Do you enjoy driving? If you do, keep reading. The FORD Focus ST3 is a driver’s car. Though I am not from the Play Station generation, the ST brings out a playful 4D sensation, which I could only imagine of the next generation motorsport game. From the moment you sit in the Recaro racing seats, you know this car is serious about what it does. The quality of the interior and layout of all the switches makes you feel like Captain Kirk on his star ship Enterprise. The ST takes its Focus underpinnings which have been honed and tuned into an outstanding driving machine. The chassis and suspension set-up are truly phenomenal- firm but not harsh and comfortable without being soft. The 2.0-litre engine has been optimised to push out a whopping 184kW. This kind of power coupled with the huge push of 360N.m of torque driven through its front wheels, results in ear-to-ear happiness. The sound of the engine through the Fast and the Furious sculptural twin exhausts is fantastic, and resembles that of a 5-cylinder motor. The FORD Focus shares the VOLVO V40’s chassis. With two such important cars sharing this platform, it makes sense that both are so good as a result.

The drive of the ST is solid and very reassuring. It is confident on the road and could easily tackle the driving dynamics of sports cars like an SLK or TT.  Quick cornering in the ST is a desire rather than a cautious driving hazard. Breaking is reassuring without being forceful too. Point-to-point darts are exhilarating but the steering feedback can be likened to holding back a British Bulldog on a leaded walk. The disadvantage of a front-wheel drive car with this much power, results in hands-on-wheel focus to keep the wheel straight as it moves left and right in your hands under harder acceleration.  The ST can very easily transform from racer into residential saloon, the atmosphere cools down to a refined and well insulated environment, which is near silent.

The interior of the vehicle is a good mix of smooth leather and quality plastics, but is not the benchmark in its class, the VW GTI is!  The SONY entertainment system offers concert sound quality, but has just as many buttons as Kirk’s ship, though simple enough to figure out without needing to be a pimply techno-teen. The ST is a practical family car too, with a generous boot and accommodation for two six footers on the ST’s sculptural rear Recaro bench which has been moulded to support two passengers.

The facts

Pros

• The Focus has a flawless chassis which offers impressive road manners at both high and low speed
• The engine is beautifully refined and highly responsive
• The Recaro leather seats both front and rear are sublime
• The car feels safe, scoring 5 stars in the Euro NCAP crash test

Cons

• Torque steer (walking the British Bulldog) sensation in harder accelerations
• 90’s HiFi looking dash with loads of buttons

The figures

The extra stuff

As is the case across the entire Focus product range, the ST come standard with a 5-year/90 000km service plan.

The verdict

The Focus is a very accomplished vehicle; in ST guise, it’s a real life play station game that is just sublime. It’s not at teutonically perfect at the GTI. It’s not as rally circuit ready at the RS or as sexy as the Astra OPC, but it’s a good balance of all its competition. The ST 1 has less bells and whistles than the 3 and is R45 000 less than its luxury flagship, which leaves its competitors itching and scratching at the value for money section of the test. The ST 1 is the cheapest high performance vehicle in this category.  

FORD SA - ST site