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Used 2014 Ford Focus ST Hatchback Review

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2014 Ford Focus ST Hatchback
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Summary

Edmunds Summary Review of the 2014 Ford Focus ST Hatchback

  • A Edmunds Rating

  • The 2014 Ford Focus ST delivers strong hot-hatchback performance, yet doesn't forget to deliver on the poise and polish.

  • Pros

    Powerful turbocharged engine; precise six-speed manual gearbox; sharp handling; poised ride; stylish interior with many high-tech options.

  • Cons

    Finicky infotainment controls; no automatic transmission offered; optional Recaro seats can be uncomfortable on long drives.

  • What's New for 2014

    The 2014 Ford Focus ST is unchanged other than newly optional gray-painted wheels (with red-painted brake calipers) and optional exterior black stripes.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2014 Ford Focus ST is a performance-oriented version of the Focus four-door hatchback. There is no sedan version.

Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels; performance summer tires; performance brakes; an electronically controlled limited-slip front differential; keyless ignition and entry; full power accessories; air-conditioning; cruise control; a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel; a 60/40-split-folding seatback; the Sync voice-activated phone and audio player interface; and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, USB/iPod interface and an auxiliary audio jack.

The ST2 package (Equipment Group 201A) adds Recaro front sport seats, cloth/leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, the MyFord Touch electronics interface with an 8-inch touchscreen display and a 10-speaker Sony sound system with HD radio and satellite radio.

The ST3 package (Equipment Group 202A) includes the ST2's features and adds xenon headlights, heated mirrors, heated front Recaro seats, full leather upholstery, a rear armrest, an overhead interior console, ambient interior lighting and a navigation system.

Stand-alone options include a dark gray finish (with red-painted brake calipers) for the standard 18-inch wheels, a sunroof and a set of black racing stripes that run from the front of the car to the rear bumper.

Powertrains and Performance

The signature feature of the front-wheel-drive 2014 Ford Focus ST is a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine that delivers 252 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. It's matched with a six-speed close-ratio manual transmission.

In Edmunds testing, the Ford Focus ST accelerated from zero to 60 in 6.6 seconds, a quick time for this class of car. The EPA estimates the Focus ST will achieve 26 mpg combined (23 mpg city/32 mpg highway), which also places it near the top of the hot hatch class for fuel economy.

Safety

The 2014 Ford Focus ST comes standard with antilock disc brakes, stability control, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. The Ford Sync system also includes an emergency crash-notification feature that automatically dials 911 when paired with a compatible cell phone. Also standard are blind-spot mirrors and Ford's MyKey system, which can be used to set certain parameters for teen drivers. A rearview camera, offered on the regular Focus, isn't available on the ST.

In Edmunds testing, the Focus ST needed 112 feet to stop from 60 mph, which is an average distance for an affordable performance car with summer tires.

In government crash testing, the Focus received four out of five stars for overall crash protection, with four stars for overall frontal-impact protection and five stars for overall side-impact protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Focus coupe its highest possible rating of "Good" in the frontal-offset, side and roof-strength tests.

Interior Design and Special Features

The interior of the Focus ST shows how compact cars now blend utility with an appreciation for fine materials and leading-edge design. This cockpit is attractive and the materials are best in class. And just as you'd expect in a performance car, the driving position is excellent, and the optional Recaro front seats offered in the ST2 and ST3 have large side bolsters that keep you very secure during hard cornering. We recommend sitting in the Recaro seats before deciding if they're for you, however, as many drivers find them to be uncomfortable for long drives.

The layout of some gauges and controls is a little complicated, particularly the optional MyFord Touch system. It provides some neat customization possibilities, but in real-world operation we've found that it's prone to glitches. In addition, its virtual buttons are hard to identify at a glance, often get pressed accidentally or fail to respond properly. That said, the technologies controlled by MyFord Touch and the Sync voice command system help set the Focus ST apart from the pack.

The rear seat is slightly shorter on legroom than the accommodations of other small hatchbacks, but overall utility is excellent, with 23.8 cubic feet of space with the 60/40-split rear seats up and a generous 44.8 cubic feet with them folded down.

Driving Impressions

Just as you'd expect from a car in this category, the 2014 Ford Focus ST bristles with performance, and the sound that the turbocharged engine makes as it revs toward 6,000 rpm is thrilling. The precision of the steering and the crisp action of the six-speed manual transmission make you feel as if you're in touch with this car's mechanical soul.

Equally striking is the Focus ST's composure during harder driving. Special tuning of the electric-assist power steering, electronic differential control and stability control systems helps maintain traction without making the car feel clumsy. And if you're looking for more excitement on a back road (or planning to sign up for a track day), you can dial the stability control into a more permissive setting or switch it off altogether.

For day-to-day driving, the Focus ST is still quite livable. The suspension tuning is certainly firm, but outside of the GTI, this is the best-riding performance hatchback you'll find. It's also fairly quiet, as the engine really makes itself heard only during hard acceleration.

Full Edmunds Expert Review: 2014 Ford Focus ST Hatchback

What's New for 2014

The 2014 Ford Focus ST is unchanged other than newly optional gray-painted wheels (with red-painted brake calipers) and optional exterior black stripes.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2014 Ford Focus ST is a performance-oriented version of the Focus four-door hatchback. There is no sedan version.

Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels; performance summer tires; performance brakes; an electronically controlled limited-slip front differential; keyless ignition and entry; full power accessories; air-conditioning; cruise control; a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel; a 60/40-split-folding seatback; the Sync voice-activated phone and audio player interface; and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, USB/iPod interface and an auxiliary audio jack.

The ST2 package (Equipment Group 201A) adds Recaro front sport seats, cloth/leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, the MyFord Touch electronics interface with an 8-inch touchscreen display and a 10-speaker Sony sound system with HD radio and satellite radio.

The ST3 package (Equipment Group 202A) includes the ST2's features and adds xenon headlights, heated mirrors, heated front Recaro seats, full leather upholstery, a rear armrest, an overhead interior console, ambient interior lighting and a navigation system.

Stand-alone options include a dark gray finish (with red-painted brake calipers) for the standard 18-inch wheels, a sunroof and a set of black racing stripes that run from the front of the car to the rear bumper.

Powertrains and Performance

The signature feature of the front-wheel-drive 2014 Ford Focus ST is a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine that delivers 252 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. It's matched with a six-speed close-ratio manual transmission.

In Edmunds testing, the Ford Focus ST accelerated from zero to 60 in 6.6 seconds, a quick time for this class of car. The EPA estimates the Focus ST will achieve 26 mpg combined (23 mpg city/32 mpg highway), which also places it near the top of the hot hatch class for fuel economy.

Safety

The 2014 Ford Focus ST comes standard with antilock disc brakes, stability control, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. The Ford Sync system also includes an emergency crash-notification feature that automatically dials 911 when paired with a compatible cell phone. Also standard are blind-spot mirrors and Ford's MyKey system, which can be used to set certain parameters for teen drivers. A rearview camera, offered on the regular Focus, isn't available on the ST.

In Edmunds testing, the Focus ST needed 112 feet to stop from 60 mph, which is an average distance for an affordable performance car with summer tires.

In government crash testing, the Focus received four out of five stars for overall crash protection, with four stars for overall frontal-impact protection and five stars for overall side-impact protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Focus coupe its highest possible rating of "Good" in the frontal-offset, side and roof-strength tests.

Interior Design and Special Features

The interior of the Focus ST shows how compact cars now blend utility with an appreciation for fine materials and leading-edge design. This cockpit is attractive and the materials are best in class. And just as you'd expect in a performance car, the driving position is excellent, and the optional Recaro front seats offered in the ST2 and ST3 have large side bolsters that keep you very secure during hard cornering. We recommend sitting in the Recaro seats before deciding if they're for you, however, as many drivers find them to be uncomfortable for long drives.

The layout of some gauges and controls is a little complicated, particularly the optional MyFord Touch system. It provides some neat customization possibilities, but in real-world operation we've found that it's prone to glitches. In addition, its virtual buttons are hard to identify at a glance, often get pressed accidentally or fail to respond properly. That said, the technologies controlled by MyFord Touch and the Sync voice command system help set the Focus ST apart from the pack.

The rear seat is slightly shorter on legroom than the accommodations of other small hatchbacks, but overall utility is excellent, with 23.8 cubic feet of space with the 60/40-split rear seats up and a generous 44.8 cubic feet with them folded down.

Driving Impressions

Just as you'd expect from a car in this category, the 2014 Ford Focus ST bristles with performance, and the sound that the turbocharged engine makes as it revs toward 6,000 rpm is thrilling. The precision of the steering and the crisp action of the six-speed manual transmission make you feel as if you're in touch with this car's mechanical soul.

Equally striking is the Focus ST's composure during harder driving. Special tuning of the electric-assist power steering, electronic differential control and stability control systems helps maintain traction without making the car feel clumsy. And if you're looking for more excitement on a back road (or planning to sign up for a track day), you can dial the stability control into a more permissive setting or switch it off altogether.

For day-to-day driving, the Focus ST is still quite livable. The suspension tuning is certainly firm, but outside of the GTI, this is the best-riding performance hatchback you'll find. It's also fairly quiet, as the engine really makes itself heard only during hard acceleration.

What Others Are Saying

Customer Reviews

Average Consumer Rating (See all 12 reviews) Write a Review

2014 bought used in 2015

by on
Vehicle: 2014 Ford Focus ST

I've owned the car for 9 months. I'm 6'6" at 235-240lbs. Front leg room? I fit well. The car has the ST3 package and the Recaro seats aren't horrible, but I am a bit larger than the avg. 6' tall male, so for long trips you tend to re position often. Head room is great. I have 3 small kids (5 and under age wise). I have to scoot the seat up to get them in there and can still drive a short distance without too much of an issue. No way can you get 3 kids seats in the rear. I can squeeze in two booster seats and a child seat (front facing) back there (barely). I bought the car used, from 5 hrs away with 11,000 miles on it and drove it home without issue. The road noise is there for sure if the pavement isn't new or good smooth pavement. It could stand some sound deadening material. Performance wise its FUN. I've owned BMWs in the past and this car hangs right in there performance wise with them easily. Torque steer on this car is NO JOKE. You really need to be ready for the steering wheel pull when you drop down into gear and punch it. It could get away from you easily if you're not ready for it and used to it. As far as issues go, I do have the random issue with the stereo acting weird. Like I have to turn the car off to reset it to get it working correctly. Over all Sync is great. It recognizes voice very well. It did stop reading text messages to me when my Android phone went to Marshmallow (android 6.0). The gas mileage really stinks for a 4 cylinder engine. I drive 72 mph on the freeway 70 miles round trip a day. I get about 28 mpg at that speed ( I set the cruise and keep up with mileage). I once some how managed to get 30 mpg (not sure how this was done). I had a 2005 Caddy CTS V (bought used) that got 27 on the freeway and had double the HP and TRQ. So if you're trying to decide about a V8 hot rod and this little hot rod, I'd go for the V8, you'll get more performance and fun with the same gas mileage (there in or abouts). If you need a fun car that turns (at speed) very well in corners and what not, has great pickup and speed, for a really decent price, this is the car for you. Oh and if you need a car that has a small turning radius for busting a U'y for a parking spot or something similar, this isn't the car to do that. Also, the ride is great, AC works great, Stereo is pretty decent (7/10), Factory tires are summer tires (expect 25k life out of them) they do grip very well, very hard tire in cold weather. Interior lighting is very cool, the lights that turn on when you turn the wheel for corners and what not is a nice touch. It needs a backup camera in my opinion, but I'm sure that's probably available now in the more recent yr models.



Consider what you want out of the car!

by on
Vehicle: 2014 Ford Focus ST

I love driving my Ford Focus ST, but I am very disappointed at the inside of the car. At first glance, the interior looks well made and noise free, but with less than 3 months I started to hear noises from the rattling of the back seat and after two dealership inspections, the only fix I was offered was to wrap the metal hook that latches the back seat with electrical tape to silence the rattling. withing 6 months, noises started to come from middle dashboard, the snap on style panels are poorly made and rub against each other. Other things also came to my attention, such as the upgraded Recaro bucket seat does not fit in the seat area, so when the seat is moved around the sides get smashed on the doors and armrest. Also, the moonroof sliding door rattles and makes noises. Mechanically speaking, the car is very fun to drive, but this car makes way too much rattling noise for age and condition of the car, and I drive mostly on reasonable roads.



Adrenaline fix

by on
Vehicle: 2014 Ford Focus ST

Oddly, this car wasn't even on my radar as I was testing the JCW Mini Cooper S against the VW GTI and the Subaru WRX STI. After a rather uninspiring test drive of the mini, and being underwhelmed by the civility of the GTI, and disappointed with the over all feel and uninspired interior of the STI, I started reading reviews and watching youtube reviews on the turbo hot hatch division to see what other cars were in the same market, Surprisingly, this car came up high in the performance ratings, so I took one for a test drive. I was immediately impressed with the well appointed interior and feel of the full leather Recaro seats, it just felt like I was home. The ride was even more impressive than I was expecting, and although the torque steer was ever present, I actually found it enhanced the driving experience. 21342 miles. later, I still look for ANY excuse to drive somewhere, even the grocery store. The car stereo is more than adequate if you listen to loud music, but the somewhat noisy interior makes listening to Beethoven a little challenging. Being a diminutive 5 ft 7 inches, I find the fit of the car perfect, although my 6 ft tall friends found the fit a little constraining to fully enjoy the car's capabilities. If you are looking for a daily adrenaline fix, this car is for you. On the practical side, it has more than adequate space for cargo with a family of 4 like mine, and the comfort on 4-6 hour trips was comparable to my wife's 2012 Civic. My only real complaint is the smallish gas tank, 320 mile range is a little on the short side, but adequate for my daily commuting. Now if I can just keep my son from taking joy rides in it....


1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Couldn't be happier.

by on
Vehicle: 2014 Ford Focus ST

Review Updated 8/8/2016 Purchased in September 2013. Almost 3 years and 24k miles later, I couldn't be happier with my Tangerine Scream Focus ST. The paint holds up great and it still shines like new after every wash. From how it looks inside and out to how it sounds and performs, it's an amazing car, especially for the asking price. The fit and finish is solid. The only shakes or rattles I have are from the loose change and random things I have in the storage bins. Road noise on harsher road surfaces does travel into the cabin (due to the relatively stiff suspension), so it isn't a quiet car on every road surface. However, on a well-maintained highway, this car is very quiet. Don't pay sticker and look for incentives. I paid $4.5k under MSRP for a loaded ST3 (full leather seats, nav, sunroof, tricoat TS paint, "cargo net", etc). My mileage isn't great for several reasons so it shouldn't be considered typical. My daily commute is short (4 miles each way), I stomp on the pedals, and I power slide when no other cars are around. Lastly, my insurance premiums are low. I compared my quote from GEICO to other Focus trims and it was the same. Go figure! Overall, I can't express how much I still love this car. I worry if my next car will give me this much satisfaction. I look forward to driving it every single day!



Engineering technician

by on
Vehicle: 2014 Ford Focus ST


2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Red rocket

by on
Vehicle: 2014 Ford Focus ST

What can I say that hasn't been said already? I have the ST3 package (minus sunroof) with Rado grey wheels and matte black vinyl racing stripes. The Recaros were definitely a tad uncomfortable at first, but once broken in, it fits like a glove (I'm quite a big guy too.. 6'2" 260lbs). Passenger seat still a bit stiff (just me in the car 75% of the time), but should break-in over time as well. I prefer this interior to the 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 I had a few years ago. Love the big nav screen and the usb/bluetooth integration. Stock sound system is pretty good as well. The ride is sporty, but not punishing. LOVE the torque delivery in this car. Makes on-ramps and cloverleafs an absolute joy. Plenty of grunt in any gear to get past people. I have a shade under 20k miles thus far and I've only had to do the routine maintenance and one recall (wiring harness TSB), although my vehicle was not showing any of the symptoms that prompted said TSB. I live in the PNW and the traction is phenomenal in the wet with all the driver aids left on. You can absolutely lean on this car in the pooring rain and not worry about losing it. Ford worked magic with this car. Turn-in is FANTASTIC. Never had a car that drove into corners as hard as this one does. You almost forget its FWD. Torquesteer is also limited (especially compared to the MS3). I've avg'd around 28mpg with 70% highway and a heavy foot. I did manage a few economy minded runs and got 34mpg. Overall a great package. If you're looking for something that has 4-doors and is fun to drive, the Focus ST is a great choice! Didn't hurt that it was $6k under MSRP either :)


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