Category: Hot Hatchbacks 
Price Range: £12,795 to £21,445
Strong engine, plenty of power, loads of grip and engaging handling, fine brakes, reasonable asking price.
Harsh ride, existence of the much cheaper Clio Cup.
The Focus RS is a superb hot-hatchback, and feels every inch as if it was created for enthusiasts, by enthusiasts. Which is nice.
Would like to be a bit more generous here, because the Sparco seats are actually quite cosseting (if not that seemly on the eye because of the brightness of the blue parts), and while the steering wheel, pedal rubbers and seats are different, the Focus's generally sound driving position is retained. So getting into a Focus and making yourself comfy aren't difficult. It's once you're underway that it gets a bit wearing. It's that ride, see. The Focus RS runs on the same wheelbase and track as the WRC Focus (which is all very well and good), but it seems to ride about as well too. It is hard, bucking and shifting all apiece over undulations, and to be honest it's a bit tiring over distance, as is the tyre-roar and engine drone. If you're looking for a more comfortable hot-hatch, then the Seat Leon 20VT, Golf GTI or Subaru Impreza WRX would be better bets, though none is so rewarding to drive. Oh, and you do get air-con. Quick paragraph this one: no complaints. The Sparco seats may steal a little legroom in the back, but other than that it's all pretty standard Focus stuff. Decent boot, split-fold rear seats, enough storage holes and cubbies. Four stars then. Biggest problem will be hearing it over the tyre-roar and engine drone; the Focus RS's stereo (standard Focus stuff with six-disc in-dash CD changer) is otherwise fine. No sat nav option. In fact, no options at all.
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