2017 Ford Focus RS: Test Drive

We test the 350 horsepower Ford Focus RS on our favorite mountain roads to see how it performs in its element. Full test drive review inside and out.

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[REDEEL]

great review, wish mine would hurry up and get here, it was a decision between a golf R and the RS, I chose RS for the excitement

[opalbeifong]

I'm not big on fords but I do love the focus rs. 😊

[GimmieTheGaff]

Still one of the great car reviews. Love it when one is seduced by a car despite one’s objectivity.

[viking]

Now that there are used choices I hope to get one, before spring.

[SPURTIS]

Good honest review with pros and cons. thanks!

[robray]

Good review, brother! I'm also digging your Vans, as they are great driving shoes that I wear when I want to do some spirited driving in my Fiesta ST.

[Driver]

Very surprised by the refinement score, other reviews did say that the suspension set up makes it a difficult car for a daily driver.

[poker_rs]

But how does the RS daily drive in LA traffic, that's the question? Is the RS worth 15k more vs. a base ST1?

[doctorrobert]

Firstly, love your through reviews! Have to ask-currently driving 2016 Golf R with the adjustable suspension. How does the RS compare in Sport mode to the Golf R in race mode? The race mode is still pretty comfortable in the R and the RS I am sure lets you feel more of the road. Is it tolerable as a somewhat daily driver?
Thanks!

[Rspectt]

Nitrous Blue is a $695 option not $995....

[ogpunkbuster]

people like to hate the RS so much lol. Don't buy it, it's only for enthusiasts. sort of like the sti/evo.

[travis]

I test drove this today and it broke down. Car had less than 50 miles on it.

[danielboxall]

Another weekend fucked up because I have no one and no car

[totalsllout]

Dude looks like the drummer from system of a down

[drsatan]

Cant believe all the nice things he had to say about the interior and especially the infotainment system. The interior would be nice... for a vehicle in the 20k price range. The infotainment system is dated and those gauges for boost /temp and such look like they came off of ebay or autozone. That said, I bought one even though I had those opinions :'D

[prjgrudge]

For the same money, I can get better performance from a 5.0 Mustang or a Hemi RT with roomy 4 doors. For just a few thousand more, I can get the SCAT pack for the RT which would blow the doors off that 'hot' hatch. This car only becomes a viable option if it was $10k less.

[elliottmanning]

I would still buy a Golf R over this. I know the Golf is the more "mature" hot hatch in the segment; aka boring, but it doesn't have styling that says "hey, look! I go fast." Also, I can get a dual-clutch and radar cruise in the Golf R, because I'm lazy. If only the 3 door was sold in the states.

[losmosquitos]

So funny, testers talking about cupholders in sports/semirace cars....the absolute most unimportant things. Try drinking during driving in a RS.... pleeease try it! WUAHAHAHAHAHA

[AbstractWerks]

Part of me hates how ugly the interior is, but if they made it nicer we'd probably see a price spike and for a focus RS I don't want that.

[RPMS]

that was painfully slow...damn! 350hp and that slow?