Ford Focus RS (2009) CAR test review

At last! After months of studio shoots and passenger ride teases, CAR has finally driven the all-new Focus RS Mk2 – Ford’s 301bhp, front-wheel drive mega hatch – on some of the best mountain roads southern France has to offer.

You’ll see how the new second-gen Focus RS stands up against the best hot hatches of all time (Renault Clio Williams, Peugeot 306 GTi-6, original and current VW Golf GTi, Lancia Integrale and more) in the new April 2009 issue of CAR Magazine out 25 February, but let’s get down to business here: is the Ford Focus RS (2009) any good? It’s a corker, but the new RS does have its flaws...

Go on then, the Ford Focus RS's bad bits first…

Well, despite all the hype that surrounds RevoKnuckle – a system that allows MacPherson strut suspension to behave with the purity of a multi-link set-up – we can conclusively report that this car does torque steer. It’s not chaotic like the Mk1 Focus RS could be, but the steering wheel will firm up noticeably under hard acceleration and the wheels scrabble for grip in the lower gears – the ESP system allowing the driver to dictate when power should be cut in most situations, rather than cutting in early and spoiling the fun.

A disappointment, perhaps, but then what did we expect with 301bhp going through the front wheels? It also adds that boisterous edge that we’ve come to expect from RS products.

Whinge over, is it?

Not quite. I’d say the second-gen Focus RS bodywork is just a little too OTT, especially the proliferation of fake vents. The interior is also nearly identical to the lesser ST’s (racier Recaros notwithstanding), while the single-pot brakes are generally good but lack the ultimate stopping (and staying) power of the best multi-piston stoppers.

Okay, and the good bits…

Where do we start? The Focus RS is an absolute blast to drive – it's ludicrously quick point-to-point. Front-wheel drive was definitely the way to go; there’s so much front-end grip that you just don’t need driven rear wheels and we’ll gladly take the consequences of that lively front end for the extra agility that the lighter two-wheel drive set-up affords. And, to be honest, the RS is already a tad lardy at 1467kg – an all-paw drivetrain would take that kerb weight to around 1600kg.

The steering is absolutely great. At around 2.2 turns lock-to-lock, it’s noticeably quicker than the ST’s and, while every small input has an effect, it’s not nervous and there’s a beautiful, elastic resistance that builds in proportion to your efforts.

The suspension is a little rigid for the daily commute (the Focus ST will better serve 9-5ers with an occasional trackday itch to scratch), but it’s not crashy, and its composure over quick B-roads is impressive, offering enough compliance and suspension travel to soak up tricky roads at high speed where crashier set-ups would start to bounce.

>> Click 'Next' for CAR's verdict on the new Ford Focus RS hot hatch