Hot hatch battle: Focus RS vs Civic Type R vs M140i vs RS 3 vs Golf R vs AMG A 45

Ford Focus RS

Is the latest Ford Focus RS just a machine for hot hatch hooligans? Or is there more depth to the car’s character?

This is the first Focus RS to feature four-wheel drive. That would be reason enough to arouse interest but Ford’s engineers went further, devising a system that would send more power to the back wheels – at the touch of a button and a heavy right foot – as and when the driver wanted to indulge in the sort of tail slides that Roger Clark would approve of.

Driving enjoyment 9/10

Given the amount of hype surrounding the third generation Focus RS, it’s tempting to imagine it will be one of those cars that fails to live up to expectations. Not a bit of it.

Within the first few hundred yards, you can feel that the RS has been tuned differently to all the other cars here. Even the Honda, which can feel quite hardcore at times, isn’t as single-minded as the Ford.

The 2.3-litre, four-cylinder turbo engine, adapted from the Mustang, feels urgent and lusty. And it sounds surprisingly good – surprising, because some of the noise is generated artificially. Someone has a good ear.

The throttle feels precise, the steering quick, and the firm, immediate brake pedal inspires confidence. The manual gearshift isn’t as good as the Honda’s, but what is?

In every response, the RS feels linear. But it’s the damping of the suspension that marks it out. It is taut, keeps the body in check no matter how demanding the driving conditions and means that the sheer speed generated by the engine and four-wheel drive system never feel as though they’ll get the better of the chassis.

This alert, agile feeling means it is in tune with the driver. There are no sweaty palms in this car, because you can feel when the tyres are running out of grip, trust the chassis’ natural balance and adjust with a smidgen less throttle, or a tweak more steering, or even a kick of extra power to send the tail arcing out around a tight turn.

In Drift mode, it can send up to 100% of the engine’s power to either one of the back wheels. Who’d have thought a one-wheel drive car could be so mind-bendingly brilliant?

Occasionally, such as when crossing to the other side of the road, the car follows cambers. And now and then, there’s a choppy motion to the damping. But then another corner appears, the RS does its thing, the exhaust pops on the next gearshift and you’re smiling again.

Jeremy Clarkson described it as a baby Nissan GT-R, but it’s better than that. Its compact dimensions, sophisticated hardware and way of reassuring the driver make it one of the most amusing cars money can buy.

Interior and practicality 7/10

In many ways, the Focus RS is a great hot hatchback, because it’s based on one of the most practical everyday cars on the road.

However, in this company, climbing into the interior and facing the dashboard is like being handed a box of McNuggets after you’ve just enjoyed fine dining at The Dorchester. It’s the cheapest looking affair here. But that has always been the way; consider the previous Focus RS models, or the Sierra and Sapphire Cosworths – all had interiors that appeared to have been made by a Blue Peter presenter.

The optional, £1,145 Recaro shell seats are set too high, and the boot shrinks to just 260 litres. But these and the low-rent interior are a small price to pay for a car that will blow your mind out on the road.

Value for money 9/10

If value to you is how fun a hot hatch is to drive, then the Focus RS should score a perfect 10. It’s a hoot, and at £32,265, the cheapest car tested here. But when a winding country road is replaced with the M25 in rush hour, the aesthetic qualities of the RS can leave you pining for the German cars.

Verdict ★★★★☆

If it wasn’t for the budget interior this would be a five-star hot hatch.

Second opinion

Will Dron says: “Ford’s judged the RS’s look just right — different enough to grab attention and satisfy its boy racer following without going OTT. It’s an incredibly effective weapon around a track, too — one of the quickest point-to-point of the lot, with a stunning ability to claw its way around switchbacks at absurd speeds. It also produces the best exhaust note of all six cars here (artificial or not), with pops and crackles on downshifts, and the seats are the most supportive of the bunch. It’s a shame it doesn’t feel as special as most others inside. Huge fun but would likely prove quite draining as a daily driver.”

2017 Ford Focus RS specifications

• Price from £32,265
• Engine 2261cc, 4-cylinder turbo
• Power 345bhp @ 6000rpm
• Torque 347 lb ft @ 2000rpm
• Transmission 6-speed manual, four-wheel drive
• Acceleration 0-62mph: 4.7sec
• Top speed 165mph
• Fuel / CO2 36.7mpg / 175g/km