Street Review: Borla's Touring Cat-Back Exhaust Kit on our 2016 Focus ST!

Aftermarket exhaust kits go a long way in improving any Focus ST's sound, looks and performance, but finding one that walks that line between ostentatious and practical can prove a real chore. We wanted our 2016 Focus ST project car to turn heads when we stepped on it but stay quiet enough on the freeway for long drives, and Borla's Touring Cat-Back Exhaust System absolutely delivered. It also looks pretty damn sleek, if we do say so ourselves. Read on for details and pictures.

The first thing you'll likely notice about the Borla Touring kit is its oversized 4.5" mirror-polished dual tips extending from the 2" dual pipes. The larger tips fill the housing much better and the look is a big improvement over the factory exhaust kit's figure-8 style unibody tip.

As for the sound, it's a low-key growl for sure. The Touring kit won't be setting off any car alarms, yet it's a marked improvement over stock. The pipes emit a nice crackle and pop on the overrun and everything smooths out at cruising. While you can definitely hear the built-in Touring muffler working from inside the cabin, the drone is very minimal and definitely tolerable.

Installation was fairly straightforward and Borla packed in just about everything but the jack with the kit. The cat-back system bolts to the exhaust pipe with the catalytic converter and runs all the way out the back of the car, with the Touring muffler pushing right up against the dual tips and rear bumper.

If you're looking to make your ST stand out from the crowd without annoying your neighbors every night when you roll in, the Touring Kit by Borla should be at the top of your list. The mature, yet aggressive exhaust tone, dual oversized tips and 304 stainless steel tubing belie the Touring kit's relatively approachable price tag.

We've also got full-fledged sections for all of our Focus RS and Fiesta ST customers out there!