Ford Focus ST running costs are not too onerous when you consider that this is a performance car. Official average fuel economy will tell you that you will get 39mpg, but we think that you’ll be lucky to get this because the engine is so addictive and it’ll be hard for drivers to resist putting their right foot down on regular occasions. Expect to get between 30-34mpg if you are driving normally, but if you are a total enthusiast it may well dip under the 30mpg mark.

This performance hatchback isn’t particularly green when considering CO2 output, but it is just about acceptable. Ford Focus ST emissions are pegged at a rate of 169g/km.

Ford Focus ST reliability will be helped by the fact that the company has worked hard on the standard model to improve build quality. Certainly we experienced no creaks or tweaks throughout our test but this generation Focus is not as good as some of its rivals, particularly those from Japanese car makers. We don’t expect owners to experience many problems, however.

The previous generation Focus didn’t score particularly well in customer satisfaction surveys and Ford, as a brand, is a more mid-table performer. The previous generation Focus did have several official recalls but there have been no official recalls for the new Focus.