Ford EcoBoost Hatch Sales Are Hot

…We’ve built a reputation here for making very serious but affordable performance cars with our Focus ST and Fiesta ST one-two punch

These days we read a lot of doom and gloom about new car sales, but there is a bright spot. Thanks to its emphasis on affordable performance Ford is bucking that trend with a Hot Hatch sales streak powered by EcoBoost.

“For decades, we heard criticism from customers that Ford sold its best small cars only in Europe, yet in five short years we’ve built a reputation here for making very serious but affordable performance cars with our Focus ST and Fiesta ST one-two punch,” Jessica Bishop, Ford Focus brand manager, said. “Buyers now know Ford is committed to affordable performance.”

Through September of this year, the retail registrations of the Ford’s hot hatches are totaled 13,138 units. According to IHS Markit retail registrations data, the Focus ST led the way with 8,249 units, followed by the Fiesta ST with 3,215 sold and the top-of-the-line Focus RS chipped in with 1,674 sold.

With the shift into SUVs and crossovers, our hot hatches are bucking the trend.

Those numbers are all the more impressive because sales of competitive hot hatches are not mirroring that trend.

“Non-luxury, turbocharged small hatchbacks are down 21 percent year-over-year, but our turbocharged Ford Focus is up 37 percent,” Erich Merkle, Ford sales analyst, explained. “With the shift into SUVs and crossovers, our hot hatches are bucking the trend.”

It is certainly refreshing seeing performance helping to push new car sales. That trend bodes well for enthusiasts.

Jessica added that consumers seem to be reacting to cars like the Focus ST by saying “Wow, I can get a 150-mph, 252-horsepower 2013 Car and Driver 10Best hatchback for under $25,000? Sign me up!”