10 Ford Focus RS Competitors to Consider

2018 Ford Focus RS Blue Driving Front Quarter ・ Photo by Ford

The Focus RS is Ford’s hottest hatchback. With a starting price of $41,120 you get a turbocharged 2.3-liter four cylinder engine that makes an impressive 350 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. This engine drives all four wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. It's quite a bit of muscle for a compact car —  the powertrain delivers a 0-60 mph time of 4.7 seconds while maintaining fuel economy of 22 mpg combined. And when you aren’t in drift mode, it also has tenacious grip through the corners.

However, it doesn’t have the market all to itself, so to let you know what else is out there, the editors at Autobytel have come up with a list of 10 Ford Focus RS competitors to consider. Read on to see if any strike a chord with you.

2018 Audi RS 3

If you prefer your super-hot compact car in sedan form, then look no further than the Audi RS 3. Its turbocharged 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine generates 400 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque, which is sent to all four wheels via Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system. The sprint to 60 mph takes just 3.9 seconds and top speed is 155 mph (or optionally 174 mph), and the RS 3 is rated at a decent 22 mpg combined.

One of the best parts of most modern Audis is the interior, and the RS 3 is no exception with an elegant design and high-quality materials. Unfortunately it doesn’t come cheap, with a starting price of $54,900.

Photo by Audi

2019 BMW M2 Competition Coupe

With a starting MSRP of $58,900, the BMW M2 Competition Coupe is more expensive than the Ford Focus RS, but it also offers 405 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque from its turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine. All that power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, getting the M2 to 60 mph in four seconds flat (with the manual) and on to a top speed of 150 mph (or optionally 173 mph).

Despite the extra cylinders, the M2 gets a relatively good combined fuel economy rating of 20 mpg. And with its excellent handling, the BMW M2 Competition Coupe might really be the ultimate driving machine.

Photo by BMW

2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost

While you might think that the Focus RS and Mustang would attract two completely different types of people, the two vehicles are actually frequently cross-shopped.

The Ford Mustang uses a version of the engine found in the Focus RS, but in the Mustang it makes only 310 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, and drives only the rear wheels. The Mustang weighs around the same as a Focus RS, though the rear-wheel drive layout is a bit more efficient and Ford quotes a 0-60 mph time of under five seconds for the EcoBoost Mustang. And with a starting price of $26,120 and a combined fuel economy rating of 25 mpg, it’s cheaper and more efficient than the Focus RS.

Photo by Ford

2018 Honda Civic Type R

Unlike most of the other cars on this list, the Honda Civic Type R has to make do without all-wheel drive, and it’s the only car on our list that sends all of its power to the front wheels. While that (along with the Type R’s over-the-top exterior styling) may be a deal breaker for some, for others it’s a selling point.

The 2.0-liter engine puts out 306 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, which combined with the 6-speed manual transmission can get the Type R to 60 mph in around five seconds before hitting a top speed of 169 mph.  The Civic Typr R also returns 25 mpg combined. All that, and the starting price is only $34,700.

Photo by Honda

2019 Mazda Miata

The Mazda Miata is by far the least powerful car on our list (and also the only convertible), but with the 2019 model having 181 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque from its 2.0-liter normally aspirated SkyActiv-G four-cylinder engine, it isn’t as lacking for power as it used to be (it had only 155 horsepower for 2018). That means the 2019 Miata should get to 60 mph in well under six seconds, and on to a top speed higher than last year’s 135 mph.

But it’s in the handling department where the Miata really shines, with a chassis that’s light and waiting to play. And with a price starting at just $25,295, it’s an affordable way to have lots of fun.

Photo by Mazda

2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45 Coupe

The $53,100 starting price of the Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45 Coupe gets you a handcrafted 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that generates an impressive-for-its-size 375 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. Combined with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive, the CLA 45 can get to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and up to a top speed that’s limited to 155 mph (or optionally 167 mph).

The CLA 45 also earns a surprisingly good combined fuel economy rating of 26 mpg, though its harsh ride and tight interior might make you want to avoid long trips (particularly over broken roads). On a racetrack or smooth back road, however, the CLA 45 comes alive.

Photo by Mercedes-AMG

2019 Nissan 370Z

Despite having the look and feel of a purebred sports car, the Nissan 370Z has a starting price of just $29,990. For that money, you get a 3.7-liter V6 engine that sends all of its 332 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels in the traditional sports car configuration.

Where the 370Z comes just a bit short is in the details, with a lack of steering feel and an imprecise shifter. Fuel economy is rated at 20 mpg combined with the 6-speed manual, or 22 mpg combined with the automatic. It takes the 370Z just over five seconds to hit 60 mph, and it can hit a top speed of 155 mph.

Photo by Nissan

2018 Subaru BRZ / 2019 Toyota 86

With only 205 horsepower and 156 lb-ft of torque, the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 siblings are down on power compared to the Focus RS, and they’re only rear-wheel drive instead of all-wheel drive. While that sounds like a downer, in many situations the BRZ and 86 are just as (if not more) fun, thanks to their light weight and handling characteristics.

It also makes them relatively affordable, with a base price of $25,595 for the Subaru and $26,455 for the Toyota, though you don’t get much in the way of features for the money, and the combined fuel economy rating of 24 mpg for the manual (and 27 mpg for the automatic) isn’t particularly impressive.

Photo by Subaru

2019 Subaru WRX STI

While the Subaru WRX STI might have lost its original turbocharged all-wheel drive arch rival (the Mitsubishi Evo series) years ago, numerous other contenders (including the Ford Focus RS) have since stepped into the ring.

With 310 horsepower and 290 lb-ft of torque, the STI’s 2.5-liter flat four is a bit down on power (resulting in a sprint to 60 mph that takes just over five seconds) and its all-wheel drive system isn’t quite as advanced as some, but the Subaru is still good fun to drive, especially when conditions get treacherous. And a starting price of $36,595 makes it relatively affordable, though your fuel bill might increase slightly as the STI is only good for 19 mpg combined.

Photo by Subaru

2018 Volkswagen Golf R

The Volkswagen Golf was one of the original hot hatches. While the latest Golf R is down a bit in the power department compared to its competitors (with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 292 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque), it’s good for 24 to 25 mpg combined (depending on the transmission), and can still get to 60 mph in under five seconds and on to a top speed of 150 mph.

With a starting price of $39,785, it costs just a bit less than the Focus RS, but it has a much nicer interior and classic understated good looks. If you’re looking solely for a performance car there are better choices, but the Golf R is one of the best all-rounders on the market today.

Photo by Volkswagen