It has been just over a year since the loss of the Ford Fiesta ST, one of the all-time great hot hatches, but its big brother, the Ford Focus ST, is still going strong.
For now, at least. The Ford Focus will go out of production in 2025 to make room for the Blue Oval’s electrification efforts, but the firm has been hard at work to make sure the hot version goes out with a bang.
Available as a hatchback or an estate, the Focus ST has been a part of the Ford model range since 1998. It’s now in its fourth generation, having first gone on sale in 2018 before receiving a mid-life update in 2021.
Since the rally-tuned Focus RS was axed after the model’s third generation, the ST has been the pinnacle of Ford’s hot hatch armoury, and the Edition, a sportier, more dynamic variant, has newly arrived for 2024.
It’s good timing: the Volkswagen Golf GTI got an update in 2024, while the more hardcore Honda Civic Type R received a new look and a power hike earlier in the year.
But can the Focus ST still hold its own? Read on as we find out…
Ford Focus ST range at a glance
As of 2024, there are two variants: the regular ST and the special ST Edition. Both are powered by the 2.3-litre petrol engine producing 276bhp, as the diesel ST is no longer available.
| Version | Power |
|---|---|
| Focus ST | 276bhp |
| Focus ST Edition | 276bhp |
