The 2013 Ford Focus ST features a 2.0L GTDI I-4 EcoBoost engine. This 6-speed manual transmission achieves 23 city mpg/32 hwy mpg. Additional mpg may be gained when a driver uses the Focus’ Eco-mode display which indicates ideal gear shifting.
The body weight is not overly light and the vehicle corners and performs serpentines well. The amount of metal used is good and the weight keeps the car well grounded while making those within feel like they are surrounded by durable steel. The car is nimble in its handling and zippy with its six speed manual transmission.
The accessory console was very well laid out and easy to use without an overwhelming amount of buttons or one accidentally bumping into the wrong knobs in order to activate a feature or change a function. The Sync/My Ford Touch controls navigation, phone, climate, vehicle health report, multiple entertainment options and XM. All entertainment functions are easy to use without any need to reference the user’s manual. My Ford Touch’s SYNC system is one of the easiest in the industry to pair a phone and it also provides the option for voice recognition.
The ST package provides a sportier design and accessories such as mid-dash sport tachometer gauges, while the powertrain includes Mac Pherson struts. The engine is equipped with a single scroll turbo Overboost which when engaged causes expedient acceleration. The ST also includes Advanced Torque Vectoring control which will (under specific conditions) apply brake torque on the inner wheel curve for better traction and less understeer. Vectoring control does not slow the vehicle but does help control excessive wheel slip while allowing for agility during cornering.
Inner Space
I am not a tall driver but do not need to move the seat up extremely close to the wheel in order to comfortably reach the pedals. However I did notice that when the steering column is positioned mid level there were occasions when my knees did make contact with the bottom of the column. When the seat was further back there was not a problem, however my preference is to not use my toes only to brake or accelerate.
In the back seat, there is a good amount of leg room and side room for passengers and when extra cargo space needed it is a 60/40 split and folds flatly. The upright backseats also had more than enough dimension for one to store extra large, broken down shipping boxes. The cargo (with backseat upright) is 23.8 cubic feet and was not able to store these boxes but still provided ample (yet not extremely deep) space to store everyday items from most sports gear and two large airline approved-sized suitcases.
The Focus ST was chosen as an IIHS Top Safety Pick and earned a 4 (out of 5) star rollover rating. It also included safety features such as airbags, Advance Trac, Electronic Stability Control stability, Integrated blind spot mirror, and tire pressure monitoring
The Focus is also available in an electric model with add-ons such as park assist and rearview camera, which were not included in tested model.
Base price $23,700.00 dollars
With options, D&D, $28,290.00 dollars
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