Ford Focus RS vs Audi RS3 vs Volkswagen Golf R review: mega hatch road test! 

Focus RS: Best for corners and 'fun' driving Golf R: Best all round car RS3: If you have an extra 10k to burn and want the fastest straight line hatch.

I didn't know Ted Cruz drove a Focus RS

I'd go for the Golf R. Why have Audi put alcantara on the wrong part of the steering wheel??

Forget the drag race? That's all any one wants.

Must have forgotten the A45 AMG.. Shame

Golf R with dsg please.

Really nice review! Thanks! Objective and well structured!

This guy is a very pleasant and informative reviewer.

I want to see them race each other to be honest

Price price price,fuck price if you want beast RS3 top!!!

Top Gear (the magazine) did a similar test. You can find it on their website... I believe they swapped RS3 with Civic Type R, saying that RS3 is really only good on a straight road. They also added Merc A45 AMG to the mix. They picked Ford as the winner.

+1 for the Manual vs. Manual comparison (R & RS)

I’ve had my 2017 RS for 3 years and as soon as I get in it I put it in track mode, another thing is that I must have a manual transmission so the Audi is out of the question

AND THE A45AMG ????? SHAAAME

Whats the mpg for the focus rs?

Not sure how you guys managed to bring the Golf R and RS3 to Spain for comparing with the Focus RS, but you guys did and kudos to that!

Where's sutcliffe?!

id take rs3 over any hot hatch just love how it sound plus engine will more than likly last a lot longer than a lot of cars out there

the focus rs came out here in South Africa early July and they decided to make it R700 000 (ZAR) Which makes it $10 000 (USD) more expensive than the Golf and roughly the same price as the Audi RS. what do you choose then?

Why was the A45 AMG not included in this test???

Putting the RS3 under the same category is wrong since it's not designed to be the drivers car but a hatchback with performance

ok next get the type r and so a comparison. I know it's fwd but they're competitors

So to clarify, does the golf generate artificial sports sound inside the cabin? 🤔

Fantastic review!

1. RS3 2. Golf R 3. AMG45 Would be my preference.

I just don't get it. The Audi is more powerful and better quality than the two. Yes it does understeer, The new 991.2 turbo s also understeer, it doesn't mean that it is not fun to drive… but to keep you safe in the road, It is not a gt3 car, it is not a formula. I mean i bet 90% of the time, people who own an rs3 or focus rs doesn't go to track, you are not buying these to drift all day long in the neighborhood. Even if you wanted to, the rs3 and golf can be as fun as the RS (drifting wise). I appreciate the effort that has been put to make this road test, I just don't like the way they compare a "fast" hatchback with racing cars.

Very nice comparison!

Please bring us when possible a direct comparison with the focus rs, RS3 , a45 AMG maybe golf R and the very important M2 :P thanks

The Ford's​ interior looks cheap compared to the other two cars.The Audi is too expensive for my liking. But the Golf R is just perfect i would rather have better comfort and quality than 50 more hp.

The Focus RS is the clear winner here

Man, I really wanted to see a drag race between the 3!

I would love to see the sti compared here as well

I'd pay 10.000 any day for the Audi interior.

VW owner here, I'll take the Ford... Never thought I'd say that

mega test please, add civic type r and A45 AMG?

Sooner or later, someone will put together a big group test with all the current Hot Hatches that people have mentioned below. Frankly, I'd rather watch that than p1 vs 918 etc, as it just kind of means more to most people, the true reason behind the hot hatch. I had a Focus RS mk1. A car the press said was un-drivable on normal roads due to torque steer. Real world, it was amazing! Would I swap it for a EP3 Type R? Nope purely because my mate had one and we used to enjoy long arguments about who was right/ wrong about having the better car. I like the new Focus RS for its 4wd that would have been great on the last two cars but ultimately would have preferred to see a lightweight, 300 BHp fiesta rs. Hot Hatches are brilliant!

If I had 40,000pounds, i'd get the ford and 10,000 pounds of fuel to go around

I Prefer The Audi RS3 (if someone would buy it for me)

he said it in first 25 secs of the vid what car is best one

I guess it depends what you want the car for. I have had my RS3 for about 3 weeks now and it's perfect, loud, looks nice, incredibly quick and unlike most people tend to agree on, I find it very fun to drive. I use it on normal roads and it's great. All of these cars are brilliant in there own way there is no doubt about that. The Focus RS and Golf R being cheaper and perhaps more engaging, but for everyday use I think the RS3 is an understated beast.

I'll choose the Golf R.

RS3 anytime.

Track battle vs the Honda CTR please..

great review

I'm going with the Golf R because with a stage 2 tune it will smoke the Ford

Track car : Focus RS Daily car : Golf R My choice : A45 AMG

I wish there was a mix of all hyper hatches: -Focus RS handling, fun, lightness -M135i rwd, manual gearbox, sound, low rpm torque (450 Nm at 1300 rpm) -RS3 looks (ext + int) -A45 AMG power (381 hp)

Turn off all the computers, put on the same tires for all three and compare them head to head on a track.

On finance the figures I'm getting on the RS3 are the same as a Focus RS 😐 not so cheap after all 😂

A45 AMG is too expensive..! That's why it'll hardly ever be included in comparisons like this. For me the best car and best all rounder is the Golf..!

Gotta say, owning a Focus ST has made me never want to buy another performance turbo/DI car from Ford again... Spent more time in the shop with that car (bought it brand new) and dealing with issues than I have enjoying the car in a good running state. First with the motor mount (they used a stock focus rear motor mount instead of something a little stronger), then map sensors going bad, then carbon buildup, and a bad wiring harness... all within the first 10k miles. Finally got that all sorted out at about 15k, and here I am, 33k and carbon buildup is back (and I dont buy cheap gas) radio is still malfunctioning almost daily, and my door sensor on the driver side went out... So yeah. Got to say, I'll be skipping the RS.

Where is the Evo X comparison?

Focus RS is the best platform of the three to make big power

I'm sorry guys but I would choose the A45 any day

where is the type-r ?

Who's the Golf R/GT3 designer he refers to?

the golf r may have less horsepower than its counterparts. Nothing an APR tune cant fix.

R to the S to the 3...

Why can't we get the rs3 here in usa

Still, can't wait to get my full black RS3 this July!

Paying a premium for nicer interior. No thanks, Focus RS all day!!

In my country the focus rs is about as expensive as the mustang ecoboost. I'd go for the mustang. This focus is just so ugly and looks so childish.

How about Megane R.S?

Sound Generator on Golf R ? that is what the engine and exhaust are meant to do

The RS3 looses every test its in, too expensive and the S3 does the 95% of what the RS3 can do for alot less cash! Golf R nah i havnt got a bald patch in my hair yet, so yea focus RS for me please :)

10k more for a soulless audi with no manual? No thanks. Same price for 50hp less with fake engine noise from speakers? NO THANKS! Ford stomps this competition hard this generation Im afraid

type r ?

I want the Focus RS with the RS3's engine and Black/Red interior. That would be my dream car.

The focus looks like a cheap bit of shit plastic

Golf R here, please. The Focus looks to ricey even from the factory, and the RS3 is just another understeering boring Audi ...

How would you compare to a Hatchback STI and a lightly tuned STI. I have a 2012 Stage 2 STI hatchback with 300whp and I'm curious which would be faster and better.

The only car i wanna see go up against this Focus is the all (FK2) Civic Type-R, and it better be an all-out track battle too. i really want to see how these two car stack up against each other.

The golf breaks at 10k miles

the world knows English and many Americans do not like Germans cars. and Germans are the best cars

Sound generator in the Golf R? What the heck does that mean?

For me, everything is about balance. the Focus may be 10-20% more performance oriented than the R, but the R's interior is twice as good as the Focus's. If you were to go on a road trip, you most likely will choose the R over the focus. for Daily driving, the R would be more comfortable day to day. Put a stage 1 APR tune, and you will probably have the focus over on performance.

That ford interior is the most ghastly thing i have ever seen

RS3 Sedan confirmed. I'm gonna get one!

Golf R and RS3 have Haldex AWD systems, which means they are fwd bios, Focus on the other hand, has a proper AWD system. Sure, they r both more comfortable and higher quality cars in general but as far as driving goes, I choose Focus RS anyday, but only this model, MK3.

“Lovely” counter kept going up lmao

Also all these reviews are with the R 6 speed. The DSG is almost .7 quicker to 60

I love the traction control settings of the focus (finally someone has done a "rear quattro traction", I've always wondered why it took so much) and the sporty engine but the exterior design and the interior are just a big no. The RS3 is all the money it asks: engine is really good and the interior just screams quality and design. Look wise it's a very good shape with muscular wheels arches (even if the previous one had bigger shoulders), but yes the understeer is still a problem but you can work on that. Golf R is a compromise: styling is ok but nothing remarkable, very good performance overall with nice quality and good money for value. So in the end I would go for the traction and agility of the Focus with the engine and overall quality of the Audi. ANY CAR MAKER HERE?

Not £10k more when you take into account the premium price on getting hold of a RS now . So Golf is best value .

Comparing them on the track will be nice.... good video anyway.

If I am going to buy any of these, it would be the Golf R. Like he said it's easier to live with and it's a very comfortable car, but it can be really fast and fun to drive when you want it to be. The Focus RS will get tiring after a few months and it would make an excellent second car, but I don't think most us could afford that. I also don't like the design or the interior.

Megane Rs?

love the video

Its a really nice move from VW to make the Interior sound match a 5 cylinder engine sound note. The best all-around car is the Golf R. If I only had the money..

How can you have a comparison and not include the Subaru STi?

Thank God you picked the RS3, I thought that you were gonna pick the Golf R with what you were saying. Great vid though

this comparisson needed a megane and civic too :) i mersonally would go with either the megane, or maaayyybe the focus.

I love fords and I always get shut down when I mention the blue oval, but I'm such a VW fanboy because it just does everything I want from a car. He's right about the porche reference, right now in the motor industry it's about refinement and the golf r is the best at this price range. With the VW you can drive comfortably while getting the looks, race between the lights and park in the valet section with pride

Also why not include the new civic type r in this battle surely it's a more likely rival than the other two luxury hatches?

Your missing the Merc A45 AMG from the test.

Shame they didn't stick with a 5 cylinder for the new RS. It was great in the mk2 Focus ST and RS :/ Though if they do go wrong, they are super expensive to repair!

What about the Mercedes-AMG A45

Focus ST is still my favorite! Great car and should never be talked down to!

Is really the RS3 not in another league of performance? I would choose the Focus too, but I still wish it was as special as the Audi, which feels like an R8 hatchback... and is tunable to 450 hp / 550 Nm or 435 hp / 600 Nm. I wonder if the outright performance is really not as fun as the handling of the Focus.

What about 308 gti ?

A45?I don't see pricing as a criteria for a hot hatch in this video or in the description.I know the A45 would blow these 3 away, might not be the most fun but it's certainly the quickest.