Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus ST, & Subaru WRX STI: Exciting Innovations from Some Sport Compact Standouts

Hardcore fans within sport compact can be… picky. No, maybe picky isn’t the right word. Discerning? Discriminate? Highly selective? Call ‘em what you want, but they are certainly well-informed. If a new release does not meet expected standards, then rest assured the opinions will flow… freely. They’re simply a knowledgeable consumer base that loves their rides, and they know what they like: turbo-strapped power, superior handling and performance, slick looks, and comfort in an economically-priced package.

With the hatchback and other sport compact models back in vogue—in a way that they have not been for decades—there are more vehicles in the genre worth mentioning than at any other time in recent history. It’s not just about their diminutive scale—any rides worth their salt must hold up their end of the “sport” performance. Otherwise, make no mistake about it, the wildly active online sport compact contingent will make those shortcomings readily known.

With that in mind, here are a few small-but-mighty sport compacts that have the people talking, in a good way. From the legendary Volkswagen Golf, to the Euro-exclusive 2019 Ford Focus ST, to the latest Subaru WRX STI that continues to raise the bar in its class, there is plenty in the sport compact world to be excited about. So, if sensibly-priced performance in a zippy little package is your thing, then it’s a great time to be a driver.

2019 Volkswagen Golf

Ah, the Volkswagen Golf. The OG of the sport compact crowd. This is a model that has paid its dues, from a manufacturer that is known the globe over for its continued laser focus on the sport compact genre. The Golf was cool way back when hatchbacks weren’t cool at all.

When Ricky Martin, J-Lo, and a host of others ushered a slew of Latin pop music into the cultural consciousness in the late 20th century, it felt like a brand new phenomenon. But really, this was not a new idea: Gloria Estefan had been doing her thing for years, long before the sound was trendy on the MTV and the FM radio waves. The Volkswagen Golf is Gloria Estefan. And now that the look has come full circle, the staying power of the Golf in the performance zeitgeist is the stuff of legend.

So come on, shake your body baby, do that conga. And take a closer look at a genre-defining mainstay.

A recent Motor Trend Car of the Year, the 2019 Volkswagen Golf has a stellar reputation to uphold. And this year, some welcome powertrain updates are what’s moving the name into the future. Gone is last year’s 1.8 liter engine, and sayonara to the six-speed automatic tranny as well.

The new hardware is a slimmed down, 1.4 liter turbo four-cylinder engine, paired with a quick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission, making 147 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual now comes standard. Volkswagen Golf fans will certainly notice that these are slightly lesser numbers than last year’s offering, but more efficient by a decisive margin, getting 29 mpg in the city and 37 on the highway. And because the Golf is tuned to run on regular grade gasoline, not premium, the benefits for owners’ pocketbooks are even greater.

While many expect an entirely new, full redesign for the Volkswagen Golf in the next year or so, there are still plenty of updates on the 2019 model to make it noteworthy. Blind spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and rear cross-traffic alert are now all standard safety features. The available 6.5-inch touchscreen is nice, but an upgrade to the 8-inch display might be worth springing for. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both on board.

The Golf retains the high marks it receives annually in handling and ride comfort that perennially make it seem like a costlier car than it actually is. And with a price tag starting at $22,740, Volkswagen continues to produce a taut package that handles like a dream, with a budget-friendly bottom line that practically everyone agrees is more than fair.

2019 Ford Focus ST

So uhh, you don’t by chance happen to know any good smugglers, do you? Maybe a cousin in the Stevedore’s union with questionable morals and a sizable gambling debt? If so, have them line up an empty shipping container or two, because we’ve got a job for them.

The 2019 Ford Focus ST is, by all accounts, beautiful. This brand new design has sleek lines and a modern look, yet manages to stay true to the lovable profile of Focuses (Foci?) past. Loaded with upgrades that improve upon the already impressive 2018 model, the beloved Focus ST is quick, economical, and affordable.

And sadly, gone.

Yep, it’s completely gone from the US market. Ford pulled all their cars (save for the Mustang) from stateside showrooms at the end of 2018, narrowing their focus (pun, sorry) to the ever-expanding truck/SUV/crossover markets.

But no matter where it may reside, the 2019 Ford Focus ST is still a winner.

Based on the newest generation of the Focus compact, the ST is packing a 2.3 liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine, paired with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission. It makes an impressive 276 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, both substantial increases from last year’s output. And because Europe’s market is still far more fond of diesel than our own, there is a diesel offering: a 2.0 liter four-cylinder turbo.

The 2019 Ford Focus ST is built to perform. And it looks the part, with oversize wheels, a mean-looking grille, and a sporty dual exhaust system. Some of the highlights of the optional performance upgrade include a limited-slip differential, active dampers, launch control, and rev-matching capability for manual models. The brakes are larger and perform better, and this year’s steering has been re-tuned to an online chorus of rave reviews.

Inside, there are plenty of goodies to keep drivers comfy. Recaro front seats, a flashy flat-bottomed steering wheel, and ST badging throughout the cabin let it be known that this ain’t no ordinary Focus. Speaking of the non-ordinary, Ford will finally release a wagon version of the ST when it goes on sale this summer. You know—the one we’d been asking about for years. Ouch, Ford.

That’s like the automotive equivalent of the woman who left us, posting pictures of her amazing travels with her new lover—some sinewy guy named Remi—who wears $1,200 calfskin boots and summers near the Alps. Screw that guy. Screw his Champions League team and Tiesto-heavy playlists. Not only is she doing fine without us, she’s trying new things. (Oh, so you’re parasailing all of a sudden now?! No, no it’s fine, I just find it funny. I thought you’re like, “soooo afraid of heights??”).

Clearly, we’re still hurting a bit. We just need some time to process.

So, if your newly-launched smuggling ring takes off, models start going for about $26,000, which is more than fair for how capable these babies are, and quite a bit less than the upmarket Focus RS.

2019 Subaru WRX STI

Alright, now it’s time for some good news regarding international automotive availability: the Subaru WRX STI has now been in the states for 15 years. And in that decade and a half, Americans have completely fallen in love with it—with good reason. The Subie Squad is stronger than it has ever been, thanks to a loyal base of Subaru lovers who have made popular models like the WRX STI their own. And finally, an exclusive high-end version that has NEVER set a tire on American soil is finally available here.

The 2019 Subaru WRX STI is powered by an old favorite, a 2.5 liter turbo four-cylinder, paired with a six-speed manual transmission and makes 310 horsepower, adding five horses to last years numbers via a better intake and a performance exhaust system. Sharing a body style with the lesser, plain-old WRX (which is really just a fancy Impreza), the STI sports a host of upgraded go-fast parts, earning it an international reputation as a proper rally car. And with those fast-looking contours and a big, showy spoiler, the new WRX STI looks more than ready to continue playing the part.

The 2019 Subaru WRX STI comes equipped with Brembo brakes, a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated seats and mirrors, and steering-responsive LED headlights. The WRX STI is not known to sell for its overwhelming abundance of interior niceties, but there’s more than enough comfort in the cockpit to make any ride a pleasurable one. Pricing starts at $37,480.

But more importantly, have you met the S209??

Much to the jubilation of Subaru sport compact devotees, the WRX STI S209—the tenth and newest installment in a series of hyper-exclusive special edition STI’s dating back to 2000—is finally available for the first time in the United States. Unveiled at last month’s Detroit Auto Show, the upgrades made to the S209’s powertrain are comprehensive, and include forged rods and pistons, a larger HKS turbo, and a completely updated fuel system. And those improvements carry serious results, bringing the 2.5 liter engine’s output all the way up to 341 horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque.

The Subaru WRX STI S209 sits on specially-developed, wider Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT 600A tires. Its unpainted carbon fiber roof lowers weight and the vehicle’s center of gravity. Recaro seats, Bilstein dampers, Brembo brakes— there’s top-quality parts all over this thing. So while no exact price has been made clear just yet, a number in the range of $60,000-$65,000 is expected.

Hey, act fast, because word is that this year’s version of the exclusive S-series will be limited to 200 units. (If you’re into masochism, the Diamond Edition, bound for South Africa, is somehow even cooler, and there’s only THIRTY of them. You’ll never get one, but drooling over its pictures just hurts so good.)

New Product Alert, 8/2/2019

Mishimoto, the world leader in performance cooling products, has expanded its line of 2015–2019 Subaru WRX STI products, adding a Front-Mount Intercooler and Crash Beam. Designed with a 28” intercooler, the massive 3.5” thick core is optimized to support up to 600 whp or 30 psi of boost pressure. Smooth cast end tanks make for uninterrupted airflow, creating an intercooler that provides the best airflow and cooling capabilities without excessive pressure drops. Available in silver, black, or gold, the Mishimoto 2015–2019 Subaru WRX/STI Front Mount Intercooler features a worry-free installation and is backed by the company’s Lifetime Warranty. Purchase includes a black powder-coated tubular steel crash bar. Click here for more information.

Are you dreaming of a new Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus ST, or Subaru WRX STI? Let us know in the comments what aftermarket upgrades you’d make!