Ford Focus ST Edition: Everyday Hero with a Hooligan Streak

THE Ford Focus ST Edition is the only press car I’ve ever had which comes with a large spanner in the glovebox.

But worry not; the spanner is a sign of the ST Edition’s commitment to ultimate performance rather than a fix for iffy engineering. Adjustable KW coilover suspension may be a manual affair in the Focus ST Edition, but I suspect it’s a feature that may have many would-be buyers salivating at the very thought.

Yes, if the regular Ford Focus is your reliable, well-dressed mate who’s always there for the pub quiz, the Focus ST Edition is that same mate in overalls and with a shorter fuse. It’s still fundamentally a Focus – practical, family-friendly and hatchback-shaped – but one that’s now thoroughly hyperactive.

Sitting at the very top of the Focus lineup, the ST Edition isn’t merely a trim level with a few sporty bits stuck on. It’s the full-fat, Nürburgring-tested, enthusiast-ready flagship. The regular Focus ST was already no slouch, but this Edition takes things further with hardware you’d usually associate with track-day specials: adjustable coilover suspension, lightweight flow-formed alloys and huge Brembo brakes.

It retains the 280 PS 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine from the regular ST, along with the Limited Slip Diff, Rev Matching and Launch Control, but now packs it all into an even more performance-focused environment.

However, Ford’s not pitching this purely to weekend warriors or owners who’d happily bin the rear seats for a roll cage. The Focus ST Edition is very much for the everyday driver who still wants the occasional adrenaline hit. It’s the hot hatch for someone who demands pace, precision, and practicality in equal measure. And maybe a heated steering wheel, because we do live in the UK.

Kerb Appeal?

If you’ve ever thought the regular Focus ST looked a tad conservative, the ST Edition arrives in a shade called Azura Blue. It’s exclusive to this model and looks fantastic. The deep blue pairs beautifully with the High Gloss Black bits: the roof, spoiler, diffuser, door mirrors, wheels, and even the surrounds of the ST badges.

Those lightweight 19-inch flow-formed alloys deserve a mention on looks alone. Not only do they help save weight, but they also look special too. Coupled with the 10 mm lower ride height (which can drop a further 20 mm if you wish to tinker with the coilovers), the Focus ST Edition has stance in spades. It’s the sort of car that makes you glance back at it as you walk away.

Is it the most radical-looking hot hatch out there? Perhaps not – there’s nothing Civic Type R bonkers about it. But it’s purposeful, muscular, and subtly aggressive. In short: yes, this car has kerb appeal, and plenty of it.

What’s It Like to Drive?

Here’s where the ST Edition really comes into its own. Let’s start with the headline figures. Under the bonnet sits the same 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine found in the regular ST, pumping out a robust 280 PS at 5,500 rpm and 420 Nm of torque from 3,000 rpm. That’s enough grunt to launch the car from 0-62 mph in 5.7 seconds, with a top speed of 155 mph.

Yet numbers alone don’t capture how alive the ST Edition feels. The engine has a distinctly muscular mid-range, helped along by a low-inertia twin-scroll turbo. Whether you’re blasting down an A-road or overtaking slow-moving traffic on a motorway slip road, the in-gear punch is addictive. Floor it in third and you’ll be grinning like a madman.

But the real star is the chassis. Ford Performance has gone to town here. The adjustable coilover suspension, co-developed with KW Automotive, is nothing short of wizardry for a front-wheel-drive car. Out of the box, it’s already 10 mm lower than the regular ST, with stiffer springs (over 50% firmer) and adjustable jounce and rebound damping. For those less suspension-savvy, that means you can tailor how much the car squats, dives, and rolls, and even tweak it for specific tracks – Ford helpfully supplies a document with recommended Nürburgring settings.

On UK roads, the setup walks a fine line. In its default guise, it’s firmer than a regular ST, as you’d expect, but not spine-shattering. The ride feels taut and controlled, dealing with lumps and bumps with admirable composure, though rougher surfaces can occasionally make their presence felt. The upside is an astonishing sense of connection through corners. Steering feel is crisp, direct, and surprisingly communicative – this is a car that tells you what the front tyres are up to in real time, letting you lean on the grip with utter confidence.

Thanks to those lighter flow-formed alloys and grippy Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres, the ST Edition changes direction with an eagerness that borders on hyperactivity. It’s alive, agile, and utterly playful, yet it still feels secure and planted when you’re pressing on. The Brembo brakes, with enormous 363 mm front discs, bite like a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and shrug off repeated hard stops without fade.

Noise-wise, there’s a purposeful thrum from the exhaust, with a few pops and crackles in Sport mode for added effect, though it never becomes intrusive on longer drives. Wind and road noise are well suppressed for a hot hatch, meaning the ST Edition remains genuinely usable as a daily driver.

If I have a quibble, it’s that Ford only offers the ST Edition with a six-speed manual gearbox. Now, that’s great news for purists, but some buyers might miss the seven-speed automatic offered elsewhere in the ST range. Personally, I’d say keep the manual – it’s sweet, precise, and adds to the sense of driver engagement. But if you’re commuting through Edinburgh’s rush hour, you might wish for a dual-clutch day or two.

The Inside Story

Open the door, and you’re greeted by a cabin that’s recognisably Focus, but lifted several notches by some tasteful performance flourishes. Motion Blue stitching threads its way through the sports seats, steering wheel, gearshift gaiter, knee pads and floor mats, bringing a welcome splash of colour that ties in with the exterior. It’s subtle, classy, and a bit more restrained than the boy-racer red you often see in rival hot hatches.

The Ford Performance seats are snug, supportive, and well-bolstered, offering proper lateral grip without squeezing the life out of you. You’ll find an excellent driving position thanks to plenty of adjustment in both seat and steering column, and visibility all round is very good.

Material quality is decent, if not quite premium-German territory. There’s some harder plastic lurking lower down, but most touchpoints feel solid and well-assembled. The dashboard layout is typically Ford – unfussy, with the latest 12.3-inch digital dash providing clear, configurable info.

It’s a pity that the climate controls are now set into the infotainment screen – albeit a permanent feature along the bottom of the screen. It’s still fussy to use while on the move and physical knobs and buttons are still preferable. At least there’s still a physical rotary dial for Volume – so the passenger can have a say, if they wish.

The latest, 13.2-inch infotainment screen also features SYNC4 Navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with Emergency Assistance, FordPass Connect and embedded voice control. The screen is crisp and easy to navigate, while the 675-watt B&O Premium Sound System with its ten speakers and subwoofer dishes out genuinely impressive audio.

Rear passenger space is generous for a hot hatch with sporty seats and chunky bolstering. Adults will fit comfortably back there, with enough leg and headroom to avoid complaints on medium-length journeys. Kids will be fine, and there are ISOFIX mounts for child seats should you wish to introduce the next generation to the joys of turbocharged torque.

Boot space remains practical for a car in this class, at around 375 litres with the seats up. It’s not cavernous like a Skoda Octavia vRS, but it’ll easily swallow a week’s worth of shopping, a couple of cabin-sized suitcases, or your track day helmet and racing boots. Fold the seats down and you’ve got a handy load space for a set of racing slicks, although with the seats not folding completely flat, you’re left with quite a step to overcome . . .

Worthy of the ST Badge?

The 2024 Ford Focus ST Edition might just be the ultimate expression of what a modern hot hatch should be. It’s blisteringly quick yet practical, precise yet liveable, and loaded with enthusiast-grade hardware you’d once have only found on much pricier machinery. Ford’s engineers have balanced daily usability with serious track-capable performance, and it shows in every aspect of how the car drives and feels.

It looks sharp without descending into cartoonish excess, provided driving excitement, and maintains the Focus’s reputation for being a family-friendly, do-it-all hatchback. That coilover suspension transforms it into a properly adjustable weapon for spirited (track) driving, while the big Brembo brakes and lighter wheels ensure it has the stopping power and agility to match.

Sure, it’s not the cheapest way into hot hatch thrills, and the firm ride might be a bit much for some on scarred Scottish B-roads. But that’s the price you pay for such razor-edged precision. Besides, Ford’s decision to keep the manual gearbox as the only option for the ST Edition feels like a statement of intent – this is a driver’s car, first and foremost.

So, is it worthy of the ST badge? Without a doubt. The Focus ST Edition is the sort of car that reminds you why driving can be so much fun, even if your ultimate destination is just the supermarket. And if you do fancy a trip to the Nürburgring, it’ll get you there, set some cracking laps, and bring you home without so much as breaking a sweat.