I've lost count how many times I re-watched this video while waiting for mine. Thank you for one of the most in-depth reviews that helped me make up my mind on which hot hatch to get. I think I would have been bored in any of the VWs. This thing grips the road unbelievably well and for stock power in a hot hatch....just wow. Smiling ear to ear every time I get in for a drive. Piece of advice to anyone that is considering the Focus ST, you won't be sorry, just make sure you get it in the 6-spd manual and not the auto. Thanks again!
@@valk409 So I considered the automatic given my previous SUV was an auto and it's just comfortable to drive without worrying about shifts. Having said that, the manual gearbox on this ST is so damn smooth and you feel a lot more connected with the car when driving it in a spiritied manner, especially on some nice winding roads. The hot hatches that I've owned over the years have always been manual so I know how they compare to an auto and my personal opinion, you get more of a thrill with the manual. I also did some reading and found that the automatic gearbox isn't the greatest in this car either. Another one is that you get the pops and bangs with the manual whereas the auto doesn't (I stand to be corrected). Overall, it's been almost a year now that I've had the ST and I'm still like a kid on Christmas when I know I'm getting in to go for a drive. Hope this helps :)
I got mine since 2 weeks and i love it. In real live looks the color so amazing. And the seats are unbelivable. The handling and steering are also a dream. Very good job ford👍🏻
As a European now living in the US, I really hate the fact Focus ST is no longer available here in the US. I like the way it looks, it's a great evolution to the size and this seems like a perfect hot hatch option with good practicality. I've gone from a 252hp Accord 2.0t with 6spd to a 480hp Bullitt, but I still would love to have this as an additional tossable car.
@@wubascuba I'm on the same boat with my '13 Ford Focus dual clutch transmission that has a TCM crap out at 88k miles. No idea how I'll get another one. Is this issue as prevalent for people who drive a MANUAL focus though?
This is the most honest carreview ever made. He destroys some features and loves other ones immensly. No other tester and especially no salesman would ever do that. I like this way more than these stupid sales pitches.
I got one 2 years ago by accident from Hertz Car Rental in Germany. I had it for 6 months because I did not like to give it back, so I extended the rent over and over again. I even took it to the Nordschleife for some track action. I was truly truly surprised by that car! I had so much fun in it! I took it to Hungary, Austria and Croatia for vacation. I moved to the US by the end of 2020 and a friend of mine drove it another two weeks until the rent was over. Great car, much more fun than any Golf or whatever.
Yeah makes me so😡! I had a 2012 Focus SE hatchback. Loved that car and would've bought a next gen in a heartbeat. First Ford announced that they would only sell the 2019 Mk4 Focus as the Active version in the U.S., then a few months later...... Ford nixed that and stated the Focus would be discontinued altogether in the U.S. Big mistake I made was that when I went to trade in my Focus in 2018, the dealer had a brand new holdover 2017 Focus ST (base) in Race red with the black 5 spoke wheels. At the time my reasoning for not getting it was that I had recently bought a house and figured I would need more cargo space to haul stuff. Plus it had summer tires and I live in a snow state so I would have had to buy at least some all seasons. I regret it. I should have bought it. I could have rented a pickup if i really needed to haul big stuff. Ah well hindsight is 2020.
I’ve recently brought the preface-lift a few weeks as my first hot hatch/performance car and I absolutely love it, everything about it is just amazing, and driving it everyday really does put a smile on my face - can’t wait to do some mods soon 👌🏽
You and me both, fella. Ford is basically truck, electric, or Mustang. And that's me saying it as an F150 and Bullitt owner, but they can do so much more than just this.
Well done review with all relevant topics covered IMO. Wish we could get this in the US! I have 2014 ST that I love, but it wont last forever. And your traffic really sucked this time - like trying to drive near a city in the US with all the clueless idiots jumping into the left lane going really slow.
@@8eight881 ive got a 2013 tux black st with 151k miles and im about to sell as I need a truck. Sad but gotta do what i gotta do. I'd love a mk4 though. they look amazing
I had a 2013 Focus ST ... loved it, and it loved me. 44,400 miles in 7 years ... had to replace ONLY the Battery, and that took 6.5 years to need that ... I will go to Germany and bring this car back to the USA ... Just need a MPH face for the Speedo ... LOVE THIS CAR ... Manual of course !
Coming from someone who used to own the mk3 ST and switched to Audi instead of getting the mk4 pre-fl, sometimes i do wonder why they don't try to challenge the german manufacturers with a more expensive model because clearly, they know how to build a really good car with great balance between comfort and performance. But the plastic interior and some other aspects where they save money are kind of a turn off even if it looks better than before.
Interesting comment rarely seen so I have to reply as a Mk4 ST owner. You are right, Although I never ever look into the dash relying upon what I see int he HUD, would be nice to see what gear is selected even though up and downshift indicators with the gear are shown in both the HUD and dash on my pre-facelight.
Too bad this is the last generation of Focus. A historic car comes to an end. Fiesta is rumored to follow. They had exceptional ride quality, but in Ford they have lost their minds the last 3-4 years.
The Dream daily for me personally, I drive 2011 1.8 TDCI and the balance of the car is amazing, I enjoy cornering with it, always with a massive confidence. I can only imagine dumping this ST in the corners will be orgasmic !!! :)
By the way, the fake sound can easily be deactivated with an OBD2 adapter and a program called Forscan. Tankes 2 minutes, super simple and the car sounds much better without it. 😁 Best 0-100 I measured in mine was 5.9 seconds, on german TV (Grip) they also measured a 5.9. With the Mustang and Mach-E also nobody is able to actually reach the promised times.. Not a big deal as it's still seriously quick, and you don't buy a hot hatch for drag racing, but still. VW and Hyundai underrate their cars, Ford overrates them.
I did it via Forscan. Day and night difference, love it. Much quieter cabin, you can travel in it. And you clearly hear the REAL engine and exhaust sound. Should be factory setup without the fake sound.
I did 5,7 seconds with a passenger. You have to be perfect on the gas so your tires wont slip and change gears really fast. You also can stay on the gas while shifting but idk if it is good or bad für the Engine
Lovely review. Thankyou Sir. I am the proud owner of the mk4 pre-facelift, but with the Mountune M330 map and I wouldn't change her for anything. Mine's in Orange Fury. ☺ I love the insects the colour attracts.
Personally I'd go for the i30 N because it seems to be better to drive, it's faster and the slightly smaller engine means you'd pay less tax where I'm from (anything above 2 liters is taxed like hell). That being said I do like the Ford's looks and it might be better as a daily driver. Alternatively just go for whatever's cheapest.
@@LIONtib Asta cu motoru de 2.3 ai dreptate. Tot timpul uit acest aspect. 😅 Plus garantia de la Hyundai... Problema in Ro e ca la I30N aduc doar varianta DCT desi la cat de bine primita a fost cutia posibil sa ma "convertesc" la automata. E singurul motiv pentru care inca nu am comandat I30n-ul...
The i30N is slightly quicker, the Focus has more tech (matrix LED and adaptive cruise control, even with the manuals) and a slightly nicer interior. I'd test drive and negotiate prices for both. I ended up buying the ST as I got a fully equiped limited "Edition" model for about 37.000€, and the fully equipped manual i30N I test drove would've cost about the same with less tech.
@@JazzysTrove La o masina de genul nu stiu daca are sens sa iei automata, dar din cate stiu cea de pe i30 N e printre cele bune. Plus ca Ford nici nu stiu daca mai primeste comenzi pentru Focus. E ciudat, abia au scos facelift-ul si acum vor sa inchida productia de Fiesta si Focus, inclusiv ST.
the place where you made the walkaround is the place where i often do photos on my cars, its between Issum and Geldern It will be a pleasure to meet you one day. keep it up !!!
15:21 those numbers car companys put online are from drag strip with "preped" surfaces aka they spray sticky stuff down to give the tires better traction
Very much enjoyed this video. This has just made me more determined to buy one, when the right one comes along. I like everything about it, seats, steering, gearbox and performance. Not bothered about colour, it can be pink with brown spots, don't care. Thanks.
I´ve just gotten my Ford focus ST mk4.5 . To be honest the mean green metallic was the best choice i´ve made in combination with the track pack which includes black roof+ mirrors. And the collor is amazing but thats just my opinion. Sad that the tested focus st didn´t have the track pack.
Love it Martin. Thank you ❤I watched Max in the Mk4 oh so many times. Then my Orange Fury was delivered and despite the slaesman saying it does not need modding, well I had to: Mountune map 330PS and 515NM on the box. A great car. Go buy one. 🙂
I think the engine is the same as in the Pre-Facelift, so I think it have the same problem. On hot days it will have a noticeable lower power. because of the engine-heat it will increase the power. sport auto magazine had this problem in the Supertest in 3/2021. Hope the brakes are better now
Im thinking about getting a 2013 possible 2015 ST but those interiors are quite bad, The 2022 ST interior actually doesn't look too bad, it makes me want to get one.
I had a 2015 ST Wagon in slate grey for 4 years and the interior was good. Everything you Need had a Button to push and Real view for the boost, oil psi etc. The driving was a lot of fun, steering very precise and a very nice boost from the turbo. I miss this car a lot! Perfect Balance between 250 HP, Chassis and interior with a big trunk. Give it a Chance!
@@maciekapocaliptic at least the european MK3.5 models do not have the symposer. On mine it is already deleted from the factory with an oem part. Sound came indeed through the stereo and I could disable it via FORScan.
I had 1.5 tdci 120ps MK4. Bought an RS Mk3 right now, and when I watch the the video right now i feel really strange. The interior is lovely, but I really hope they have built it more expensive than the preface. The preface has a lot of interior issues - the problematic aerodynamics of the mirrors, the cardboards of the door are just terrific, the dashboard is constantly making sounds. The mk3 for example don't have those problems (maybe because I drive an RS and the build quality is different). On the other hand the new ST looks astonishing interior wise, but I would definitely not replace my RS for one of those, because it is very hard to find a car that feels better than the RS. Maybe the diesel ST is a very good choice. Good power, great fuel economy and quite nice extras.
Regarding the inconsistent performance I guess they did not improve the intercooler which was already way to small in the MK3. From 20°C on I notice that with mine almost every day...
Apparently, the Focus cannot hide its size compared to the lighter Fiesta which is a fantastic car (so it may be a bit more sharp) and Focus RS haD even more power and hardcore setup. And I say HAD, because the last Focus RS was a Focus MK3,5 model. Sadly, no Focus RS with generation 4 and 4,5, only ST.
Hello Martin, thank you very much for the great test with the Ford Focus ST X facelift in Mean Grean Metallic, even if you don't like the color quite as much. I would like to ask you if you used third gear when accelerating from 0 - 100, or did you only use it with first and second gear? Maybe the Focus will then manage the 5.7 seconds. Many greetings Frank
This just got discontinued in Australia along with the fiesta st, we'll have some come but orders are being reimbursed with a refurd + $500 master card voucher, which is so sad because we love these, less and less to choose from in the hot hatch segment and this price point for car people :(
Had this car, got a golf 7.5 r and felt depressed after the swap. The worst mistake ever. Any way ended up giving up the golf r for mk8 gti which was brilliant. But that Ford st was 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 I miss it. The gti though is also very good. Thr Ford is proper hardcore. The gti jack of all trades.
Martin a me il verde su una Focus piace tantissimo blu e rosso è un colore troppo di "serie" cioè è il colore della Ford e vedere un verde brillante su una Focus è veramente figo
Would love to see a bit of a different thing from you: a "versus", in-studio video between the available 2023 hot hatches, a comparison, even without actually having all the cars present. With all kinds of side-by-side data, maybe clips from each individual review and your personal preference(likes/dislikes) about: driving, sound, handling, suspension, options, price, interior, exterior, 0-100, 100-200, top speed, brakes, etc. And a kind of a personal verdict/rank between them(stock): Focus ST, Megane RS, I30N, Golf GTI or higher, Cupra Leon, Civic Type R(which might be the winner from the start according to most reviewers). Lots of work to produce such a "versus" video I guess, just launching a crazy idea, might get huge viewers attention...a comparison between more exotic cars would be pointless, but hot hatch category is an "affordable" league of sporty cars for many people. Thanks.
I dont like this new front of the focus. They the same with the fiesta. It look like a transit to me. But still an amazing car! (I got the pre face lift Focus)
The badge placed on grill is more of a fiesta style. The prelift with adaptive front lights is way more agressive and aesthetically better in my opinion. I love my ford
Got a pre-facelift ST Edition myself and I got to say I think the new one looks much better. Looks a bit more aggressive. Never liked the happy fish face on the pre-facelift models.
The mk1 started to get style but most of the work was under the bonnet, Cosworth and so on. The Mk2 was out there and the facelift was an impressive move. The Mk3 was calmer... the Mk4 has no sport styling in comparison. You can barely notice the wheels and spoiler.
Very helpful video for me as I've ordered one. I ordered it in February but I might not take delivery now until Jan 23. So is it worth the 11 month wait?
you can't make the time announced by ford because you lift your foot from the accelerator from first to second in launch your foot is always glued to the accelerator
