Test Car Specifications
Model tested: Ford Focus ST3 TDCi Wagon
Pricing: starts at £22,195; as tested was £27,095
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel
Transmission: front-wheel drive, six-speed manual
Body style: estate
CO2 emissions: 110g/km (Band B, £20 per year)
Combined economy: 67.3mpg
Top speed: 135mph
0-62mph: 8.3 seconds
Power: 185hp at 3,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 2,000- to 2,750rpm
Boot space: 476- 1,602 litres
What's this?
The diesel estate version of the updated Ford Focus ST. If you're worried about a diluting of the ST badge by the adoption of a diesel engine, don't click away in disgust just yet. Ford has pumped its 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engine up to 185hp and 400Nm for the ST and it's available as a five-door hatch or the more practical wagon pictured here. Petrol and diesel versions look identical and Ford has even priced them at the exact same point. That means a starting price of £22,195 for the ST TDCi hatch, or £23,295 for the estate. All versions in both body styles are offered in ST1, ST2 and ST3 specifications.
One of the few complaints buyers might have with the ST TDCi, particularly in estate format, is that it's not possible to fit a tow bar because of the design of the centrally-mounted exhaust.
How does it drive?
Sensibly, we drove the diesel estate at the launch before we tried the
petrol hatchback. That allowed the former to shine in isolation, because five minutes in the latter on a fast road revealed how much quicker it is. Nonetheless, the diesel model is no slouch. The 0-62mph time of 8.3 seconds doesn't really tell the full story, but the 400Nm torque figure hints at this car's performance. It pulls from effortlessly low revs and impressively doesn't run out of puff at the upper end of the rev counter either. Disguising the diesel note is a well-judged sound symposer, so it even sounds sporty. And at idle, the engine noise is isolated well from occupants' ears.
As in the petrol model, the steering is just superb, despite electronic assistance. New tuning of the steering assistance system marries particularly well with the existing variable ratio steering rack to offer up real communication through the rim. It's wonderfully direct too when you're threading a series of tight corners together. The brakes, pedal spacing and gearchange are all pretty much identical to those in the petrol car too, which is to say spot on for fast driving without compromising normal use. It comes across as a very polished car, ready for hundreds of miles on the motorway in comfort before you take a scenic back road home for the sake of it. In that respect the diesel model is more of an all-rounder than the petrol ST.
Verdict
There's not a duff version in the new Ford Focus ST line-up. The petrol model is much improved and is undoubtedly to be the choice of the keen driver that prioritises performance. The wagon feels nigh on identical and will help family buyers justify the purchase. Now the diesel option is sure to extend the reach of the ST badge further, as it comes with low running costs, more or less the same engaging dynamics and only a slight dent in performance. Top work Ford.
Exterior Design
Interior Ambience
Passenger Space
Luggage Space
Safety
Comfort
Driving Dynamics
Powertrain