So that's the package, but how does it go? Well, briskly, smoothly and maturely, in case you were expecting something tyre-smoking and rude. Don't take this as criticism, though. Driven hard, this Focus goes like a good 'un. It feels robust and screwed to the tarmac, while its ride, though firm, is surprisingly supple. The engine is smooth, always keen and pretty eager past 4000 rpm too. It's not electrifyingly quick, but quite quick enough, allowing you to go pretty damn fast in a high degree of comfort. It stops very effectively, too. The Civic Type-R is a bit more uncompromising, in both its ride and, particularly, its vocal motor which gets wearing after a while.
 |
The 170's gearing is a bit high, which is surprising given the six speeds. On the test route, admittedly of intestinal sinuosity, we found ourselves regularly using first gear to avoid the engine labouring through 180-degree turns. The reason for this is the twin shaft layout of the gearbox, whose casing is too compact to house the large cog wheel required for an ideally geared first ratio - ironic, given that six speeds are supposed to allow perfect gear ratios. Still, the box slips into first with an impressive lack of resistance, and the gearlever moves with a satin, mechanical precision more sophisticated than you'll find in almost any car, regardless of price - it's one of the major tactile pleasures of the ST170. Another is the steering. It's not in the same league as a Porsche 911 for delivering news of the tyres' relationship with the tarmac but, compared with the desensitised, mushed-up steering of most modern cars, it moves with a well-oiled, consistent accuracy and weights up beautifully as the cornering forces build. Occasional frustration at its lack of lock does nothing to detract from the sense of confidence it gives you in the car.
That confidence is boosted further by the ST170's roadholding and the shock absorbers' ability to control the g-forces bearing on the body. There's masses of grip, in the dry at least - so much so that the traction-control button can be turned off, for occasionally it quells the power unnecessarily. The ST is eminently swervable, and you can slightly trim its line through a bend with the accelerator - not just a source of entertainment for enthusiast drivers, but a good safety feature too. The throttle is crisply responsive too, although it can jerk occasionally when reapplied.
