Ford Focus ST Line – nailed to the road

After all those SUVs, we have a semi-sporty version of the impressive new Ford Focus.

While the first Focus was praised from all sides and also became the European car of the year in 1999, subsequent generations did not arouse such enthusiasm. But Ford wants to repeat the success of the first Focus. Therefore, he decided to take a radical step and the new Focus was designed, so to speak, from scratch.

Focus therefore arrived on the brand new C2 modular platform. It brings weight savings (approx. -60 kg compared to the last model), or twenty percent greater rigidity. In an effort to further improve the driving characteristics, Ford also reinforced the axle mounting by fifty percent. The new Focus measures 4378 mm in length. The width is 1825 mm, the height of the car is 1454 mm, and the wheelbase has extended to 2700 mm. Very decent values for its class…

The new 1.5-liter three-cylinder does not give the car dizzying performance, but it delivers it so smoothly and sophisticatedly with a willing response to the gas pedal that you can't help it and it will simply entertain you. The engine also has an interesting technology of turning off one cylinder and, in conjunction with a six-speed manual transmission, promises a sporty suspension even without reduced springs and shock absorbers, which would just remind you of painful crosses on every hole.

An output of 110 kW (150 hp) at 6000 rpm and a torque of 240 Nm already from 1600 rpm are more than sufficient values for normal driving. Those who want a hot hatch reach for the ST or RS version. The engine is seconded by a 6-speed manual transmission, which, however, unlike the one in the Fiesta, does not offer such well-defined control lever paths and feels slightly rubbery. The first three gears are short, designed to start the car quickly, and the two highest gears are exactly the opposite (sixth gear is long and ends somewhere at 6750 rpm in the red field). I measured the acceleration from 0-100 km/h approx. 9s (the manufacturer states 8.9).

The combined consumption of 5.5L/100km, given by the manufacturer, is an unattainable goal for me, because – the car demands brisk driving and occasional revving into the red. During the test, consumption stabilized at 8.3L/100km, but the engine definitely did not save. The routine said, always after the start, to switch to Sport mode and rev and rev… If only for the beautiful sound of the stock exhaust. This is not so easy to see (or hear) nowadays, because other car companies seem to muffle all hatchbacks, giving them artificial sounds through speakers and therefore also artificial feelings. However, everything is still fine here. The characteristics of the engine remind me very much of an atmospheric two-liter, and there is practically no turbo lag here.

A great engine is matched by an even better chassis. Here, too, Ford lives up to its name, and the Focus is still the benchmark for the class for me in terms of chassis and tuning. It holds the track beautifully (Michelin Pilot Sport shoes on 18" discs help a lot) and the rear does not jump even on larger bumps. Since the whole car weighs only around 1300 kg, it is very easy to maneuver and willingly returns the steering wheel back to the transverse direction. After getting used to the gearbox, it is an ode to driving and within its (and price) category, I would dare to say that it has no close competition.

The beautiful blue color shows the refined shapes and details of the new generation, and know that the ST-line trim comes with several design elements that the other trims do not have. From the outside, there are sill extensions, a rear bumper with a diffuser, a double exhaust tip (which is not fake, but honestly stainless steel), or a specific design of discs. Inside, you'll find aluminum pedals, other seats with red stitching and more prominent side guides, or a black headliner and pillars.

There is enough space in the interior, sitting behind the truncated sports steering wheel is great, and the seats also deserve praise. And not only in the front, but also in the back. Although… I probably wouldn't want to go in the back on any long journey at five. The trunk is such a better average in the class. It offers a volume of 375 liters, regular shapes and great access. Of course, it can be made larger by folding down the backrests of the rear split seats, but then a miniature step is created here.

As for infotainment, I have no complaints here, and for me the SYNC3 system is one of the most user-friendly systems in cars today. It can be updated via WiFi, has all the functions one needs and works with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. You will also find wireless phone charging and USB connectors in the center armrest. However, the classic audio setup is nothing for audiophiles and plays only average. If you like music, I would definitely pay extra for a Bang & Olufsen audio system. After that, you get equipment with 10 speakers and a subwoofer.

The days when the most modern assistance systems were the prerogative of the most luxurious cars are long gone. Nowadays, it is common to offer all kinds of technological gadgets also in the lower middle class, and the Focus is proof of that. Adaptive LED lights smoothly covering cars in the opposite direction, which work in combination with GPS and sign reading – this is still not seen even with "better" brands today. For example, the system knows that I'm entering a sharp corner and accordingly adjusts the light setting towards the inside. Adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and adaptive lane keeping are also commonplace today.

A small, quasi-sports car for a young person, but also a father of a family, or a wife commuting to work – simply for anyone who needs a decent value from a five-door hatchback but also wants to enjoy driving a little.

So if you absolutely need (read: want) a classic hatchback with decent equipment and great driving characteristics – the Ford Focus ST Line is here for you…

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