as a kick in the teeth. I understand the need to create an aggressively designed interior, but it looks like Megatron ate a box of yellow crayons and threw up in the cabin.
The instrument cluster, however, is smartly laid out. Gauges for turbo boost, temperature, and oil pressure sit atop the center console. And while the design of those RECARO seats may be atrocious looking, they grip your tush tenaciously when cornering hard.
I'm not entirely sure who this car is made for. I know 21-year-old me would have loved it. But 21-year-old me could barely afford a chicken sandwich, never mind a $25K go-fast car. Twenty-one-year-old me also had zero restraint, and would have almost certainly wrapped the front end of the ST around a telephone pole.
Present day thirty-something me has nearly two decades of driving experience and good enough credit to finance the ST. But would I? No. At the end of the day, I'd opt for a model with similar specs but with a little more rational design like the Mazdaspeed3, the Subaru WRX, or the VW GTI.
There has to be a segment of the population who will buy this car: 30-year-olds with questionable taste and disposable incomes who want to indulge their inner 21-year-olds.
And you know what? I'm glad the ideal car exists for them.
WIRED Breathtaking acceleration at a bargain-basement price. Five-door hatch adds an element of versatility to a car that should possess anything but. Responsive suspension keeps rubber glued to asphalt even when accelerating through tight turns.
TIRED Interior color scheme feels like it was designed by a tween who watched The Fast and the Furious one time too many. Despite five-door hatchback configuration, it's difficult to see out of the rear window. Turning radius.