Most fwd cars are set up for a lot of understeer. The Focus, especially the performance versions are really neutral. So there's no difference entering a corner.
On corner exit with too much power applied, a rwd car will oversteer, while a fwd car will understeer, but neither is really as quick as it could be. Feed in an appropriate amount of power to limit both.
In higher speed corners it isn't such a big deal, and on the street, it shouldn't come into play.
Of course awd puts power down better that either, but with an additional 15% or so drivetrain losses.
I think Ford was trying to keep the price down. I know they've looked at awd a number of times for the Focus.
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