CAR WARS! VIDEO: Four-Cylinder Sports Car Showdown — Ford Focus ST vs. Subaru Impreza WRX

In the world of high-performance entry-level cars, there's not that much on offer, actually. The Mazdaspeed 3 is, well, old and the Volkswagen Golf R isn't really competitive — due to price — when you look at the likes of the Ford Focus ST and Subaru Impreza WRX.

The ST and WRX offer a lot of bang for the buck.

So if you've got a hankering for speed, WHICH is the better of the two? Although I've got my answer in my mind, I'll let you check out what Motor Trend's Jonny Lieberman has to say about them.

Let us know WHICH four-cylinder sports car tickles your fancy in the comments below!


On this episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman gets his hands on the all-new, 2015 Subaru WRX, as well as one of Motor Trend's favorite pocket rockets, the Ford Focus ST. Each car costs about $30,000, sports a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with similar power outputs, and features a 6-speed manual transmission. The Subaru of course features a sporty version of the brand's "symmetrical AWD" while the Focus makes due with just the front wheels driven. However, since it first appeared, the Focus ST has wowed the Motor Trend staff with ability to dance around corners and, generally, not drive and feel like a front-wheel driver. We like the Focus ST so much that we invited it to last year's Best Driver's Car. But does the Ford have what it takes to beat the latest street-tamed rally baby from Subaru? You're going to have to watch and find out.

MattDarringer - 1/25/2014 3:41:00 PM

+1 Boost

Although the Subaru "wins" I'd rather have the ST simply BECAUSE it looks so much better and as the piece showed, the faster car was not the more entertaining car. I'm also not so sure that the Japanese Super Beetle engine gives all that much of an advantage in balance because of lower center of gravity anyway. Subaru fans would never consider the Ford anyway.

MorePower - 1/25/2014 9:20:03 PM

+2 Boost

Summary:

Motor Trend
Hipster looking presenter
More effort to showcase the curvy road than the cars
Obvious conclusion from bad comparison

Ford:
Torque steer
Uncomfortable seats
Tossable, but not confidence inspiring

Subaru:
6-Speed
Slower than previous model - see 6 speed
No hatch
Better driver's car
Turn off electronic nannies

Conclusion:
If you were looking at a GTI, then consider a Focus ST
Focus no match for WRX or any car in WRX class

p.s.
Why anyone would pay a figure that even looks adjacent to $30k for a Focus without RS and Cosworth in the badge is beyond me.