2013 Ford Focus ST consumer reviews

I bought this car new and it has been loads of fun. Plenty of power and great cornering. The only problem I found was the Torque Steer. As with all front wheel drives this one also has it. The only problem I had with the car was the APIM which controls SYNC. Ford replaced it under warranty and no problems since.

great size,great leg room decent mileage small bed not able to haul much. Nice interior appointments. a smooth ride and handles nice it has adequate power

Excellent core qualities: handling is superb: very neutral in turns (until you step on it mid-turn and it torque steers a little), practically no body roll at high speed turns - simply amazing, strong enough acceleration, great and quick steering, fantastic manual transmission. The reason I chose it over a GTI is b/c ST feels more raw, less refined and that's what I wanted. For example, transmission: the shifter lets you know that you just went into the gate with a great feedback in your hand instead of feeling like smooth butter as is the case with the GTI and ST's shifter's crackling/metallic sound (1st to 2nd to 3rd) when windows are down makes me feel like race car driver and turns enthusiasts' heads on the parking lot. GTI is just too civilized, too quite, too smooth for my taste. The build quality in the GTI is much better, however. ST3's Sony system is weak (25W RMS/speaker and a paper cone 8" sub are laughable) but manages to turn door panels into loud rattle snakes... b/c the panels suck. ST's ceiling rattles too, very annoying. That wouldn't happen in the GTI. Although ST's sound isolation from outside noise is surprisingly good and cargo space is generous. Recaro seats are confining even for a 160-lb weight person. ST's turn radius is tractor-trailer-like and gas tank small. I can live with all of the aforementioned drawbacks except the poor "premium" sound system and speaker induced door/ceiling rattles...both make me cringe. Dealer couldn't do a thing. The overall driving experience for the money is pretty much impossible to beat for someone who values handling/speed/utility/style/practicality/raw-qualities over luxury/comfort.

Awesome performance. Seats fold all the way so can be used even for transporting big stuff (IKEA, Bicycle etc)

Economical period. Most people focus on the performance side of this car. Which is important. However there is no other car in the U.S. that drives like an audi and handles like a porsche. I just save 40,000 dollars. laugh at that!

I've put just over a thousand miles on my certified used ST and I love it. Goes like a rocket, good stability, excellent suspension and handling. Downsides: full-size spare means small tank (300 mile range) and a high trunk floor, the suspension will make you regret potholes very quickly, and they came with summer performance tires from the factory so you may be popping for a new set of tires immediately. The car is reasonably practical though and an unbelievable amount of fun.

Have had for 4000 miles now. Averaging 25 mpg with a very heavy foot. The turbo response is instant, spools quickly, with good torque in lower rev range. Handles like a dream for a FWD, with torque steer present. It is a driving enthusiasts car, I wouldnt recommend it to a regular driver who cannot appreciate its performance aspirations. It you want a versitle (4 door hatch), thats quick (6 speed manual, turbo), decent mpgs, nice interior (recaro seats, microsoft sync, 10 speaker Sony system) this is YOUR car! Cons: car came with full size spare tire, resulting in small gas tank, Rear motor mount too soft from factory, resulting in wheel hop and wheel spin. I fixed with aftermarket rear motor mount, works great.

Traded in my 2009 Focus SES modified with Ford racing suspension, strut tower braces, stereo and lighting upgrades, etc., stock engine and 5-speed. In nearly every respect, the ST is what I was aiming at with my modded SES, with the added benefit of 120 additional horsepower, better integrated suspension, improved ride and reduced NVH, much improved brakes and interior, and next generation tech features. The noticeable downsides are over 500 pounds more weight, (manageable) torque steer in the three lower gears, a larger turning radius, slightly reduced rearward and parking visibility, a bit more thirst for fuel (unless I use the turbo frequently, when it has quite a bit more thirst!), and an compelling need to go find twisties, just because this car does them so well. I?m very happy with the car?s performance. My grin factor has substantially increased over what it was with the SES, especially when acceleration is involved and high-g cornering is involved. I?ve commuted 2.5 hours daily and taken several medium-length day trips in the Cascades so far, and find the Recaros are usually comfortable (slightly snug in the seat bottom for an ol? lady) and always supportive. The steering wheel rim profile is much more comfortable than in my previous Focus, and the 6-speed Ford-Getrag trans shifts more consistently than the older car?s 5-speed MTX-75 trans, which didn?t like to be hurried. The upgraded soft-touch interior surfaces are much better than the expanses of hard plastic in the SES, except for the rear passengers? windowsills. So close to getting it right, Ford; why?d ya stop short? Just put the car on a winter tire-wheel package and am looking forward to learning how to manage this much power in the Northwest?s winter conditions, especially in the passes. The best thing about the ST is that I can drive it in a manner similar to how I used to ride my liter-bikes (if you know what I mean, you know what I?m talkin? about). This car has the best combination of steering precision, grip, brakes, and thrust that I?ve ever been able to afford in a car, and it is teaching me new things about unravelling some of my favorite roads. I?m looking forward to my round of trips to Yellowstone, Crater Lake, Yosemite and other National Parks in the coming years.

I own a ST3, and am very pleased with it. I was looking for a versatile daily driver hot hatch with a true manual tranny, and repeatedly test drove everything in it's class over a period of 6 months. The ST was the winner over the WRX, GTI, Mazda Speed3, Audi A3, and BMW 328i wagon. Money was not really a factor (within reason). The car handles unbelievably well, accelerates VERY quickly, and yet has a very civilized ride + road manners. IF you fit in the narrow, confining seats, they are very comfortable. If you don't, forget it, because they ARE narrow and confining. And just because you fit in the seats, your girthier passengers might not--so think of who will be in the car with you. The seats are designed for a narrow-butted driver who likes to sling the car through corners. For a daily driver/road trip car, the seats could be better--an inch or two wider and they'd be perfect. I'm 54 and have been through many vehicles. There's really very little I don't like about this car! It's a joy to drive, gets decent gas mileage for such a high performer, can run on 87 octane fuel if need be (unlike most hot rods), has a very nice interior, decent stereo (esp with an after market speaker upgrade), has a very nice cargo carrying capacity, and loads of features built right in. Really, it's a high quality, high performance car that can be bought for well under $30,000. Bravo Ford! But it's not perfect: the rear visibility is pretty bad, the turning circle is very wide for the size of the vehicle (not good in a parking lot or when making 3 pt turns), and the My Ford Touch (MFT) electronics are VERY quirky and annoying with their random performance. Hopefully Ford will be able to get the MFT software bugs figured out, because it's killing their reliability ratings across the entire Ford auto fleet! All that said, if you're in the market for a hot hatch, make sure you drive this car!

The car handles great with lots of power. Front wheel drive a little bit of pull when giving lot of gas. Hugs the road great. Great sounding stereo. Drivers and passenger seat poor lumbar support wish there was a better seat option. Over all great car. Would buy another one.