Ford Focus ST 2.5 Review: Shifting focus

What we like:

Engine and exhaust note both sound much better than before

updated equipment level gives the interior a more plush feel

improved ride and body-control means it's a much composed car to drive hard and fast now.

What we dislike:

Cheap bits can still be found within the car

needs a bigger spoiler to add more visual drama

you can't help but notice how nose-heavy the ST can get.

So yes, the Ford Focus ST remains as one of the hottest hatch money can buy for now, and it undercuts both the Audi S3 and Volkswagen Golf GTI when it comes to economic of sense. New additional equipment is an appreciated touch, the driving sensation is one that you can easily love and live with on a daily basis, and it isn't as harsh or brutal as a WRX STI. Best of all, there's a sleek charisma - you can impress the boss when showing up for work in it, plus at the same time, won't be labelled a "boy-racer" as there's also a certain mature charm.

Hence if you have $109k and am thinking of splurging all of it on a hot-hatch the wife will approve of and the parents won't complain (of getting backaches, of course), then you can't go wrong with the Focus ST.

Credits: Story & pictures by Azfar Hashim