2006 Ford Focus ST review from North America

Backup lights cut out.

Rattling in glove box area.

Volkswagon GTI. Subaru WRX. Mazdaspeed 3.

These are all great small performance cars. But they are, it should be noted, not great economy cars. The GTI is unreliable and expensive to repair. The WRX uses a lot of gas. The Mazdaspeed 3 is known for engine failures.

This is where the Ford Focus ST comes in. The Focus ST is not in the same league of those vehicles. Its engine kicks out 151hp and a 154ft/lb of torque. It is a good engine, with lots of pull, but the Focus ST will still get its doors blown off by most V6 family sedans.

But that doesn't mean the Focus ST isn't a series driver's car. The Focus ST is only available with a manual. It has a decent gearbox and an amazing exhaust note. The steering is brilliant. It may not go as quickly as a GTI, but stick it into a corner and it keeps up just as well. This is not only because of the steering, but also because it is much lighter than the previously mentioned cars, and you'll feel that when you get into the twisty stuff.

What makes the Focus ST unique, however, is that it is very cheap to run. Its gas mileage is on par with economy cars, parts are cheap, reliability is good. Plus, thanks to Ford's less than stellar resale value, a Focus ST can be purchased used for less than $7k without much trouble. And that's including heated leather seats, enhanced sound system, sunroof, and etc.

The only downside is that, well, it's a Focus. It is a good looking car in blue or red, but even so it is not a "cool" car in most peoples eyes, so don't expect anyone to be jealous over your new ride. The interior quality is also lacking, at least in comparison to a GTI or Mazdaspeed3. There are a few squeaks and rattling and some panels are not aligned as well as they should be.

Overall I am very happy with this car. If I was made of money I'd rather have a GTI for its enhanced practically, better looks, and extremely torquey engine, but I'd be afraid it would turn into a money pit. The Ford Focus ST is perfect for those who want a car that hands exceptionally but don't want to spend a lot or worry about long-term reliability.

This is also a good car for newbie piston-heads, as it drives extremely well, but doesn't have so much power that you end up putting yourself in a ditch.