© Provided by Dennis Publishing Limited Ford Focus ST Estate front 3/4 tracking ![Focus Focus](https://www.dorsetautospares.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/G750UK-4.jpg)
We were already impressed by the hatchback and now the Ford Focus ST Estate has proven itself as a talented family car for keen drivers. If you need lots of space as well as performance, it could hold even more appeal than the tranche of hot SUVs arriving on the scene.
Find the best Ford Focus ST for sale near you. Every used car for sale comes with a free CARFAX Report. We have 431 Ford Focus ST vehicles for sale that are reported accident free, 329 1-Owner cars, and 559 personal use cars. Research the 2018 Ford Focus ST Hatchback with our expert reviews and ratings. Edmunds also has Ford Focus ST Hatchback pricing, MPG, specs, pictures, safety features, consumer reviews and more.
For a start, it shares its chassis and engines with the Ford Focus ST hatchback and, weighing only 35kg more, it feels virtually identical to drive. That's to say it's pin-sharp, with incredibly quick steering helping it dive into corners. In Sport mode the ride is quite firm but the body feels locked down as a result, giving drivers plenty of confidence.
The turbocharged 2.3-litre petrol engine with 276bhp feels just as potent in the estate, and manages to get the car from 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds, despite a lack of four-wheel drive. The car is rather thirsty, averaging around 35mpg, so long-distance and company-car drivers may opt for the 187bhp diesel version instead. It might not be as exciting, but 50mpg and lower monthly bills will make it a more practical proposition for many.
![Focus Focus](https://www.dorsetautospares.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/G750UK-4.jpg)
Of course, there's a lot more space in the boot than in the hatchback and, despite its swoopy looks, the ST Estate can rival the Skoda Octavia vRS Estate for luggage room. Not only that, but a move away from the centre-exit exhaust of past Focus ST models means you can fit a tow bar and pull a caravan.
© Provided by Dennis Publishing Limited Ford Focus ST Estate rear 3/4 tracking
Hot hatchbacks and estates can no longer appeal on performance grounds alone, and the ST Estate provides some luxury via its sporty interior, with Recaro part-leather sports seats, a heated steering wheel and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Standard equipment also includes adaptive LED headlights, lane keep assist and autonomous emergency braking - the safety systems helped the Focus score five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests. Ford owner satisfaction could be better; the brand came 23rd out of 30 manufacturers in the 2019 Driver Power survey.
A price tag of around £33,000 for the petrol version means that only hardcore driving fans are likely to see all the benefits of buying the Focus ST Estate over a rival like the Skoda Octavia vRS Estate.
The petrol Ford Focus ST Estate is rather thirsty, but there's a diesel aimed at high-mileage drivers
The Focus ST Estate is available with either a petrol or diesel engine, and while it's the former that gets all the headlines and starring credits in online videos, it's quite a bit more expensive to run.
© Provided by Dennis Publishing Limited Ford Focus ST Estate side panning
Its 2.3-litre engine returns 35.8mpg according to Ford's official figures but this will drop further if you drive the ST Estate hard. Impressively, the economy is identical to the hatchback ST, so the added practicality of the Estate doesn't come with any real penalties.
Choose the diesel instead and fuel-efficiency jumps up to 50.4mpg, so it should be better suited to anyone driving lots of motorway miles or towing. It'll also be more attractive to company-car drivers, courtesy of its mid-table Benefit-in-Kind band. Both cars cost the same £145 a year in VED (road tax).
Adding a longer boot may make the Focus ST Estate look very different to the hatch but the chassis is virtually unchanged and the car’s weight only increases by 35kg, which is undetectable on the move. With Ford's 276bhp 2.3-litre turbo petrol engine, the Estate feels just as rapid, getting from 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds versus the 5.7 of the hatch and going on to the same 155mph top speed.
© Provided by Dennis Publishing Limited Ford Focus ST Estate front tracking
Grip from 19-inch alloy wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres is huge, and fast steering makes the ST Estate feel incredibly agile. There's a high-quality feel to its suspension that's familiar from expensive sports cars but it's still firm, and passengers may notice they're being gently shaken occasionally. In the Sport driving mode this is exacerbated but body lean is controlled even more keenly, and the ST Estate feels even more composed in corners.
The top petrol version also gets a clever electronically controlled limited-slip differential, which senses the best way to distribute power between the front wheels, reducing understeer and maximising traction. As a result, it's even quicker over a wet road or around a track.
It's almost impossible to tell the ST Estate and hatchback apart from behind the wheel
The latest Ford Focus Estate has taken a big step up in quality and the ST version enjoys an impressive roster of kit, along with some desirable sporty touches. Most noticeable are the excellent part-leather Recaro sports seats, holding the driver and passenger in place, without being too uncomfortable or hardcore when you just want to hop in and out of the car.
© Provided by Dennis Publishing Limited Ford Focus ST Estate interior
An eight-inch screen sits above the air vents and offers built-in sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a rear-view camera. There's also adaptive cruise control, a B&O stereo, heated seats and steering wheel, keyless entry and adaptive LED headlights, so you shouldn't be left wanting.
Owners are likely to be impressed by the step up in quality and technology
Ford has ensured all the latest safety features are fitted to the Focus ST Estate, from passive safety measures like multiple airbags, to active features including lane keeping assist and autonomous emergency braking. As a result, the standard car was awarded a five-star crash safety rating from Euro NCAP.
© Provided by Dennis Publishing Limited Ford Focus ST Estate rear lights
Reliability won't be known until customers rack up miles in production cars because quite a bit of the technology is new. At least both the engines are developments of those already seen in other models, so Ford has lots of experience with them. The brand has some work to do, judging by its 23rd place out of 30 manufacturers in our 2019 Driver Power survey, with poor scores for build quality and comfort. At least the Estate should help counter a mediocre result for practicality.
The Focus ST Estate is loaded with safety kit but Ford customer feedback is patchy
A big boot makes the Focus ST Estate a versatile family car
Aimed squarely at driving enthusiasts who have families, the Focus ST Estate can lug around lots of luggage in its 608-litre boot. Fold the seats down and space jumps again to 1,653 litres, making it ideal for taking furniture to the tip or moving house. Those volumes are virtually identical to the Skoda Octavia vRS Estate, which has 610 and 1,740 litres respectively.
© Provided by Dennis Publishing Limited Ford Focus ST Estate boot
A repositioning of the exhaust pipes means you can now fit a tow bar to the Focus ST for the first time, opening it up to anyone with a small trailer or caravan. The petrol ST can tow up to 1,600kg (braked), while the diesel version can manage 1,800kg.
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