Ford Focus RS
Ford Focus ST
wasn't a planned comparison, which probably made it more enjoyable. The RS was being collected by Ford
for a service
, the ST was a courtesy car and, well, we had a
rally road trip
coming up; we spoke to Ford, its stay was extended and there was a twin-test to conduct when the RS was back.
Don't forget there's another fast Ford Focus
Well, of sorts. Fact is if you want, can afford and can get a Focus RS, the lesser front-wheel drive car probably won't cut it. And for someone considering a Focus ST, even this ST-3 with a few options is more than £3,000 less than a base RS. Still, it would be interesting to see where the RS improves upon the ST and where, just perhaps, the ST might hold a few advantages.
Obviously the RS is miles quicker, right? Erm... It's not a night and day difference, put it that way. While the 2.3 in the RS is more eager, more responsive and more willing than the ST's 2.0-litre, its 350hp is shifting 1,599kg and the red car's 250hp is only moving 1,437kg. So it is faster, yes, but not massively so. If you see a Mountune badge on an ST then just be wary RS drivers...
But when the roads around the Elan Valley become beautifully, brilliantly Welsh, the RS is the place to be. Turn in is sharp and its composure unshakeable, shrugging off bumps that see the ST flare up into wheelspin. The RS is a more immersive and precise experience, with more weight to the controls, more noise and more sense of occasion. As you would rightly expect.
The ST isn't left floundering, however. It's easy to forget how good a hot hatch it is, what with the rise of the mega hatches in recent years. There feels to have been a few tweaks since we last drove one too, this car less prone to torque steer than the earlier cars. The Michelin Pilot Super Sports fitted to this car - same as the RS, in fact - must contribute to that additional poise, and it's a really enjoyable car to drive a Welsh B-road in. The steering is more natural than in the RS, for example, less prone to the blue car's aggressive self centring.
Wales in hot hatches? Bliss!
It rides a little more fluently too, flowing with a pockmarked road rather than bullying it like the RS. While this means it can struggle a little at the limit, at those points where the RS's superior damping can show off, it makes for a car that works really nicely in the UK. It's rather more comfortable on the M4 too.
There can't really be a conclusion here, because these two aren't direct rivals. But it was interesting to note the exact moments the RS was preferred to the ST, and the weekend also served as a reminder of how good the latter is. Certainly there was more demand for that key than the RS for the journey home. There will be more to follow on the blue car soon but, if you're in the market for a hot hatch, don't forget the other fast Ford!