Ford Focus 2013 (13) - 2.0T EcoBoost ST-3 Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (250 ps)

If you want a hot hatch with character then there are few cars to rival the Focus ST. Ford has a great heritage in making affordable, fun to drive and fast small cars and it shows. Turn the key and the 2.5-litre turbocharged engine rumbles into life with a deep growl - while a quick blip of the throttle is accompanied by a satisfying burble from the twin exhausts. Acceleration is effortless and feels never-ending but theres more to the Focus ST than just the excellent engine. It has superbly weighted and responsive steering, a perfectly balanced chassis and strong brakes which makes it enjoyable and rewarding to drive on twisting roads. Its comfortable too with a compliant ride, while around the town the ST is as easy to drive as any other Focus. The Focus scored the maximum five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests, and all STs come with six airbags. It is worth noting that pre-facelifted ST1 models lack the electronic stability control fitted to the ST2 and ST3. All facelift cars have ESP as standard though. Available in three and five-door configurations, the ST offers comparable standards of practicality to the rest of the Focus range. Theres a generously sized load area and rear seats offer the usual 60/40 split folding capability. It lacks the fold flat trickery of some rivals though but there are numerous storage areas front and rear including a front armrest with a cubbyhole. A new innovation for cars from 2008 is a system called Easyfuel which prevents you putting petrol into a diesel car and vice versa.The Focus ST is powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine that is also used in several Volvo models. It has five-cylinders (as oppose to most hot hatch engines which have four) and this accounts for the unusual and distinctive sounds it emits, especially under hard acceleration, while the twin exhausts that burble away only add to the feelgood factor. It certainly has bags of character - plant your right foot and youre rewarded with long-legged performance and acceleration all the way up to maximum revs. Theres no sudden shove - instead the power is delivered predictably making it an easy car to drive quickly but smoothly. 0-60mph comes up in 6.8 seconds - thats marginally slower than alternatives like the Honda Civic Type-R and SEAT Leon Cupra but quicker than the Volkswagen Golf GTi. Plus the ST has more pulling power than so in-gear pace is superb. .12V Power Socket - Additional Front, 12V Power Socket - Additional Rear, 12V Power Socket - Front, 18in Alloy Wheels, 4.2in TFT Display, ABS - Anti-lock Braking System, Airbags - Curtain, Airbags - Front Passenger, Airbags - Side Impact, Armrest - Centre Console, Automatic Dimming Rear View Mirror, Automatic Rain Sensing Wipers, AUX Connection, Bi-Xenon Headlights, Body Colour Side Skirts, CD storage, Central Locking - Keyless Entry, Centre Console with open Stowage Bins, City Pack, DAB Digital Radio, DDS - Deflation Detection System, DEATC - Dual-Zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control, Drivers Airbag, EBA - Emergency Brake Assist, EBD - Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Emergency Brake Lights, EPAS - Electric Power Assisted Steering, ESP - Electronic Stability Programme, Ford Easy-Fuel Capless Refuelling System, Ford Power Engine Start-Stop Button, Ford SYNC, Front Fog Lights, Front Grille - Chrome, Headlights - Jet Wash, Headlights - Static Cornering Lights, Heated Driver and Passenger Seats, Heated Front Windscreen, Heated Washer Jets, Heated Windscreen, IPS - Intelligent Protection System, LED Daytime Running Lights, Locking Wheel Nuts, Mini Steel Spare Wheel, Open Stowage Bins, Parking Sensor - Rear, Rear Lights - Dark Smoke Tinted LED, Rear Seat - Two height adjustable head restraints, Rear Spoiler - Body Colour, Recaro Sculpted 3-Seater Rear Bench Seat, Remote Central Locking, Seats - Drivers Electric Adjustment, Seats - Front 8-Way Power Adjustment, Seats - Front Recaro Sports, Seats - ISOFIX Mounting Brackets for Child Seats, Sony Radio-CD, Sports tuned suspension, ST Front Door Scuff Plates, ST Full Body Styling Kit, Steering Wheel - 4 Spoke Leather Trimmed, Thatcham Category 1 Alarm, Traction Control - TC, Trip Computer, TVC - Torque Vectoring Control, Unique ST Floor Mats - Front and Rear, Unique ST Instrument Cluster Binnacle, Unique ST Leather Gearshift Knob, Unique ST pedals, Unique ST Rear Spoiler, USB Connection, Voice Control - Audio, Z-Shape Handbrake