The legendary Focus is a “civilized” hatchback: it’s very popular among the middle-class American families. The ST edition, on the other hand, is an entirely different story. Ford’s masterminds did their best to turn it into a performance vehicle, and it’s pretty impressive on the race track. Yes, the engine and the transmission have only one goal: to burn rubber.
However, while the powertrain is, indeed, impressive, the air filtration system is far from perfect. The good news is – with the best cold air intake Ford Focus ST will turn into a beast. And, you won’t have to constantly check on the engine to make sure it’s doing ok and not overheating. Join me, and let’s check out what the market has to offer for the average ST owner.
Best Cold Air Intake Ford Focus ST (Updated April, 2024)
| Product | Product Information | View on Amazon |
|---|---|---|
|
Editor’s Choice
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Best Focus ST Cold Air Intake Review
1. K&N Ford Focus ST Cold Air Intake
One of this air intake’s biggest selling points – it greatly improves the throttle response. That means better towing and uphill performance, which can be good for the fans of off-roading and climbing steep mountains. Easy installation is a part of the deal as well. You’ll only need a set of basic tools for this. Thanks to the bolt-on design, everything can be done single-handedly in less than an hour.
Next, I want to mention the excellent protection against debris/harmful contaminants. They are known to clog the engine bay and negatively affect the air filtration. Speaking of filters, the company boasts an up to 50% boost in airflow efficiency compared to ST’s factory gear. My only complaint has to do with the cheap-plastic MAF housing – it may crack if you put too much pressure on it.
Protection against contaminants, easy installation, and improved performance is what you’ll get with K&N’s cold air intake kit. It is reliable, durable, and looks great with the hood popped. Plus, most parts are crafted from high-quality materials. Sadly, the same can’t be said about the MAF housing (it’s made of plastic).
2. Roush Cold Air Intake for Focus ST
Yates Performance did a marvelous job with this cold air intake. First of all, it was specifically designed to be a perfect fit for the ST (it works great on the Focus RS too, by the way). Secondly, it features the company’s trademark high-flow tube and premium black texture that keeps rust and corrosion at bay. Another big pro: the Roush intake kit is available in all 50 US states: there won’t be any issues with the shipment.
The price-tag isn’t particularly user-friendly, though. But, if you’re ready to save up and invest in a worthy product, this air intake system will, without a doubt, be money well spent. It’s easy to install, comes with a washable and reusable filter, and includes all the necessary hardware for installation. And the air box is topped with premium foam for a tight seal.
This is a good quality product with a premium black texture finish and a high-flow tube with impressive air filtration. It will fit your Focus ST like a glove and can be ordered to any of the 50 US states. Sadly, all those big pros come at a steep price-tag that might not fit your budget.
3. AF Dynamic Cold Air Intake for Focus ST
The second you install this aftermarket gear and hit the gas pedal, you’ll instantly feel the performance boost. AF Dynamic’s air intake outperforms the stock system by up to 95%, which is quite impressive. And while the HP and torque gains aren’t that big, they’re still decent. The high-quality parts also deserve your attention. They’re mostly crafted from silicone and stainless steel for extra durability.
The company provides a 60-days factory guarantee – that’s more than enough time to put the air kit to a test. Some quality control issues were reported by ST drivers, though. Some claim getting a returned box, while others miss a couple of clamps, bolts, and locknuts. This isn’t a very big deal, but can still cause inconvenience.
Looking for a solid aftermarket cold air intake for your Ford Focus ST? Then you might want to take a good look at what AF Dynamic has to offer. This is one of the most popular products on the market and for good reason. It includes top-notch parts and greatly improves the airflow.
Conclusion
When the air filtration system gets damaged/stops working properly, best believe that’s gonna lead to undesired consequences. If that’s the case with you, I highly recommend purchasing an aftermarket cold air intake kit. Even if your Focus ST is working flawlessly, in the most stressful situations, the stock gear’s filtration efficiency might not be enough to handle the extra heat.
Don’t worry: you won’t have to do any tedious research: I did all the heavy lifting for you. Just go ahead and pick one of the air intake systems that we discussed today. With Rousch, you’ll get a premium-grade tube and finish, plus a perfect fit for the ST, but it’s not particularly cheap. K&N has the most balanced offer, while AF is all about high-quality parts. So, which one are you going to choose?
Add Comment