EVEN well before the Ken Block-approved, lairy all-wheel-drive Ford Focus RS hogged headlines worldwide, its older Focus ST sibling had long been the quiet achiever in the hot hatchback class.

It was an odd situation for the Focus duo to be in, because this front-wheel-drive, 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder ST has been around since 2012, with a facelift following in 2015, but in six years this Ford has barely made waves against its rivals. Add a rear driveshaft and a slightly larger engine, however, and the RS then suddenly became a star within the same five-door body.

So, after all these years, is the more affordable Focus ST truly underrated? To make a case for revisiting this hardly hyped hot hatchback, Ford has added a dealer-fitted and warranty-approved performance package option, courtesy of European tuners Mountune, that boosts power and torque.

Can it elevate the Focus ST back into hot hatch contention?