Article by Rick Lundstrom (5/15/2021)

I know what you’re thinking, the Focus ST is obviously better than the now almost 20 year old Focus SVT. It’s newer, faster, more advanced…how can you argue against that? Don’t get me wrong, the Focus ST is a brilliant car, and filled a gap in the marketplace that other manufacturers neglected. However, is the Focus ST really better than the SVT? The answer may not be as simple as you think. Let’s talk about that, but first, a history lesson.

For those that may not know, the Focus SVT was the performance variant of the original Mk1 Focus. The drivetrain was co-developed by the ever famous engine builder Cosworth, who gave the iron block Zetec engine a healthy power boost. From adding a variable cam gear to forged internals, Cosworth left no stones unturned on the engine, and was able to squeeze 170HP out of the engine, a 40HP bump over the non-SVT version of the engine. They also paired it with a 6-speed Getrag manual transmission and dual mass flywheel setup. SVT also dressed the car up with a new body kit and interior, and stiffened the ride with firmer shocks and struts, and a lower ride height.

Andy Slankard, SVT’s then Program Manager was quoted as saying “We should beat them all in fun-to-drive”, referencing the popular import tuners the Focus SVT was going to have to compete against. And it sold relatively well, with 14,000 units produced between 2002 and 2004, Ford even added extra options and paint colors in 2003 and 2004. However, with the 2005 model year seeing a refresh, SVT released a prototype of the new body, but never got a car out the door to be produced. Then, in 2008 with yet another refresh, and the disbanding of SVT soon after, we wouldn’t see another hot Focus until 2013.

From the ashes of SVT arose Ford Performance, a blend between the European Team RS and SVT, Ford knew they needed to introduce the US market to the long-held and much admired ST brand. They were quick to work on the new global Mk3 platform, and released to us the Focus ST, a 2 liter turbocharged hot hatch that harkened back to the days of the import tuner times of yesteryear.

The Focus ST received some great upgrades right out of the box, courtesy of Ford Performance: beefier front and rear suspension, larger brakes, a Getrag 6-speed manual transmission, and Recaro seats on the Level 2 and 3 trims. The ST also got a facelift, with a much larger front grill than the standard MK3’s, a larger rear wing, and 18” wheels were all standard features as well. The Focus ST was a great fill in for FWD hot hatches, and competed well against the much pricier European options available.

Okay, now that the history lesson is out of the way, let’s talk about how they stack up to each other. For starters, the Focus ST is just…big. That’s not a unique problem to modern cars, though. Due to stricter safety requirements, all cars have bloated a bit, and with the added safety comes added weight. In corners, the Focus ST throws its weight around a lot, so much so that a Focus SVT has little trouble keeping up with the ST on winding back roads. In a straight line, the Focus ST will walk all over the SVT any day.

For daily use, the ST is a substantially better car, with the advances in technology. If you want to stream music of any kind in the SVT, you’ll need an aftermarket head unit as the iPod was only a couple months old when the SVT was released. AM/FM radio, or the 6-disc CD changer was all you got in the SVT. Better dust off that old CD burner you’ve got laying around in the basement.

Besides the technology advances, the SVT is just an old car at this point. The newest ones are 17 years old, and with age comes maintenance. If you’re looking to get one, budget in the replacement of the timing belt, water pumps, coolant hoses, and other basic maintenance items. Also, be prepared to search long and hard for some of those parts, limited production cars mean limited production parts, and many of the service items are now discontinued.

Despite sharing the Focus nameplate, these cars do not look or feel anything alike. In fact, they’re so dissimilar, I’d argue that the Mk3 chassis should have been renamed to something different. However, there is a car in Ford’s stable that the SVT does pair extremely well against: the Fiesta ST. They’re closer in size and power, and having previously owned both at the same time, they even handle similarly. In fact, many past SVT owners (myself included) say that the Fiesta ST is everything the Focus SVT should have been.

The Focus ST is a wonderful car to drive, its modern build quality and solid chassis give it a commanding feel on the road. The power it has means you’ll rarely need to downshift to pass someone on the highway. It’s aftermarket support is next-level, especially comparing it to the SVT market, so you can do almost anything you want to this car. However, I think some of this came at a cost.

The SVT is quirky, the whole platform of the Focus was developed in the 90’s and you can tell. Try parking a SVT on an off-camber hill, and you’ll be able to feel the chassis flex. You’ll also be winding it up to its 7200RPM redline more often than not to try get it to move anywhere, and as stated above…parts are getting harder and harder to find. But maybe, what makes a car great isn’t about what it does right. Maybe, what makes a car great is its faults. While the SVT hasn’t stood the test of time well, it more than makes up for it in character.

So, despite all this, which one is better? The answer is…it depends. If you want a great looking, quick car that’s both comfortable to drive, and something that can hold it’s own at the next Autocross event, get a Focus ST. However, if you want a fun, obscure drivers car, and are willing to put up with the quirks of a car developed by a Formula 1 engine builder, pick up a Focus SVT. You won’t regret it.

Focus SVT VS. Focus ST