Ford Focus RS Takes on Civic Type R and Golf R... Again

We know what will happen, but that won't stop us from enjoying yet another drag race between some of the hottest hatchbacks: the Focus RS, the Golf R and the Honda Civic Type R.

As a fan of hot hatchbacks (probably the biggest in the office), I have to say that none of these fine specimens are that great to live with ever day. You might be tempted to think the Golf R is the exception, but I've read owner reviews that say they have lots of gremlins and will destroy a set of tires per year.

Carwow is all about everyday practicality, so they were quick to point out that Focus RS will destroy your spine on a bumpy road. They also showed that doing a U-turn will take forever to perform because of the extra-wide tires.

Because VW is a big company and it puts 2-liter turbo engines in everything, it can afford to give the Golf R multiple personalities. So, for example, it can cruise relatively economically and without fuss... if you're into that kind of thing.

Still, we need to find out what happens when all these hero cars perform at their best. As Mat Watson points out in this Carwow review, the trio of turbocharged hatchbacks is actually very similarly priced, and many people looking to buy one will at least consider the others.

This 3-way review is pleasant to watch, but if you're a hardcore fan, and you want to purchase a hatch soon, I recommend that you also watch the Auto Trader video. It's 36 minutes long, features 10 cars and also highlights the merits of the Megane RS. It might be old but it does enjoyment just as well as the Ford, plus you can find one second-hand.

And before you start telling us that you need AWD to go fast, that only applies to drag racing. As you can imagine, the fact that the Civic Type R is 100 kg lighter than the Golf and 170 kg less than the Ford gives it a playful edge. We know from experience that AWD systems can shave some of the steerings feel under certain conditions.