Ford Focus RS review (2016-2018)
The RS is the hottest version of Ford’s ever-popular Focus range. It has the looks of a street racer and the speed and handling to match. You get four-wheel-drive, rally car performance for not much more than a mainstream family car. And it's pretty much as practical as ever. Find out more in our full Ford Focus RS review.
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Pros
- Nimble to drive
- Great-sounding exhaust
- Welcoming interior layout
Cons
- A bit harsh on UK roads
- Smaller boot than the standard Focus
Interior
Our rating: 7/10
Driving position
While the RS is still a member of the family-friendly Focus range, Ford gifted it a distinctive interior to match the driving potential.
In the front, you enjoy figure-hugging Recaro sports seats with leather bolsters. There’s definitely a premium ambience in the cabin as a whole, a bit of a step up from standard.
You’ll find soft-touch materials in the important places and a nice, chunky steering wheel that hints at the thrills ahead.
Tech and features
The Mark III model came with an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with voice control, DAB and Bluetooth in the centre of the dashboard. It also has a series of sporty gauges and instruments.
A drive mode button next to the gear lever lets drivers choose how the car behaves to suit their mood and the drive ahead.
There's also a great Sony sound system and phone connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, though earlier models may need a software upgrade to use it.
Handy buttons on the steering wheel allow the driver to adjust phone, stereo and climate settings without taking their eyes off the road.
Sat-nav, however, was an optional extra.
Performance
Our rating: 9/10
Handling and ride comfort
The focus, pardon the pun, is clearly on performance. The RS gets off the line in a flash and feels planted around the bends, and you'll love the throaty exhaust note.
Focus RS steering is as quick and responsive as you'd expect. And the sensitive suspension is a little twitchy on the UK's pothole-y roads, but it's worth it for the oh-so-capable cornering.
The Mark III RS was also upgraded to four-wheel drive – also adding the controversial ‘drift mode’ system – from the front-wheel drive of older generations.
It only came as a full five-door hatchback, so it's still plenty usable every day. It is a Focus, after all.
Practicality
Our rating: 7/10
Boot space
The RS is not as practical as a standard Focus, of course. But only slightly.
The boot is a bit smaller, and legroom in the back seats is reduced.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a car with this level of performance that's as livable. The Golf R is maybe more practical, but it has 50 less horsepower and lacks the pedigree of the feisty Focus.
Rear seats
Ford updated the Focus RS for the third generation to be a five-door, which solved the problem earlier generations had with tricky access to the back seats.
With much of the cabin shared with the standard Focus, just a little bit tighter with the sporty upgrades, the RS remains very usable day-to-day.
Storage solutions
Standard practical details include adjustable seats and steering column, useful door bins and a big glovebox. And there’s a handy USB socket in the front console.
Running costs
Our rating: 6/10
Fuel economy
Official figures will show the Focus RS appearing to be surprisingly thrifty with petrol. The Mark III version has a commendable official fuel economy of 37mpg.
Don’t forget that the enthusiastic driving the RS badge might inspire will reduce that figure a fair bit.
Insurance groups
Insurance will be high because the RS sits in insurance group 40, so just bear that in mind.
Maintenance bills will be above average but lower than most high-performance rivals.
The verdict
Interior
7/10
Performance
9/10
Practicality
7/10
Running costs
6/10
The Ford Focus RS offers a practical and rather good-value way to own a high-performance car.
It’s fast, agile and fun.
The RS looks the part inside and out. It’s also a member of the UK’s most popular family hatchback range.
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