This is the long-awaited showdown between the new Ford Focus ST and Europe's other latest hot hatches, the Renaultsport Megane RS and Vauxhall Astra VXR. On road and on track.
Nice to re-visit these old reviews 8 years later. I remember watching at the time and thinking 'yeah but the track had dried up and the sun was starting to come out' when the VXR did it's laps, and I think in similar conditions the Renault would destroy it. The Renault is probably worth the most now, as those VXR's have massive depreciation.
Bit late of a response, but yes, from personal experience the Renault is quicker around a circuit than the VXR. But today the VXR really is a lot of car for the money they go for. The Megane RS however is holding its value pretty well.
@@ARDEN440i Indeed. I'm hoping my M140i will become desirable in a few years, as there is nothing else like it now, ie big engine, RWD, in a small hatchback. Not as quick around a track as the Renault, but much more fun hahah !
@@ARDEN440i Yes I know my friend. LSD, Bilstein B12 damper kit, and an underbody brace, that would make my car a track weapon. The thing is, I don't track my car, and those things would ruin it as a daily driver. So, I am staying with just my stock M140i (it has been remapped to 411bhp/576nm).
The Vxr is a classic now so worth more than the french car. Who would buy french anyways bastards cowards didn’t wanna fight in the war yet think they can make a car please
Chris harris, you are by far the best reviewer I have seen on youtube. You seem like you know your stuff much more than all the other motoring vids. well done
I got the ST3 and it's been really great. Its a great everyday driver and yet very fun and also versatile being a hatch. I've had no mechanical problems with it, whatsoever, and have had since late 2014 and now put 31k miles on it. It runs like the day I got it and I still love it.
Chris Harris is driving a fully loaded focus at 28k and he compared it to the starting price of a 135i at 30k. I bet there's not been a 135i that's left the factory selling for under 40k.
The Focus ST is not only a heck of a hot hatch, it's a really nice car to sit in and drive. The fact that it hangs with the other 2 in this test is impressive. I can't wait to see what the Focus RS can do.
I bought the GTC VXR six weeks ago and I love it.Grips the road so well.Put it this way.I caught up with a Mercedes Eclass 350 V6 and just over took him.Say no more my friend 😜
CHRIS! I think your videos are suberb. I really appreciate you giving us enthusiasts time to absorb how the car drives from inside and out. Another winning video!
scanthemelon Agreed. Front looks purposeful but the melting rear lights are very Korean. Shame, because I tried one on Scottish B roads last weekend and it's absolutely superb for the price. I enjoyed it far more than the clinical Golf R or hideously over-priced and inert A45 AMG. A proper analogue old school hatch.
Just long enough, not too short, brilliant content, three great competitive cars. Well presented, awesome photography, Chris you can't seem to go wrong. I look forward to your videos every week, keep them coming!
ST all the way. From these three cars I would take Focus ST any day, every day. No contest for me. Fords always had this chasis balance that is unparaleled in the cars of that price range. You can really feel the car and what's it doing. I just haven't found that in other cars that go by that price.
Opel/Vauxhaul have always been designed by accounts; everything is comprised. They always put strong, torquey motors in their cars, but it's all in vain when you bolt it to a sloppy chassis and a gearbox that you have to guess which gear it's in. It's they way they've always been, and since they've been sold, it's going to get worse.
Great review. In the US, we unfortunately don't get the Renault or the Vauxhall but Ford of Europe now sent over the Ford Focus ST - and I bought one! That car is so much fun to drive, and the sound of the motor is so perfect, it's fantastic. I also test drove the new GTI and as nice/pleasant a car as it is, it's also a bit dull. Sorry VW, Ford got my money this time.
Sound of the motor ??It's a four cylinder man they sound like Sh*t,they can't make a four that sounds like a proper engine ,as your in the US try going to old car shows and ask some people there to start their engines so you can hear what a proper v8 engine sounds like not one of those wimpy 4 cylinders.
Chris, I have always wanted to get your driving impressions on the Lancer Evolution, perhaps several generations over the years. Thanks for your hardwork in making this channel stand out from the compeition. Cheers
finally someone who is honest about the st. people have just been gushing and going crazy over this car, saying it has no faults. its not perfect. thank you chris harris for not being the reviewer we want, but the reviewer we need.
astra vxr all day, drove the focus st and wasn't impressed, not sure if i agree with chris on the throttle response, i felt the vxr had way better response and just ploughed ahead.
Tom Wainwright totally agree with you mate, had a st on test did not find it comfortable, the vxr on the other hand won me over even though it has one flaw with it being thirsty i still love my snowflake vxr and would choose it everyday over all other hot hatches
The gti is a great car all around. Good looks, sound, comfort and handling, but lacks a bit, just a bit, in driving excitement compared to these three.
+Greig Mackenzie When this was made the 7th gen car wasn't quite available yet. GTI is very nice daily driver and quick too when given a little bit of a electronic tune up (Flash) 11's in the 1/4 on slicks, not bad. Takes a turbo upgrade to the ST even close. No Opels or Megans in the States. If Saturn was still around we might have the OPC version of it here. So it's the GTI, Focus ST and sometime in the near future a Mazdaspeed 3
I really agree with you. I have been following Chris for 3 years now and find myself going on to youtube just to see if another video has been added and then find myself being disapointed by the usual 5mins 38sec video lenths that sometimes get posted. VERDICT: We love your videos Chris, just give us more.
Chris, you are the among the best in this bussiness but your end results in this test come out a little weird...don't they? I've been in all three of these cars and i can tell you this: -Astra is the heaviest of them all...because it comes fully loaded...20" rims with 245 tyres,giant brakes,a locking diff by Drexler,three selections of performance regarding suspension/st. wheel/power delivery, all the electronics you could possibly want, the best seats in it's class (and above!),the best interior quality and the best looking... by very far. -The Focus has been improved but it's interior is clearly TWO steps behind...just visit any auto show and compare! It has four doors only and looks tall- not a proper "hot" hatchback then in my book, and looks plain and simple ugly. -Untill now the RS was famed as a the ultimate track car. A car with certain "problems" in everyday life (i've owned Meganes in the past) that one can pretend to accept in order to have the best in track...although i don't know how many actually use it in track... Interior quality is on par (!) with the Focus and the plastic "bolt on" exterior parts make it look the most chav of the three. But here comes the surprise:If i read the stopwatch well Astra was the best in track? And this was done in the wet where the extra power and torque of a FWD car may come in as an handicap-your words? -Last comes the price bomb:Astra at 27K is too expensive for what it offers...umm, but hey the Focus at 28K is getting expensive too... and watch this: the Megane comes at 26K base price (not even mentioned) that doesn't include the goodies pack (suspension tuning and locking diff) that costs 1350 quid more, making it 27.350 pounds... The point about the BMW 135i is truly valid but this is a 3.0 liter car with all the problems this brings (tax-running costs). I don't own a VXR but i do think there is a gigantic elefant in the room, and noone (you included) is willing to accept it's presence. And the elefant is not the fact that the VXR comes last when it should probably come first, but the fact of the extreme prejudice in the auto-press against a manufacturer that has every right to get praised when he makes a good car. It's the same story with Corsa Nurburg (i don't own that either!). It beats the hell out of it's rivals but praise (a true, wholehearted one) hasn't been heard so far. Just my 2c and i hope a little food for thought...
warpspeeed I think you're right. The Opel (in the Netherlands its called 'Opel) has a image problem. Unrighteously so. The OPC is a really good car. Great looks, stunning performance. It's only problem: it's to heavy. It needs to loose weight.
I am confused if BMW had made the VXR Astra GTC no one would mind but just because its a Vauxhall it has to be slated. Dont get me wrong Vauxhall have made some bad cars like the Combo and Corsa B but most are cracking cars that need the love they deserve! I agree, the GTC VXR is one of the nicest cars out at the moment with striking looks and strong performance
Agreed, I love the car too and I absolutely loved and still do the back and the position of the rear lights on the MKI Focus. If they hadn't abandoned it I think the Focus would have a little more character. Now the back is somewhere between mundane and ugly.
Love your work Chris! Awesome Vid. Watching at work was painful, just made me want to get out on the twisty roads in Melbourne in my Golf R! Come to Australia and drive the Reeton Spur in Victoria
I don't know what he's whining about the Astra and why does it come last? Somebody here obviously doesn't like Vauxhall nor Opel... So he said the throttle-response is a bit meh, -but its still the fastest car here, -it'll kick the Focus anyday, anywhere, -its better equiped than the Megane R.S. and more sophistcated -and its probably also the best looking (only without that "in your face" double-rear-spoiler) The Astra is sort of the best of both worlds (nearly as grown up as the Ford and still keeping up with the Renault without a problem).
First of all, i'd like to point out I called nobody a "twat". Whatever... I was wondering about the objectivness of this comparison. So tell me: which car is the fastest? Which car is the most advanced? Which one has the most extras available (as standard also)? So its got nothing to do with "opinions" but a bit more with objective reviews... All he mentioned that was bad about the Astra was the "feeled" throttle response, so this is why it comes last? THATS ridicolous! So do YOU know what car I own or were driving lately? I guess not.
Chris serious. You put the Astra last, even though it's faster, better looking and has by far the best quality interior. You're another reason I stopped watching the new Top Gear.
@@dancecolin393 chris is a grumpy old man who is biased against certain manufacturer unlike EVO magazine who praised the car highly including fifth gear
Right so the VXR is quickest around the track, but yet he says the Megane is better on track.... right okay then.... Not the only Video where the VXR is quicker than the Megane around the track, anyone seen the one on Anglesey Circuit, VXR loads quicker than the Megane and the ST is just a piece of shit the brakes actually set on fire! Its not a track car!
The only problem with the Renault Megane is that it's..well renault.. The engine is good (as long as it's petrol) but the gearbox guidance is sloppy even on the RS and i wont even get started on how materials age inside...everything is cheap plastic that fades away with years, buggy electronics.. yes engine is good, chassis is amazing, but everything else is dirtcheap bar the seats obviously. Focus ST is a much better compromise the overall quality is much better, the price is fairer and the overall reliability is also better. It's a better car for me.
totally contridicted himself ,when he took the vxr to the track he openley said that the conditions were more wet ,yet it produced the track time ,this guy has a obviouse bias towards the focus and megan ,vxr is the fastest ,best looking best interior ,this guy was looking at anything to bring down the vxr ,its the best of the 3 by far ,as for the megan ,the interior was so cheap and looked like the seat were going to come loose as he went through the shicanes,the focus is just a focus ,boring ,predictable ,this guy is bias 100% to the ford and renault ,just becazuse its a vauxhall,he sterio typing this vxr ,basically ,hes talking garbage
Possibly the best car review iv ever seen and iv spent my whole life watching car reviews like a lonely looser becoming a master in his subject of expertise.
real fun to se chris enjoying driving those cars, as always a great review and ye awesome cars, a hot hatch is all you need to have fun on the road and they remain quite cheap
This videos was the final reason I bought my ST new in 2014, and I still love it to death with 380whp and a list of mods a mile long. I'd go back and buy the same damn car.
I just picked up the Ford ST was this a risk for me in the USA? Yes, Fords are not known for their reliability; seems my UK friends never mention this much on the reviews. I thought I would give her a try; WOW it drive so well, very refined yet when you get on it and its turn in is fantastic. The car really turns or should I say feels like it turns on it axis very neutral unlike my last hatch the Abarth Im finding it hard to find what needs to be ungraded. The Abarth straight from the factory though easy to fix had many things I disliked but I loved the looks it got and the wow factor once upgraded how fast it seemed. The ford is much faster but feels much less zippy than the Abarth. I know why am Im comparing these 2 cars well my Abarth cost me 28K the Focus ST3 26K much better value the fit n finish much better the recardo seat are the real deal unlike the Abarths unfinished leather seat. On a tight road I would give it to the upgraded Abarth but for everything else the ST has it in every other situation. I so far could recommend the ST to anyone the Abarth well if you want a fun project car the Abrath very easy to mod. I will be doing a video sub for updates
I own a performance blue Focus ST and love it. It's a great daily driver with tons on aftermarket support. Unfortunatly we don't get the other two here is the US so options for hot hatches are limited. It would be fun to try the Renaultsport Megane and VRX. At least we can sort of try them on Forza for Xbox. Great video comparison.
Even though only 1 of the cars are available in the U.S. I found your comparison informative and entertaining. Watching you have such a thrill in an obtainable "for the average person type car
"Almost 19 minutes? Ok, let's see what this is about.. oh, fuck yeah, it's Chris Harris!" And those 19 minutes flew by. Thanks for another great show, Chris!
Now on to the Ford ST.watched many videos on this car against the Astra VXR.And the VXR had the fastest lap time by a sec and a half in every video I have watched with these two cars in.
What an excellent review of three of the best hot hatches out there currently. I am glad Chris tested these three cars and some excellent driving as well! I'd like to see the focus against american hot hatches though such as the VW GTI and the Mazdaspeed 3
Focus ST coverage starts at 5:10 or thereabouts for us unfortunate souls in the US that might never sample the Megane RS Astra VXR. Splendid camera work.
