2013 Ford Focus ST brings the right performance to the wrong wheels: Motoramic Drives

Following the well-received first-generation Ford Focus and its peppy SVT trim introduced in 2002, Ford for years had neglected its vaunted Volkswagen GTI fighter; the second-generation Focus in the United States was haphazardly warmed over from the original, and lacked any sporty variant. But with the long-overdue launch of an all-new Focus, the company is no longer content to let the Civic Si, Mazdaspeed3 and Volkswagen GTI dominate the niche, and re-entered the hot-hatch fray with the 2013 Ford Focus ST.

The ST makes an immediate visual impact. Its aesthetics are "youthful," and the pouting, shark-mouthed grill attracts lots of attention—mostly from "slammed" and dilapidated '94 Civics dragging on the ground. Inside, the busy interior with its colored inserts feel unsettling, and the Recaro seats' side bolsters are a tight fit for anyone over 100 lbs. Couple that with the (still) frustratingly slow and buggy MyFord Touch navigation, you're better off sticking with the base model.