The Ford Focus ST Is a Great Bargain Hot Hatchback 

The wheels on this Focus ST are similar to the wheels on the Lamborghini Gallardo

Doug just raised the price of the Focus St..

As an owner of a 2018 Focus, I can tell you that all the pockets by the rear doors are for your children to fill with lego and empty juice boxes.

"It's great! 6 out of 10" "It's great! 6 out of 10" "It's great! 6 out of 10"

FINALLY! My brother has a Fiesta ST and bragged to me, a focus ST owner, that his car had a Doug video and mine doesn’t. Thank you Doug for fixing that, you have made my day!

Doug is the soul of a six-year-old unwrapping a PS5 Christmas morning, only every day is Christmas and everything he touches is a PS5.

And none of this is to mention just the sheer happiness and joy in seeing another ST roll around on the road past you and both of you just look at each other through the glass and are just like "fuck yeah".

2016 Focus ST owner. If the 2013 model is at all similar, there are 2 relatively cheap and easy things you can do to vastly improve the driving experience in these cars. Doug mentioned the "vagueness" of the shifter, I fixed that issue by swapping out the rubbery shifter cable bushings with aluminum ones in less than an hour, all the vagueness is gone. The position of the gas pedal is also not ideal (way WAY behind the brake, no idea why it's placed so awkwardly), but I fixed this with a spacer that brings the pedal closer to the driver's seat. Less than $100 and less than 2 hours and the basic driving experience vastly improved!

Regardless of the car, one thing will always stay the same: two t-shirts.

The best thing about this little rocket is ... they basically go unnoticed by cops. It simply looks like every other rental Focus on the road. Thanks for the video.

There was slightly more crack in his coffee today.

Doug: This little piece of plastic that you'll never see doesn't EXACTLY match the piece next to it. Literally everyone else: Thank you Ford for putting the money in the powertrain and suspension instead of e-brake trim pieces.

Doug on Sunday nights: “Thisss, is Sunday night dinner. It is a 2021 dish of Spaghetti and meatballs, with garlic bread on the side. We will chew it, swallow it, then we are going to review it.”

"You can't see the fuel flap" Yeah it's that square looking thing right there

Honestly I love mine, 2016, 30,000 miles, I do dad stuff in it but when I'm on my own I can drop it a couple of gears and it makes me smile every time, not overly quick but fun through the turns.

As a focus ST owner of two years it just made my day to see my favorite car reviewer enjoy the car this much. I want to keep mine forever but I have a mustang itch

Dougs an actual genius. Instead of paying for rentals like he would when he used turo, he can now just borrow the cars being sold on Cars and Bids to review, free. And where is CNC??

> Doug can't stop talking about how extremely good the handling is > Handling: 6/10

I have a black 2014 ST with the exact same trim (all the way down to the rims)... I've owned it since '14 and it's seriously the most fun car I've ever owned, which is strange for me to say because I always preferred RWDs. It takes roughly an hour to commute to my office, but the time just flies by. Doug's absolutely spot-on when he talks about the steering... you don't just steer the car, you aim it. It's also a little on the firm side (not like it has no power steering, it just makes sure you really mean it). The power to weight ratio really translates into a car that feels waaaaay more powerful than it really is (which is a cool feeling). On some of my drives, I travel to some rural spots here in Louisiana that have a lot of twistys... that's where this bad boy shines the most. No matter what the turn is, you can gas right into it and you feel completely planted on the pavement. If you're way too fast, the car will do a dog-pisser and you won't even know it until it puts the wheel back down. As an owner that's had an ST for several years now (well over 100k miles), it's been (knock on wood) a very dependable and solid little ride. Treat the trans and clutch right and you shouldn't have any issues with it. Basically just be diligent with your maintenance and it should last you a while. The only exceptional cost I've experienced is tires... they're a bit pricey in my neck of the woods and I go through them pretty regularly for someone that doesn't take it to the track (though I admittedly peel out every once in a while). Last thing... I LOVE that the ST isn't a real head-turner with the exception of fellow car geeks that already know what it is. It just looks like a normal hatchback, but it has more than enough juice to entertain the hell out of ya. Super stoked that Doug had a blast with it. I also love the shifter... it's super short, but it fits perfectly with the interior design of the car. What I mean to say is that when you're sitting in the driver's seat, it's perfectly located and just wants to be in your hand. The Recaro seats might be an issue if you're a husky guy or gal, but I'm 5' 7" and 216 lbs, and the seats feel astounding (I say this as someone who has a ruptured disc in my lower back and is about to get fusion surgery). The seats are firm and the bolstering really does keep you locked in place. Wow, I didn't mean to write this much! I blame being locked in this damned house and home office for the past year! If you get a chance to test drive one of these, make sure you get either some highway tome or some time to take some curves!

Sad that Ford doesn’t sell the Focus anymore, even Fiesta, Taurus, Fusion and any other Ford sedans in North America.

As someone who owned a 2015 ST, it’s really interesting to see how different the interiors were between the 2013-2014 and the 2015+

Idk why but I love it when Doug reviews average everyday cars

"It's success led to the return of the hot hatch" And then Ford got rid of it. All praise hyundai, I guess, for being the last manufacturer of hot hatches that still sell in the US. If anyone wants a car like this new, what options do we even have? Golf? Veloster? anything else?

Been driving the FoST for 5 years, best car I've had. The base ST trim in 2016 was so much cheaper than the computer screen ones. The funny part is that the plastic area around the 4" screen widens out gradually, allowing you to wedge your phone in there. Instant hi-res maps!

It still remember Jeremy Clarkson saying ST stands for "sanitary towel" while reviewing a Ford Focus 😂

Also, you are WRONG sir, Performance Blue was NOT the press car color, Tangerine Scream was.

The ST is a really good bargain for now but I think the ST and the RS are definitely going to be praised even more in the future. Especially with the lack of hot hatches in America and the electrification of cars that they’re trying to roll out by 2035. These cars are already unique but soon it’ll be a relic.

I got my ST today, same color and wheels. I really like it so far !

As they say, "it's better to drive a slow car fast than drive a fast car slow." It always more relieving knowing if you destroy a part on a cheap car, you just replace it.

As a designer, I’d also like to add that it most likely wasn’t the designer’s vision to have that number spelled out. We are merely vessels for someone else’s ideas, so that idea probably came from the top down. Rarely are design decisions solely the designer’s.

Got mine yesterday. I don't have words to describe how amazing the ride quality is with the full leather recaros. Having driven shitbox economy all this time and then getting an ST3 from 2014 is a huge jump in my ride quality.

“Ford Focus st: The most fun you can have in a car without taking your clothes off.” ... but it’s better if you do.

I forget how many changes they made to this car after the 2015 refresh. Better map lights, way nicer steering wheel, better heated seat controls, nicer e-brake handle, and Sync 3 in 2016.

I'm so stoked to see someone else get excited about these cars.

I got rid of my 2014 Focus ST for a Taurus SHO and while the SHO was a fantastic car, I definitely missed the fun aspect of the ST. Doug pretty much nailed what I'd assume is all of the ST owners thoughts. For $13k-$20k now used, it's very hard to beat if you're looking for something quick, sporty, practical, and just a ton of fun.

When the Focus has a door open, the ambient lighting on the interior door handle turns red to alert people coming towards you at night. Always thought that was cool.

They actually never got rid of the snowflakes, the other wheels were just a paid option.

I love how doug still reviews normal cars too

I remember reading the interviews with the Ford engineers at the time about this car's development. The fact that they were boasting about oversteer and Nurburgring testing really impressed me. I was driving a 2012 GTI at that time, and when this thing came out it ticked pretty much all the boxes on my enthusiast list. The Tangerine Scream paint was thr cherry on top of the whole thing. Fast forward 10 years later, and I'm driving a Fiesta ST, but love the ST community including our Focus brethren

THIS is the video that I am watching while I’m on the toilet!! Keep up the good work mate love the videos!

I have a focus from this era and I can confirm my butt can tell the difference between level 3 and 4. Absolutely love the feature 😂

America misses ford hatchbacks so much

I think that little spot is for business cards my guy ... DO NOT PUT YOUR CREDIT CARD IN YOUR GLOVE BOX!!!

Had mine since new in 2018 and now has 100k miles. Still surprises me when driving and it’s RELIABLE (only had clutch position switch and bad battery terminals). Will continue past 200k miles easily.

Not to mention this car has such a potent aftermarket scene and is reliable af. I have an aftermarket turbo and WMI on mine for about 60k miles now and it has never missed a beat.

Such a shame that the new gen isn’t being sold in America

Doug needs to understand that the fact that he reviewed, sat in, and drove the car adds at least 2 points to the value. Doug Value Score should be 10.

From pretty decent acceleration at lower speeds/tight roads excellent handling (especially for a fwd car), to getting 30mpg on the highway (plus a 4 cylinder car that actually has an exhaust note that sounds appealing and desirable), the Focus ST is undoubtably an exciting car to own/drive! I challenge anybody to get behind the wheel of an ST and not have a good time! Amazing to see how Ford nailed exactly what the modern enthusiast was wanting. I wish they could bring just the ST back to the US. Exactly what every young enthusiast with a budget would hope it to be.

Doug: is about to begin a surgery ALSO doug: Before we get started, be sure to check out cars and bids

"there's no visible fuel door" literally shows big ass fuel door lid on the side smh

I have a 2014 Fiesta ST with the Recaro seats package, love it as a daily driver!

I love my 2016 ST! Favorite car I've owned.

The way he says _"ESSS TEEEE"_ clearly shows how much he likes it

Thank you for reviewing an older car.

Have had my ST for 3 years now, agree with everything you've said. Absolute joy to drive, I still get excited going to and from work because I know I'll be driving my hot hatch!

I had a 2013 Focus hatch (the infamous Ford dual clutch) as my first car. I couldn't drive manual and the ST was out of my budget at the moment. I probably won't buy an ST but I like what it is after a test drive. It'll always holds a special place in my heart.

*If only Audi could take a note out fords to book Real air vents and exhausts*🤯👍🥇

me: takes a shot everytime doug says hot hatchback also me: blacks out in my hot hatchback

Ford did a good job with the design for these. I still think they look good

I live in Germany and have the Station Wagon version of this car which was never brought to North America. Top speed 255kmh😅

burglar: *breaks into doug's house* Doug: *THISSSS....* is the 2005 Atchisson Assault Shotgun, and it is quite simply, the greatest shotgun ever made. It was developed back in 1972 and has been in business since. It will do 300 rounds/min and has either 20 or 32 rounds in each drum magazine it is also- burglar: u gonna shoot me or what Doug: not before you check out this Focus ST on cars and bids

*Automakers selling hatchbacks and wagons* Americans: psshhh it’s too small *literally taking the exact car making it 1% larger calling it SUV* Americans: TAKE MY MONEY

spot on Doug. Sold my 2014 ST a few months ago, and I truly shed a tear. Great little car that always put a smile on my face. With so much low end power, and a great clutch/gear box, it was never an issue, even in the terrible Southern Cal traffic I drove it in. Get one with the ST3 package (sunroof, HID Headlights, etc).

I have a 2013 ST in the UK. It is simply a great motor. Love it.

he literally uploaded this 5 days after i got my 2014 focus st, this is awesome!

The wheel horn makes it easier to hit while driving with hands on the wheel I Iove it

Coming back to watch this as I watched this video 2 years ago around the time I got my ST. Oh the memories

Just bought a 2014 Focus ST with the ST3 package, my first manual car and I love it! The blue really pops in the sun

Nail on the head - "It feels fun", even at normal speeds. I've driven a Golf R, and a Focus ST back to back - the ST just feels so much more fun way before the limit. The R doesn't feel fun until you're at 9/10s, and between 9/10 and 10/10 - there's a very fine line between feeling fun, and exceeding the capability of the car/driver.

a buddy of mine has a later model Focus ST, and I can confirm that these cars are more fun than anything else at this price point

Doug: "I love how the Focus ST drives!" Also Doug: *gives it a 6 out of 10 in Fun Factor*

On new years I bought a 2016 ST2 and I absolutely love this car. It's a blast to drive whether going to get groceries or a joyride on a scenic route

I used to own one of these before switching to an RS. I learned to drive a stick because of that car. And I enjoyed every bit of it. It definitely was a fun affordable hot hatch, and I hope they bring it back here some day.

Doug, you didn't read the owner's manual this time? Sport mode is engaged when you press the traction control button, but that does not disengage traction control. To fully turn off traction control you hold the button for about 5 sec, then it's fully off.

Bought my ST in 2013, still driving perfectly as a daily driver! Absolutely a pleasure to drive

I currently have one from 2014 with the full ST3 package that I bought new and I still love it. At 110,000 miles it’s been very reliable with few issues. I’ve though about selling it but it’s so fun I’ve had a hard time committing to it lol.

It's fun to drive, because it's European. Ford has huge history with hot hatches on the old continent. Cheers.

Me: Doug: THISSSS is a 2013 Ford Focus ST '13 Focus ST *STONKS* Me: NOOOOO

He's right, the driving experience is amazing. The ride/handling balance, steering, throttle response, and noise suppression but with a subtle growl is all well judged and sorted. I traded a BMW 335xi sedan for an ST3 have have zero regrets. It's the best driver's car I've ever owned, and practical and reliable. Yes, the dashboard is a low point. The only other downside is that I can't bring myself to sell it even at today's prices, so it looks like I'm a long-term collector now.

Just bought mine a month ago, and I’m in love with it. Got the st3 fully loaded, 37k miles, metallic blue for 18,500 out the door

Doug is the type of guy to look at the handbrake base to see if it is matching plastic

This was supposed to be kept secret 🤦. Now they are going to go up in value

Love my 2016 Ford Focus ST (ST2) best daily driver ever! Mine is Kona Blue, the color that replaced Performance Blue. I like it , it’s deeper and darker shade.

Hey Doug, just wanna say thanks so much for doing this review. I was skeptical of whether or not to buy a Focus ST but this did the job, and I finally got one after so much work a couple months ago. Thanks for helping me on my reasonable dream car!

It took me a long time to come to terms that this is mazdaspeed 3 everyone been asking for, only it's built by ford.

Doug: They're too common to be cool Me: I don't remember when I last saw one let alone a Focus in general.

Loved the review! Thanks. I usted to have a Tuxedo Black 2013 ST. Lost it to mayor flooding during Hurricane Maria. Can't wait to buy another.

Totally agree with your assessment! Having owned a 2014 ST, 2009 Mazdaspeed 3, 2016 GTI, and a 2019 WRX I can say that the ST is the best handling and most fun to drive, and feels quicker than it is. I do miss mine!

I drove one for a couple years. Absolutely loved this car and never had a single issue. Sad I ever sold it!

I’ve never clicked on a Doug video any faster 😂😂

Hey Doug! Awesome vid! I’ve also loved this car ever since they released and just bought one as my first car 👍🏻 2018 ST3, stock

Havent even picked up my st yet and im already falling down a rabbit hole. Cant wait!

My 2015 Performance Blue ST is smiling right now.

When I was selling these back when they were new, Performance Blue was the hot color. At least in the Philly region

I love how Doug never sounds like he can take himself seriously, even to the extent of pitching CardandBids, his own product! He just seems like he can't believe he's even saying this stuff.

great review doug. favourite car ive ever owned! going to back road it tomorrow

These and Mazdaspeed 3's are underrated for sure.

Honestly feels weird seeing Doug review a car I own

I bought my first focus ST in 2016. It was an ingot silver ST3 package. It had 38k miles all stock. I did some bolt ons and cobb ap with stratified tunes. In March of 2018 I traded it in a kona blue 2017 ST3 carbon fiber interior package with 1,740 miles. Every interior change ford made on the 15 and up was basicly what I disliked about the 2013. I still have the 17 with 57k miles and it has basicly every bolt on minus a big turbo. These cars are so fun, especially with more power and suspension upgrades. I feel they never got the recognition they deserved, especially after the RS came out.

What the heck, I love the large styling of the Vent Dials! And he outright rejects them. : ( GREAT video.