Ford Focus ST review - MPG, running costs & CO2
"The petrol Ford Focus ST is thirsty, and the diesel engine is no longer available"
The Focus ST is available with one petrol engine – the 2.0-litre diesel option was discontinued when the facelifted model arrived in early 2022. So, while the Focus ST is still entirely usable, it’s no longer the best choice for private buyers with a high annual mileage or frequent motorway trips or company car choosers looking for a car with low CO2 emissions.
Ford Focus ST MPG & CO2
The petrol is a turbocharged 2.3-litre engine with the ability to guzzle fuel when driven hard. Switch into its normal driving mode and take things easy, and it should be possible to get close to its official 35.3mpg economy figure. This is pretty similar to the 34mpg of the Hyundai i30 N Performance, while nearly new examples of the Honda Civic Type R should return around 33mpg. While it adds around £1,500 to the ST's price, the automatic gearbox has a negligible effect on fuel economy and CO2 emissions. That still means the ST sits firmly at the top of the BiK bandings alongside its rivals, so it's not a cheap option for company-car drivers.
Smaller and more efficient, the 2.0-litre diesel version of the ST returned up to 53.3mpg, while its CO2 emissions of 140g/km qualified it for a slightly lower BiK band, making it a tempting rival to the Volkswagen Golf GTD and the diesel Skoda Octavia vRS. It’s no longer available to be bought new, however. Both versions of the Focus ST cost the standard rate a year in road tax.
Insurance groups
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) gives the two engines very different insurance groups; the diesel should provide surprisingly low premiums, sitting in group 23 out of 50, while the petrol engine will cost a bit more to insure - it’s in group 34.
Warranty
Every new Ford comes with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty, which is the same as the Golf GTD, but shorter than the five-year/unlimited-mileage cover supplied with the Hyundai i30 N. Ford's warranty can be extended to four or five years in length at extra cost. As standard, one year of European roadside assistance is also included.
Servicing
Customers can take out a Ford Protect Service Plan to cover scheduled maintenance for an upfront fee or monthly payment. Upgrading this to Service Plan Plus also covers consumables such as brake pads and discs, the clutch, shock absorbers and the exhaust.
