- Doors and Seats
3 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.0i, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
127kW, 196Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 8.8L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Used car review: Ford Focus ST170 2003-05
Well focused
After many years of successfully selling its Laser small car to a receptive and enthusiastic audience, Ford Australia was at a bit of a crossroads in 2002. The whole idea of sharing a platform with Mazda (the 323) to produce the Laser had more or less had its day and it needed to find an alternative to give itself a price-competitive entrant in an increasingly important market segment.
So, just as Holden had, Ford turned its attention to Europe.
The solution to the hole in Ford's local line-up was a car called the Focus.
Not a new concept in Europe, the Focus was also a bread-and-butter car for Ford on the Continent, so it was already a pretty well resolved formula.
The big question was how it would translate into Strine.
Initial reactions to the Focus were mixed. It seemed like a good size and a very practical package and there was no doubt its handling was very European (read: good).
But its major failing was a lack of performance, which is not such a problem for European urban- dwellers but a bit of a failing for Australian drivers who prefer automatic gearboxes and effortless torque.
It also meant that the Focus was more or less off the radar for enthusiast drivers, but in 2003, Ford moved to fix that much.
The fix was a model called the Focus ST170. The 170 referred to its 170 horsepower rating, although that meant little in metric Australia, where its power output was quoted as 127 kW.
A 2.0-litre engine was nothing new in a Focus and nor was a double-overhead-camshaft arrangement with four valves per cylinder. But for the ST170, the engine gained variable camshaft timing and with it, a boost in performance. While power was up around 25 per cent over other 2.0-litre Focuses, torque or pulling power also took a big jump to almost 200 Nm. And that, along with a six-speed manual transmission was the secret to the ST170's new-found muscularity.
It certainly felt like it went harder than rank-and-file Focus models, but on the other hand, it still wasn't a hot hatch in the strictest sense.
It may have had 127 kW at its disposal, but it was also a bit heavier than some hot hatches, and that blunted its acceleration a little.
There's also a school of thought that suggests the Focus' excellent suspension and handling made the ST170's engine feel a bit flat.
Perhaps it was a bit of both, but there's no denying that, like a lot of competent handlers, the car felt like it could handle a lot more power.
Bumps were dealt with with a minimum of fuss and the car cornered well, with good grip and a flat stance through turns.
Steering accuracy was also part of the picture, and overall, the Focus felt like it had been set up by somebody who knew their stuff.
Driving an ST170 back to back with some of the lesser lights in the hatchback category soon illustrates the fact that not all small cars are created equal.
Meanwhile, the ST170 certainly looked the part, with the three-door Focus' smooth, sculpted lines working well with the body-kit and 17-inch alloy wheels that were part of the ST's calling card. Inside, you got sportier trim with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and sports front seats.
And in line with its hiked price-tag, the ST170 also got a decent level of safety gear, including dual front air-bags, side air-bags, seatbelt pretensioners, anti-lock brakes with brake-force distribution and even vehicle stability control.
It might not be the fastest, toughest hot hatch on the market, but the Focus ST170 does offer a tremendously balanced package. What it lacks in outright speed it makes up for in usability and practicality . . . unusually for a hatch.
Need to know
- Potential to have been thrashed. Check brake pads and tyres carefully.
- A shuddering clutch when moving off or a graunching gearshift suggests problems.
- Make sure the interior hasn't been slashed or stained.
- Check the compliance plate agrees with the claimed year of manufacture. Many Focuses were first registered the year after they were built.
What to pay
Model | Year | New | Now |
ST170 | 2003 | $37,000 | $27,100 |
ST170 | 2004 | $37,000 | $28,900 |
ST170 | 2005 | $37,000 | $30,500 |
Source: Glass's Guide