One glance at the feisty-looking Focus ST, and more preconceptions take hold. This, surely, will be an in-your-face car to drive, all edgy and aggressive. After all, lashed onto the standard, rather humdrum Focus bodywork are plenty of spoilers and side-skirts, and with the whole lot blown over in lurid orange paint, the ST looks arresting. Ford hasn't exactly created a silk purse from a sow's ear, but it has transformed the Focus into something you'd be prepared to put your money into.

Jump in and the dashboard confronts you with a row of gauges, including turbo boost and oil pressure. You sit in figure-hugging Recaro seats, part-trimmed in orange cloth to match the paint job. Subtle it ain't. Time to start the engine.

There's something a bit rorty, a bit interesting about the noise on start-up. It's definitely a hot hatch sound, but it's not the four-cylinder thrash you were expecting. Drop the clutch and it becomes clear: under the bonnet is a turbocharged five-cylinder. It develops 222bhp and 236lb ft of torque, making it the third most powerful car here, ahead of the Golf. The Focus ST immediately comes across as a very solid-feeling car: not twitchy, not highly strung, not temperamental. Not what you predicted.

But forget what you thought you wanted: the ST, for all its unusual mannerisms, is fantastic. The engine is a honey: refined at low speeds, emitting a sophisticated thrum that makes it a lot of fun to hold on to gears. It feels muscly and has plenty of low-down torque, but only starts to pull hard if you keep your foot down beyond 4,500rpm. By then the turbo is in full cry and the bright orange Ford becomes a citrus missile; but the ST's engine never makes you feel like a lout.

Don't imagine, however, that the ST is all mouth and no trousers. On a twisty country road only a Impreza will skip away from it. While the Astra VXR is spinning away its power and scaring its driver, the ST is accelerating effortlessly with only the merest tug of torque-steer to remind you it's the front wheels that deliver power to the road. The Golf GTI is left trailing too, but only because the Focus is more powerful. There's little between them in terms of handling, but if anything the Focus rolls a little more and the brakes don't respond quite as keenly. Its steering also feels marginally less sharp than the GTI's, but is more involving.

Back on the beaten track, the ST is perfectly amenable around town and on the motorway. There's nothing offensive about its ride, and refinement is good. Yet all the while, you've got the wonderful engine note and vibrant interior to remind you you're in a hot hatch. Or rather, a Fast Ford. The Focus ST can indeed live up to that heritage, but it's not like any of the famous models from the past. It has its own identity.


PERFORMANCE: The engine feels strong and comes alive at 4,500rpm, making a great noise. Brakes are powerful too, but the pedal lacks responsiveness.

RIDE & HANDLING: Not razor-sharp through corners, but capable and fun. Front wheels cope well with the power. The chassis strikes a good balance between ride comfort and agility.

SAFETY: The Focus scores a maximum five-star EuroNCAP rating. The ST backs this up with airbags all round, and a comprehensive array of electronic driver aids.

INTERIOR: ST interior upgrades are effective. There's plenty of cabin space, but overall material quality could be improved.

FINANCE: List price is highly competitive, and contract hire rates are the lowest here. But it's the second dearest to insure, and had the worst economy.

PRICE : FROM £17,495

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