Mazdaspeed3 Vs Ford Focus St: How These Affordable Hot Hatches Measure Up?

Ever stricter emissions rules person meant that affordable gas-powered hot hatches are now a dying breed. Thankfully, nan utilized car marketplace still delivers plentifulness of prime and affordability for buyers seeking retired bargains, pinch nan Mazdaspeed3 and Ford Focus ST among nan astir recognizable names you tin find. The Mazdaspeed3 sold successful nan U.S. betwixt 2007 and 2013 arsenic a capacity type of nan Mazda3, while nan Ford Focus ST was offered Stateside for nan 2013 done 2018 exemplary years – European accumulation continued until 2025.

That intends nan Focus ST is overmuch newer. But it still gets cross-shopped pinch nan Mazdaspeed3, arsenic they stock immoderate similarities and speak to nan aforesaid organization of those who are large connected a operation of value, power, handling, and practicality. Both are attractively vanished hatchbacks pinch turbo-four mills that make complete 250 horsepower. They some besides usage a front-wheel thrust strategy and are notorious for torque steer, due to nan superabundant torque going to nan beforehand wheels. However, they're besides rather different successful galore areas, truthful we put together this portion to thief you determine which is correct for you.

The Mazdaspeed3 and Ford Focus ST each came pinch a azygous powertrain. In nan lawsuit of nan Mazdaspeed3, nan portion is simply a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, sending 263 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque to nan beforehand wheels via a six-speed manual transmission and a modular limited-slip differential. For context, that's 63 hp and 88 pound-feet of torque more than nan 2025 Honda Civic Si delivers, allowing nan Mazdaspeed3 to spell from 0 to 60 mph successful nether 6 seconds connected its measurement to an electronically constricted apical velocity of 155 mph. All that interplay is mediated by 225/40 high-performance tires (first-gen models came pinch P215/45s) wrapped astir 18-inch alloy wheels. The guidelines curb weight for nan first-gen Mazdaspeed3 stands at 3,153 pounds, while second-gen models measurement successful astatine 3,281 pounds.

In comparison, nan Focus ST's turbo-four displaces 2.0 liters and produces 252 hp and 270 pound-feet of torque. As pinch nan Mazdaspeed3, nan ST gets a six-speed manual transmission that funnels powerfulness to nan beforehand wheels, pinch that output ensuring that 60 mph is reached successful nether 6 seconds, while apical velocity is quoted astatine 154 mph. The ST's wheels were besides 18 inches arsenic standard, but they were shod pinch 235/40 Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric tires. 

The Focus ST offers an EPA-estimated combined substance system of 25 mpg, which thumps nan Mazdaspeed3's mean return by 4 mpg. Regarding curb weight, though, nan base-spec ST is sandwiched betwixt nan first- and second-gen Mazdaspeed3 models, pinch its weight coming successful astatine 3,223 pounds.

As we've stated, nan Mazdaspeed3 and Focus ST are nary longer successful production, truthful your only action is to bargain used. Depending connected its mileage and condition, nan Mazdaspeed3 is priced from astir $8,000 connected galore utilized conveyance marketplaces, for illustration CarGurus, pinch nan astir costly models having a emblematic listing value of astir $15,000. 

This intends a utilized Ford Focus ST is simply a batch much expensive. A speedy cheque of prices connected Carvana shows a clean, low-mileage illustration tin costs up to $22,000. It shouldn't travel arsenic a awesome surprise, considering nan ST is newer. Besides, it's a value that those prioritizing a blend of refined thrust and regular drivability will beryllium consenting to pay, arsenic nan Ford Focus ST reputedly lends itself to a smoother driving acquisition than nan Mazdaspeed3, which delivers powerfulness much aggressively and feels much explosive.

A awesome woody of effort besides went into making nan ST a decent load-hauling machine. There's 23.8 cubic feet of abstraction pinch each 5 seats upright and a very charismatic 44.8 cubic feet pinch nan backmost statement folded down. The Mazdaspeed3, successful comparison, delivers 17.0 cubic feet of abstraction pinch each seats successful use. Fold nan rear seats down, and you'll get 42.8 cubic feet. In fact, nan ST's cargo-carrying capacity remains impressive, moreover erstwhile stacked against modern basking hatches for illustration nan 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R. Those German machines each travel pinch 19.9 cubic feet down nan rear seats and 34.5 cubic feet down nan beforehand seats.