ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.พ. 2020
- BUY, LEASE OR FINANCE A FORD FOCUS ST FROM OSV: bit.ly/2Tqj9ON
Ford's Focus ST hot hatch is back, with a mission. Jonathan Crouch drives it.
Ten Second Review
Ford's fourth generation Focus ST is now smarter, classier and more dynamically adept. In hatch or estate guise, with petrol or diesel power, it's a car that's now easier to get the most from. And a machine you can enjoy to the full on your favourite road without afterwards having to pay for it with the kind of over-firm ride you simply don't want in everyday traffic. Ultimately, so many quick cars can feel.... well, rather irrelevant. Here's one that's anything but....
Background
'ST' is a badge that, when it comes to Ford, stands for 'quick but not concussive', a performance level that sits just above the company's fast-but-family-friendly 'ST-Line' models. But just below their track-spec RS derivatives. A badge applied to the kind of car a red-blooded racer could afford, enjoy and use every day. A car like this - the fourth generation Focus ST.
The Focus ST is the kind of car that's always democratised performance, giving you something of the speed of a supercar within the body - and the budget - of something much more ordinary. Other brands promise this kind of thing but in reality, often do little more than bolt a set of spoilers and a turbo onto something more mundane. Ford though, has a different approach, the Blue Oval brand boasting a long history of developing proper performance versions of its mainstream models, designed by enthusiasts to be driven by enthusiasts. That's certainly seems to be what's been delivered with this MK4 Focus ST. Let's take a look.
Driving Experience
There are plenty of very significant changes over the previous generation model. We'll start with the fresh engine line-up, which offers 12% more power and 17% more torque than before. There are two units on offer; an entry-level 190PS 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel and the powerplant you'll probably prefer, a 280PS 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol unit. Buyers choose between a 6-speed manual gearbox or a new quick-shifting 7-speed auto transmission. Selectable Drive Mode technology is introduced on a Focus St for the first time, enabling drivers to adjust the car's character to suit the kind of drive experience they want. The various settings tweak steering feel, throttle response, stability control thresholds and, on petrol models, suspension response too, courtesy of the 'CCD' 'Continuously Controlled Damping' system that's standard on the EcoBoost models to further improved the sophisticated 'SLA' multi-link suspension set-up.
Go for the petrol derivative and you also get an 'e-LSD' Electronic Limited Slip Differential. The system uses hydraulically activated clutches to limit the engine torque delivered to a wheel that has reduced traction on the road surface, and redistributes up to 100 per cent of available torque to the wheel with more traction to counteract wheel spin that can hamper acceleration through, and out of, corners. You'll want to know how fast it is; well, plenty quick enough. Thanks to 420Nm of torque, the EcoBoost petrol version uses the most free-revving Focus ST engine ever and sprints to 62mph in less than six seconds.
Design and Build
One area where the previous third generation Focus ST clearly regressed was stance. Ask any petrolhead and they'll tell you that the way a car sits on its wheels is a pretty fundamental part of its visual appeal. Some cars look squat, muscular and purposeful. The third generation ST never really managed that. There was just too much air under its wheel arches and the front end looked high and gawky. Remedial work has very much been conducted with this latest model. The body kit gives it a lower, wider stance, the bonnet is more aggressively sculpted. A larger, more steeply angled rear roof spoiler increases downforce to support the Focus ST's driving dynamics. A twin exit tailpipe configuration borders the aggressively styled rear diffuser element, and improves practicality by delivering the towing capability that was prevented by the centre-exit tailpipes of the previous generation Focus ST.
The cabin is well trimmed, featuring a great set of Ebony coloured part-leather-trimmed Recaro sports seats with cushion tilt and length adjustment. Other neat touches include a grippy sports steering wheel, an ST-embossed aluminium gear knob and scuff plates, alloy pedals, metallic hexagonal and satin silver decorative elements, plus metal grey stitching for the seats, door inserts and centre console.
► / osvltd
► / osvmotoringnews
► / osvltd - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Have no idea why this channel doesn't have more subs. So much information is covered in your videos! Also presentation and delivery is always on point.
What a lovely comment to read on a Monday morning! Thank you for your great feedback 😊
Totally agree. This is by far, the most in depth review of the focus ST I've seen to date. Nice to see a review where its not just thrashing the car about and informing us weather its fast or slow. So many questions answered without going to the dealership. Great job!
@@OsvUkVehicleSupply p⁰p⁰
It's like watching the old top gear again. Did you notice him passing the old Mk1.5 focus at 13:13
Informative presentation 👍 Subscribed.
THE BEST PRESENTER OF THE CHANNEL
The best and most detailed reviews on TH-cam
Many thanks for watching, Bobby 👍 If you enjoyed the review, make sure to subscribe: bit.ly/319ZKoT
Great review. I've had this ST hatchback in White / Petrol since December 2019, and it's a fantastic car! Mountune 330 bhp upgrade now available as well 😁👍🏼
Thanks Darren, glad you enjoy your ST!
Excellent review
Thanks Richard, glad you found it helpful 👍
Best presenter I've seen so far
Thank you for watching, Bernadette 👍
I was going to go for the diesel ecoblue but its the same engine used in the Transit and they have the "Horrible Wet Belts" I mean - come on ford? Timing belts in oil especially when it DPF's and adds diesel to the oil slowly over time...Thats a set up to fail straight away! I opted for the timing chain version Petrol, never looked back and always makes me smile. Managed 37 on a long journey but around town - good luck trying to get the figures quoted, even drove delicate its around 22 mpg. Great vid, and enjoyed the review! 👍
This is the only channel that I have seen with long reviews on any car, I still think the 2015 one is the good looking one
nice review Jonathan, as we usually get from the OSV team. Ford are taking their time releasing the auto gearbox, still not even listed on the configurator. US customers still peeved at getting no Fiesta or Focus models. Agreed, the Recaro's are better than the tight MK3 ones.
Dealers need to have demo models available, i was lucky with my local indy dealer, but I know a few potential customers were put off/turned away due to lack of demo vehicles. Bolt-on tablet screen is doing Ford no favours, neither that lack of climate control and USB charge points missing in the rear. 🤷♂️ Leon Cupra Estate may just beat the ST in driving enjoyment with AWD and auto gearbox.
When you guys talk about price you should look at finance options. I recently looked at this car and the i30N, the ford came in slightly cheaper over a 3 year pcp if your going to change the car
I’ve got the electric orange mk 2 focus ST with the 5 pot engine , in my opinion ,the original and the best ST ford have ever made , real noise real power ,real drivers car .
👍 👍 👍 Absolutely agree. I used to own an electric orange 2009 mk 2 5 door model, never any problems and the car had plenty of character. You both made a very good choice in your purchase.
I was interested in the petrol version with auto . Went to the local Ford dealer and , coming from VW , was not impressed with them. The sales person had little actual knowledge of the car and made it difficult to test before I was put through the wringer of how was I going to finance the car and then losing interest when I said cash plus my Gti as a trade in. They were only interested, as far as I could see, in up selling finance and so forth. But I did like the car very much . In the end I have purchased a Seat Leon St Cupra 300 .Cars about the same (but I like the four wheel drive of the Cupra) but nicer and nearer garage and much cheaper purchase .I hope ,with Ford closing 50% of its dealers ,it manages to improve the experience we get when we call in .....
I’ve bought one of these, and whilst I love the driving experience, the build quality is worse than I expected. The dealership and Ford have not been very good in their handling of correcting these issues I have. I bought a Mk8 Fiesta ST brand new in 2018 which I rejected in collection due to paint defects, then the replacement fared no better with rattling interior trim. I finally had enough and traded it in and chose the Focus ST. Don’t get me wrong this car in a set of twisty roads is fantastic, but the price is premium, and the build isn’t up to that price tag.
Why with a video released in March 2020 you keep showing the previous gen (FK2) Civic Type R when referring to that car? The FK8 has been out since 2017. Seems a bit disconnected and not like there is a lack of pictures of them online
I quite like this, its a good looking car, nice colour as well but for a long term purchase in the next couple of years to keep for many many years, im more likely to go for a Subaru as I feel they would stand the test of time far better and do everything I need in a car.
Went on the Ford UK build site, no auto variant available?
Such a shame the new Focus is not coming to America!!
I agree. Please consider writing or calling Ford USA customer service and telling them they should bring the Focus ST to North America. If all of their customers are telling them, they'll take notice. Thank you for your help in this effort!
Anyone watching from the U.S. or Canada, please write or call Ford USA customer service and telling them they should bring the new Focus ST to North America. If all of their customers are telling them, they'll take notice. Thank you for your help in this effort!
Looks so much nicer than the Golf 8, and has Physical dials and buttons
Let me tell you what I got in my country (Romania):
for 30.334 euro I bought a brand new Focus ST Estate (!!!), Race Red, featuring the next list of options:
- Performance Pack;
- Winter Pack;
- Sunroof;
- Head-Up Display;
- B&O Surround Sound;
- Spare tire (instead of tire kit);
- Towing hook (bar);
- Extra Waranty 2+3 years / 150.000km
AND please note that, in Romania, the default 0 euro paint is FROZEN WHITE. RACE RED costs 300 euro.
SO, people, PLEASE, PLEASE, show me a better-cheaper Hyundai i30N Performance, which, btw, doesn't come in estate form. Yes, it comes in that Octavia shape called Fastback, but it is still waaay smaller than the Focus Estate.
So, to me, the point of Focus being too up-market is...for UK at most.
Greetings and looking forward to my 2021 Focus ST Estate.
Great review!
The MK3.5 looks better and more aggresive
12 years anti corrosion warranty lol. That is a mistake. You probably mean 12 months.
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for the comment. We've just checked with Ford and it is indeed 12 years, no typo!
Diesel, really, You tested/driven that??? 7,7sec to 60 and you call that an st or a hit hach/sports car... My 2016 FiST is 1.1sec faster....
Ivan Rodic Imagine how good a real car is when you think your nan’s shopping trolley is fast!
@@Quagmire925 it's a lot faster than an diesel ST wanabe, and by the way had an ST nk2 Had and have 2, bot one FiST's. And the fiesta is in no way slower, buis more fun than an Focus ST bot mk3 and mk2... Diesel automatic ina Ford ST is pnly for someone like You! :--) Sapienti sat...
It looks too tame
Who is this presenter? He is absolutely awful!
Sorry to hear that. We aim to deliver the best presentation possible for all our vehicle reviews.
He is absolutely awful, he’s more like a game show host!
@@OsvUkVehicleSupply Don't change anything- excellent reviews and style
He's great. Informative and detailed.