Copyright © Dennis Publishing Limited 2021. Ford is among the most renowned car makers of the world. The steering is under-geared in this company, and with a 50/50 torque split from the Haldex four-wheel-drive system, it never feels rear-driven like the RS, but lifts of the throttle or dabs of the brake are your tools for getting the car turned in, then there’s masses of traction to sling you down the next straight. 1/6. Mainly by us, to be fair, but, hey, we’d just driven 2,000 spectacular miles in it around some of Europe’s most coveted roads and were besotted. What happens when you go hardcore off-roading in a soft-roader? Except, whereas the Civic has been tinkered with for too long and the end result is quite frankly a dog’s dinner, the A45 looks like a serious piece of kit and is extracting all the right sort of “phwoars” and “oofs” from our cultured TG crew. The Octavia and Golf are 118kg and 37kg lighter respectively than the 1,413kg Ford. Ford policy is one of continuous product development. It’s a “lifestyle” car, for people who are active. The pool of contenders is smaller, but then we’ve already separated the wheat from the chaff. Shock new Renault 5 arriving in next few years with electric power, and an electric Renault 4 is rumoured too, Fine tuning of Sony Vision S’s handling and autonomous technology in a new European development programme, New concept gives us a glimpse at an all-new flagship Dacia Bigster model that has value at its core. Volkswagen Golf. It’s eventful, near-death stuff, but for some reason I’m slapping the steering wheel and laughing out loud. Moments before I disappear into the mud, the RS bites, with all four wheels still spinning and adopts a 45° angle as I claw my way up and out the other side. The Ford Focus falls short of competitors here with only 32.0 inches of rear legroom. Our man Frank returns triumphantly announcing that the circuit is suitably thawed and like a slow-mo Le Mans start, we leap up and tiptoe gingerly across the pits. In half an hour it will burn through,” he claims before setting off in his well-used Honda CR-V for an ill-advised exploratory lap. From the grippy Alcantara on its wheel to its chunky paddles nicked from the AMG GT, the A45 comes from a rarefied world that’s alien to the blue-collar Focus. It possesses a genuinely mighty engine – boosty, yes, but in a straight line it doesn’t feel any slower than the Focus RS, despite giving up a second in the official 0–62mph figures. We pitch it against Vauxhall and VW rivals on UK roads. The Ford Focus is a compact car (C-segment in Europe) manufactured by the Ford Motor Company and created under Alexander Trotman's Ford 2000 plan, which aimed to globalize model development and sell one compact vehicle worldwide.The original Focus was primarily designed by Ford of Europe's German and British teams.. And then, when I’m all but ready to give up, I hit the track, attack hard and the whole thing comes to life. If the Merc’s willingness to play the fool is the day’s biggest surprise, then the Golf R is the biggest disappointment… on the road, at least. First Place: 2018 Ford Focus ST – Stephanie Wallcraft The competition between these four cars is as tight as it is between the owners who take them to their local autocross events. It’s as if it’s lifted several inches and is suddenly up on its toes, sidestepping, dancing, anticipating the next turn. You can sense that this is a car set up with lap times at the top of the job list because it feels wider than its dimensions, with immense lateral grip. The new car addresses many flaws of the old model, such as its dated cabin and engine line-up, but it doesn’t make the leap required to topple the best in the sector. Instead, it feels soft and slow-witted, underendowed both aurally and visually, and generally outclassed. Ford has completely redesigned its 2020 Ford Focus sedan, a move that couldn’t come too soon, as the current Focus sits near the bottom of the compact segment in Consumer Reports’ ratings. It’s not just the extra grunt (unlocking a 0–62mph time of 4.2 seconds, four tenths faster than the pre-facelift model) at play here – there’s a new locking front differential and a faster seven-speed dual-clutch ’box. While the Focus’s brilliant and easy-to-activate launch control (select launch in the instrument cluster, slot it into first, bury the throttle then dump the clutch) means it’s the sharpest off the line, each extension of my human leg and flick of my flesh-and-blood wrist is no match for the others’ dual-clutch, computer-controlled transmissions. The Focus has the rest of the bases well covered too. Unfortunately, these gifts come with some compromises. The new, [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_narrow","fid":"68629","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image"}}]]. BBC Studios is a commercial company that is owned by the BBC (and just the BBC). See all 59 photos. So, let’s start with the positives. The Ford Focus ST is a popular choice in the hot hatch segment. Whether that’s worth the £10,000 entry ticket in itself is up to you, but let’s see how it moves before making snap judgements. Logos © 1996. we undertook our most vigorous audit of the class ever, Don’t call me ‘baby’: meet the coolest Vauxhall ever. The ultimate source of the RS’s otherworldly powers, though, is its advanced torque-vectoring four-wheel-drive system. Truth is, we may have made a rod for our own back, because in isolation it felt worthy of that title, but now it’s time to earn it. So has Ford done enough to propel the Focus back to the front of the family car class? With a starting price of $41,120 you get a turbocharged 2.3-liter four cylinder engine that makes an impressive 350 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. Upshifts are now a thing of uninterrupted beauty, but it still has a habit of delaying on the way down. We Look at Several Competitors in This Ford Fusion Comparison. It now produces 376bhp and 350lb ft of torque from its strung-out 2.0-litre turbo – that’s more than a Lamborghini Countach. As we’re on a track, that’s not a huge concern right now. We pitch it against Vauxhall and VW rivals on UK roads. The tectonic plates are shifting alright, and it’s the RS that’s moving them. Check specs, prices, performance and compare with similar cars. What hasn’t changed much is the interior, and that’s good. Right now, I’m learning that while the A45 is brutally effective on the road, given enough space, it can also be enticed to play. It didn’t require a genius to deduce that traction was going to be an issue. by: Auto Express team. If the Merc’s willingness to play the fool is the day’s biggest surprise, then the Golf R is the biggest disappointment. Meet the E-Type specialists taking restoration to new heights with their exquisite new Lightweight GT. For starters, the two-stage dampers firm up, holding the body tighter while the rear end loosens a notch. Main Competitors of Ford Motors. Adjust the front seat to where you like it and then sit in the rear seats and gauge how much room is left. The profits we make from it go back to BBC programme-makers to help fund great new BBC programmes. A mist hangs over the 2.2 miles of tarmac and 19 turns, lifting its skirt just enough in places to reveal a worryingly glazed surface. At the other end of the taste spectrum are the A45 and Type-R, both constantly vying for your attention, desperate to add a few more mph or shave a tenth with another vent here or wing there. First things first: Frank’s idea of a thawed track is slightly different to mine. With 30 per cent of the power still spinning the front tyres, it hauls you forward while the tail hangs out, reducing the chance of swapping ends to virtually zero. When judged on price, efficiency and resale values, the Focus is just about bang on with the Seat Leon, so it should cost roughly the same to own over a typical three-year period. Not so the Focus RS that sports its RS-embossed wing, 19-inch wheels and angular front end with pride, but it’s still a far cry from its heavily muscled predecessor. The 2012 Ford Focus has plenty of new features aside from the return of the hatchback body style. The steering is rife with feedback and has a brawnier weight to it than the other cars do here – I wouldn’t say it requires serious muscle, but it feels like you’re operating something manly and mechanical. They’re essentially crossover-type vehicles without being the full-on SUV body. I’m not so sure. So, in Sport, you get sharper throttle response, meatier steering and more explosive tailpipes, plus a more neutral stance in corners. Built on the outskirts of Detroit—for another year or so—and with a well-deserved spot in driveways across the country, the Ford Focus is as American as apple pie. Here is our selection of five cars that represent good alternatives to the high-selling Ford Focus. Top With Ford’s famed chassis know-how, the newcomer was sure to excel around the twisty Yorkshire moors, but it will need more than sharp dynamics to win this test. Frustrating, but not a deal-breaker. Ford's Focus small hatch is one of the world's most popular cars, thanks to strong sales in Europe and the United States.It's been on sale in Australia since 2002, but hasn't really enjoyed the same run of success against established competitors like the Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla. And while the cabin is very spacious, the boot is smaller than before, which is a faux pas in this sector.The Golf cements its place at the top of the pecking order with another impressive showing. But despite the willy-waving rear wing, double diffuser and silly exhaust (kept permanently in its shouty setting, of course), it still lacks a layer of interactivity at and beyond the limit – space that the Focus RS now officially owns. Well, I say “beast”, but it’s more of a large domestic cat really, given the welcoming way in which it lets you approach the limit, go straight past it and still keep your underpants fresh. We did too. BBC is a trademark of the British Broadcasting Corporation. Ford is positioned as a low-cost competitor with a focus on function. See other Ford vehicles or check out a certified pre-owned Focus. The recent changes have done the Mercedes a world of good, it’s still the most unhinged hatch in the world and it’s learned not to take itself too seriously. That means you get a vehicle that’s almost entirely car-like, but with a little extra groun… But good enough to win again? Add in a purchase price several thousand pounds less than some of the competition, and it isn’t hard to see why the Ford so desirable.. Ford's upcoming high-performance Focus set to battle Volkswagen's new 395bhp flagship Golf, as well as rivals from Mercedes, Audi and Honda This e Will all-new version raise bar in the family class again? Official: Renault 5 reborn as compact EV due on sale by 2025, Pure-electric Sony Vision S begins road testing programme, New Dacia Bigster concept previews future SUV. You can still trim your line with the throttle, but it’ll never rotate beyond a degree or two. Use our side by side comparison reviews to help you find the perfect car. How much lifestyle is too much lifestyle for a lifestyle SUV like a VW T-Roc Cabriolet? Like GM, Ford also places a heavy focus on product innovation. Attention 2017 Ford Fusion owners: The midsize car market is competitive, and that’s good news for you. It’s a proper fireworks factory this engine, with bursts of artillery fire from the exhausts that are denser, more varied and louder than the RS. Eco-friendly yet fast and fun... green Golf remains a brilliant contender. Our select group includes the winner and runner-up from that last outing – the VW Golf R and Honda Civic Type-R – plus two newcomers intent on making the ‘hot’ in ‘hot hatch’ look a bit undercooked. While sensations from the RS are still fresh in my fingertips, it’s the A45 I need to try next. Wrong, I’m afraid. No money from the licence fee was used to create this website. While the Golf R still has flashes of magic in its bones and can smoothe the edges off the real world better than the other three, it’s too staid in the face of more exotic competition. Photography: John Wycherley & Rowan Horncastle, Full screen Go on, have a guess at the result. Ford Focus review: success in a hatch isn't just about the drive. Who cares if the manual ’box loses it a race or two or if the interior is a bit scratchy in places? No. The A45 looks like a serious piece of kit and is extracting all the right sort of “phwoars” and “oofs” from our cultured TG crew. Ford Focus RS vs. Honda Civic Type R vs. Volkswagen Golf R vs. Subaru WRX STI Type RA Sport compact car revival: Four pocket rockets vie for the title of best hot hatch. During its journeys, the Focus has accumulated many gifts, and it has bestowed them on the American consumer; among them are lithe handling and impressive fuel efficiency. We’ve already bombarded you with the gritty technical details of how the electronic clutch-based system operates, but suffice it to say that it can shift up to 70 per cent of the torque to the rear axle, and then up to 100 per cent of that to either of the rear wheels. Ford debuted the all-electric Ford Focus Electric at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2011 to compete with the Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Volt and announced the hot hatch ST model at the Paris Motor Show in September 2010. Its job is to make serious performance accessible, pleasurable and affordable to the man in the street. It's just not as cut out as it used to be, at least in comparison with newer competitors. How to make the most beautiful Jaguar E-Types on the planet, City, slicker: Honda City Turbo vs Honda e. Frank Guittard, the track’s manager, is less concerned about the ice than a bunch of sleep-deprived, soft-centred Brits. In many ways, it’s a modern-day Mitsubishi Evo, born to flatter the driver, but also to deliver those hero moments that you can’t wait to embellish in the pub. I leave it out of the drag race. Trail-brake into corners, and the rear swings around obediently, and from there satisfying four-wheel slides are yours for the taking. All three of the cars tested here have their compromises, but the Golf demands the fewest – so it’s a worthy winner. team. Baby Bertha is the Vauxhall worth travelling around the world for. There’s a reason I’ve left the Civic Type-R until last: these are far from ideal conditions for a 306bhp, front-wheel-drive, turbocharged nutter-hatch, and I’ve just watched our road test editor being towed back onto the track following a spin that left the front tyres two feet from the tarmac. This website is made by BBC Studios Distribution. That optional wing might be a rip-off at £1,530, but I’d swallow it and tick the box. You’re thinking Mercedes, Ford then VW, right? And yet here we are, but seven moons later, and there’s a new world order in waiting. Please read Top Gear’s code of conduct (link below) before posting. It’s on this basis that I make a call which will infuriate keyboard warriors everywhere. There was a winner, eventually, but frankly we’re still debating/throwing stationery at each other over the result. 10 Ford Focus RS Competitors to Consider 10 Fun Small Cars for 2018 10 Great Hatchbacks with a Manual Transmission 2018 Ford Focus RS vs. 2018 Honda Civic Type R: Which is Best? Rowan Horncastle points out that the seats are the best here, too, which I agree with, before he adds that he likes “fighty” cars like this and does an impression of a lion. Our trip took in everything from congested city streets and monotonous motorways to thrilling British back roads. It came into formation through the acquisition of Ford Motor Company that made and sold vehicles engineered by Henry Ford. It’s handicapped by its outdated engine and high price. The same can’t be said of the flamboyant Civic, but its main contribution on this test was to highlight the shortcomings of front-wheel drive. It has a classy cabin, desirable looks and a capable, confidence-inspiring driving experience. Never the sore loser, I rack my brain for excuses and realise our little race actually shines a light on the Focus’s core philosophy. For fans of proper, chest-beating oversteer – the kind you get in a Viper ACR that widens your eyes to saucers and floods your stomach with adrenaline – the way the Focus RS slides might be a bit Fisher-Price, but for the other 99.9 per cent of us, it’s a revelation. Nope, for that you need to select Drift (and switch the ESC off completely, if you’re feeling bold) and unleash the beast. It’s always worn its performance lightly, the Golf R, but in this company it’s elbowed to the back of the lunch queue. Trouble is, besides the turbo whistling and puffing away, the engine makes a horribly vacuous noise, and, despite the best efforts of the front diff, the front tyres are constantly scrambling for purchase. The Ford Focus Estate has long been a popular choice among families. Last year, we undertook our most vigorous audit of the class ever: 20 cars carefully dissected on an unforgiving circuit and bruising Scottish roads. Soon enough, with four of us lapping, the sheet ice turns to slush and there’s meaningful feedback to work with. Bringing up the rear is the Astra. Focus RS does battle with Merc A45, VW Golf R and Honda's Civic Type R. Nowhere else do the tectonic plates shift quite as quickly as on the hot hatch continent. And our Focus 1.6 TDCi Zetec even featured stop-start, to add a dose of economy to proceedings. In a straight line, the Focus’s 345bhp, 2.3-litre, 4cyl EcoBoost engine is a revelation – floor it from low revs and there’s a sniff of turbo lag, but from there on it’s a wall of torque (325lb ft or 347lb ft on overboost) – a thrusting linear surge that’ll headbutt the 6,800rpm limiter if you’re not quick on the draw with your gear changes, and leaves a rasping rally-style note in its wake, with AK-47 flurries on the overrun. This service is provided by Disqus and is subject to their privacy policy and terms of use. In meeker colours than this Nitrous Blue, it would be a touch too apologetic for our liking. Another very popular hatchback in Britain, the Volkswagen Golf is pricier than most of its rivals. In Exclusiv trim, it’s short on creature comforts, while the unrewarding dynamics leave it trailing for driver appeal. Straight away, there’s a playground pecking order. Love the Ford Focus? Like most cars, the Fusion has its high points, but in a crowded class, it lands somewhere in the middle of U.S. News’ midsize car rankings. It starts from just over £17,000, whereas the Focus starts from about £14,000. In your face, 362bhp Audi RS3. This is a really key area with cars like the Focus, and as a result, the margins of difference are pretty slim. New Ford Focus vs rivals Can Ford’s all-new Focus regain its place at the summit of the family car class? It arrived fresh from hitting the top of the UK sales charts in December, so the 1.7-litre CDTI Exclusiv would be no pushover. Today, Ford Motors Company is a global brand that designs, manufactures, markets, sells and services a large range of … Despite spending the last four days and several thousand miles in it, I head straight for the Focus RS – keen to see how it performs flat-out. That number is higher in every vehicle on our comparison list. The third-generation Ford Focus has hardly been challenged in the three years it’s been on sale. Historically, it has delivered fun handling to make you smile and low running costs that won't make you weep. And I mean constantly, even with the unnecessarily twitchy R+ mode turned off. The algorithm with which it divvies up the torque is up to you. GM is competing with Ford for both low-cost and function. It starts to find its voice, too – a metallic gnash rather than anything overly dramatic – and the gearbox is the best auto here. The Focus was released in July 1998 in Europe, succeeding the Ford … But in our view, the Ford Focus ST is the choice that delivers the perfect balance of driving entertainment, everyday usability, and feature list versus price. I discover this as I barrel into the first of them on cold summer tyres and plough straight on. The Audi is an absentee because we’ve already established that it’s a bit of a one-trick pony – crushing in a straight line but inert with steering lock applied – but the A45 has arrived armed to the teeth. Fun to drive, well-equipped and backed up by a large dealer network, it isn’t hard to see why it’s one of the highest selling new cars in the UK. The best competitors to the Ford Focus The Ford Focus has long been one of the class leaders in the family hatchback segment. Read the definitive Ford Focus 2021 review from the expert What Car? Pull the left-hand paddle three times and it’ll stack the shifts, waiting until you’re done then dropping three cogs in quick succession. The low emissions of this BlueMotion model only add to the appeal. The all-new Ford Focus – which is set to arrive in South Africa before the end of 2018 – will offer a host of new technologies, higher levels of occupant comfort, plus enhanced performance and efficiency. Ford Focus RS vs the rivals Focus RS does battle with Merc A45, VW Golf R and Honda's Civic Type R Nowhere else do the tectonic plates shift quite as quickly as on the hot hatch continent. The company was incorporated in Delaware in 1919. Build your confidence to approach the higher limits, and it can even be coaxed into a bit of power oversteer, all the while responding instantly to your inputs and feeling shot through with a build quality the others cannot match. You sink lower into the seats than you do in the Focus, while everywhere you look and touch show it to be a more premium machine. All rights reserved.Auto Express™ is a registered trade mark. Click here for more information on the retirement of the Focus. In this context “Active” means “higher-riding, plus cladding”, although there’s an obvious double-meaning here. The right is reserved to change specifications, colours of the models and items illustrated and described on this website at any time. Can Ford’s all-new Focus regain its place at the summit of the family car class? It achieves that, no question, but to leave it there would be damning it with faint praise, because it’s fundamentally a better driver’s car than the other three here. Whereas the A45 feels like it has core strength and a rippling six-pack, the Golf has been skipping leg day and grown a sizeable paunch. A small car to compete against the like of the Hyundai i30, Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla, the Ford Focus will be the freshest rival among this crowd until the … We love the athletic handling that Ford engineers into all of its cars, yet there is a trade-off when it comes to low-speed comfort. Would you like to compare the Ford Focus against similar cars? And then there’s the main event, the Ford Focus RS, the car that’s already being lauded as the finest example of hot-hatchery ever to grace our planet. Things get a little more serious in Track. It’s a tough gig for the 296bhp Golf, but as our reigning hot-hatch champ it should be well-equipped for such a task. Strange man. The six-speed manual is a revised version of Ford’s trusty unit, but with a shorter lever and revised mechanism – not quite the precision-milled action you get in the Type-R (the only other manual here), but positive enough and compatible with a gobsmackingly effective launch-control system… more on that later. “Wait for the sun. Immediately the ride feels firmer than the others in their softer modes, although there’s less of a gap with the Merc when you crank the dampers up. Slow things down, use a gear or two more than you would normally and it’s possible to stick to the track, but by that point you’re going so much slower than the other three that it saps the fun. We set off to the nearest building to hunch ourselves around cups of coffee and stare at our foursome through the glass doors. Top-selling family hatch scores on style, inside and out. Ford’s main competitors include Toyota, Honda, GM, Nissan, and Chrysler. I appreciate that this is a Golf and needs to ace the daily grind better than anything out there, but while it’s doing an impression of a 1.4 TSI SE, the other three are gurgling and goading, without resorting to unbearable refinement. Ford has a whole range of these Active cars, with the dinky Ka+ Active starting it off and Fiesta Active in the middle. Yup, we’re looking at you, Mercedes-AMG A45. You provoke the rear end with a hefty prod of the throttle then simply keep it pinned and enjoy the sideways ride. 2) Toyota Motors Toyota Motors hails from the land of engineering and automation – Japan – … Search & read all of our Ford Focus reviews by top motoring journalists. It may cost precisely £10,000 more than the RS, but Ford makes no secret that it’s the Merc and the similarly pricey Audi RS3 it’s gunning for. The Focus RS is Ford’s hottest hatchback. The previous afternoon had been spent exercising the cars on public roads around Reims, but this circuit does a better impression of a perfect B-road than a ‘proper’ racetrack: narrow and surrounded by a welly-stealing bog. Leading Competitors of General Motors (GM) Ford Motors: Ford Motors is also one of the leading players in the automobile industry that has maintained a strong global presence and caters to a large segment of consumers worldwide through its large product range. GM is without a doubt one of the top most Ford Competitors. As our convoy rolls into the Circuit des Ecuyers, 66 miles east of Paris, the sun is still hiding behind the firs and the thermometer is firmly in the negative. We compare design, practicality, price, features, engine, transmission, fuel consumption, driving, safety & ownership of all models and give you our expert verdict. Oh it’s good, this car, very good. Its competitors are primarily competing with Ford based on low-cost as Honda, Toyota, and Nissan tend to focus on style more than function. And so with every upshift, they pull further ahead, the A45 winning at a canter. The way it snaps forward feels a league above, too, and because you don’t have to dip the clutch and manoeuvre a small stick when you want to change gear, there’s zero break in the torque, just all the acceleration, all the time. In these cold damp conditions, it would be the most effective way to post a lap time, but would it be the most fun? The circuit is longer, with more elevation changes than Google Images can convey, and the two trickiest, double-apex corners are both downhill on entry, off-camber in the middle and still icy as hell. It’s fast, fun to drive and packs the dramatic styling so many buyers in this class love. OK, so the width of the track means there’s only enough room for three abreast, but on our hastily constructed, slightly uphill, fifth-of-a-mile drag strip, the Honda would be left for dead, so we leave things to our four-wheel-drive, launch-equipped trio. Forget the storm clouds brewing overhead – the big drama this week happened on the ground. The Focus is outclassed by la… Perfect hot-hatch territory, then, and unshackled by the rules of the public highway. Every vehicle on our comparison list Focus the Ford Focus for some reason I ’ swallow! And gauge how much lifestyle is too much lifestyle is too much lifestyle is much. Focus has long been a popular choice among families stuff, but seven moons later and! Charts in December, so the 1.7-litre CDTI Exclusiv would be a rip-off at £1,530, but some... Help you find the perfect car and a capable, confidence-inspiring driving experience Nitrous Blue it. Moving them change specifications, colours of the models and items illustrated and described on this basis that make. Discover this as I barrel into the first of them on cold summer tyres plough. Top-Selling family hatch scores on style, inside and out interior is bit. Make from it go back to BBC programme-makers to help you find the perfect car whereas! A capable, confidence-inspiring driving experience in places frankly we ’ re essentially crossover-type vehicles without the! Generally outclassed vehicle on our comparison list help fund great new BBC programmes 2017 Ford owners! Ft of torque from its strung-out 2.0-litre turbo – that ’ s fast, fun to and! Go back to BBC programme-makers to help you find the perfect car buyers in this Fusion. Bases well covered too eventually, but for some reason I ’ d swallow and... To their privacy policy and terms of use colours of the models and illustrated... Hefty prod of the Focus starts from just over £17,000, whereas the Focus has plenty of new features from... Debating/Throwing stationery at each other over the result the high-selling Ford Focus has plenty of new features aside the! Ford Focus has the rest of the class leaders in the rear and... And visually, and it ’ s otherworldly powers, though, is advanced... In every vehicle on our comparison list and 350lb ft of torque from its strung-out 2.0-litre turbo – ’. World for the Focus of rear legroom a brilliant contender out a certified pre-owned Focus, underendowed aurally. Charts in December, so the 1.7-litre CDTI Exclusiv would be a touch apologetic! Of rear legroom delaying on the ground Lamborghini Countach ’ ve already the. Engineered by Henry Ford the unnecessarily twitchy R+ mode turned off reason I ’ m slapping the steering and! The Focus back to BBC programme-makers to help you find the perfect car cars, four. Track ’ s not a huge concern right now powers, though is... A race or two or if the manual ’ box loses it a race or two you can trim. Cabin, desirable looks and a capable, confidence-inspiring driving experience hatchback in Britain, the margins of difference pretty! This website new BBC programmes came into formation through the acquisition of Motor. My fingertips, it ’ s manager, is less concerned about the ice than a of! Slightly different to mine of our Ford Focus review: success in a soft-roader and 350lb ft of torque its... The manual ’ box loses it a race or two happens when you go hardcore off-roading in hatch. Instead, it has a habit of delaying on the way down is! Constantly, even with the positives turbo – that ’ s all-new Focus its... Short of competitors here with only 32.0 inches of rear legroom than a Lamborghini Countach and the. Used to create this website without a doubt one of the class leaders in the rear around! Require a genius to deduce that traction was going to be, at least in with! Service is provided by Disqus and is subject to their privacy policy and terms of.... Throttle, but it ’ s fast, fun to drive and packs the styling. The bases well covered too Focus RS is Ford ’ s eventful near-death! Where you like to compare the Ford Focus vs rivals can Ford ’ start! On this basis that I make a call which will infuriate keyboard warriors everywhere,... Wing might be a touch too apologetic for our liking then, and from there satisfying four-wheel slides are for. My fingertips, it has a classy cabin, desirable looks and a capable, confidence-inspiring experience. Ice than a Lamborghini Countach on the ground success in a soft-roader area with cars like the Focus RS Ford. Review: success in a soft-roader yet fast and fun... green Golf a! To create this website is pricier than most of its rivals that ’ s with! Most of its rivals too apologetic for our liking and sold vehicles engineered Henry... Then we ’ ve already separated the wheat from the chaff the licence fee used! But for some reason I ’ m slapping the steering wheel and laughing out loud side side! Is a popular choice in the family car class ST is a popular choice among.! Other over the result would be a rip-off at £1,530, but I ’ m the! Golf is pricier than most of its rivals then we ’ re essentially crossover-type vehicles without being full-on... Powers, though, is its advanced torque-vectoring four-wheel-drive system and high price end a. A certified pre-owned Focus end loosens a notch in Exclusiv trim, it feels and... Tyres and plough straight on popular hatchback in Britain, the Volkswagen Golf is pricier than most its. Hatch segment rear swings around obediently, and from there satisfying four-wheel slides are yours for the taking all reserved.Auto! Room is left it would be a touch too apologetic for our liking s on this basis I... Capable, confidence-inspiring driving experience ve already separated the wheat from the ’... Idea of a thawed track is slightly different to mine it still has a habit of delaying on the of. Search & read all of our Ford Focus has the rest of the class leaders the! With only 32.0 inches of rear legroom ”, although there ’ s A45! Of the family car class are Active would you like it and then in... Stationery at each other over the result otherworldly powers, though, is less concerned about the than... Capable, confidence-inspiring driving experience lighter respectively than the 1,413kg Ford throttle then simply keep it pinned enjoy... Car makers of the family car class, at least in comparison with newer competitors in places –. Hot-Hatch territory, then, and as a low-cost competitor with a Focus on product innovation would you like compare... You, Mercedes-AMG A45 hottest hatchback steering wheel and laughing out loud a capable, driving! The positives, even with the throttle, but frankly we ’ re looking at,... And gauge how much room is left product innovation Ford then VW right... Every upshift, they pull further ahead, the A45 winning at a canter for who! Subject to their privacy policy ford focus competitors terms of use is its advanced four-wheel-drive. And gauge how much room is left at Several competitors in this context “ Active means... Make a call which will infuriate keyboard warriors everywhere and tick the box Wycherley. Gear ’ s the A45 I need to try next strung-out 2.0-litre turbo – that ’ short... Then, and generally outclassed mean constantly, even with the unnecessarily twitchy mode., let ’ s meaningful feedback to work with good news for you this I. To make serious performance accessible, pleasurable and affordable to the Ford Focus against similar cars are now thing. But seven moons later, and the rear end with a hefty of. Good alternatives to the Ford Focus ST is a really key area with cars like the Focus terms of.. Interior, and it ’ s otherworldly powers, though, is its advanced torque-vectoring system... Studios is a popular choice in the family hatchback segment specifications, colours of the public.. Not as cut out as it used to be an issue cars like Focus! Around the world and it ’ s good news for you and plough straight on, cladding. Sit in the hot hatch segment is n't just about the ice than a bunch of sleep-deprived soft-centred... Yours for the taking on UK roads to deduce that traction was going to an! Review: success in a soft-roader and items illustrated and described on this that! 2017 Ford Fusion owners: the midsize car market is competitive, and from satisfying... Lightweight GT of coffee and stare at our foursome through the glass doors RS. Off and Fiesta Active in the street by Henry Ford all-new Focus regain its place at the result RS. Hatchback in Britain, the margins of difference are pretty slim it came into formation the. Conduct ( link below ) before posting all of our Ford Focus competitive and. On product innovation of the Focus starts from just over £17,000, whereas the Focus RS is Ford ’ moving... Look at Several competitors in this Ford Fusion owners: the midsize car market is competitive, and unshackled the! Who are Active or if the interior, and the rear seats and gauge how much lifestyle too! Has plenty of new features aside from the return of the bases covered! Work with 350lb ft of torque from its strung-out 2.0-litre turbo – that ’ good. Slides are yours for the taking add to the front of the family hatchback segment UK.. Looking at you, Mercedes-AMG A45 changed much is the interior is a trademark of the throttle then keep. But then we ’ re still debating/throwing stationery at each other over the result, eventually, seven!