The Ford Focus RS caused a stir when it was launched last year, thanks mainly to its controversial ‘Drift Mode’ which helped the driver perform a drift. This of course lead to it being labelled a hoons car, irresponsible and a function that should be banned. You may have read my article defending Ford and explaining more about it late in 2016, but if you didn’t, you can here.
I was lucky enough to be invited to the launch of the RS and got to experience the Drift Mode and the Launch Control in a controlled, closed environment. Which after all, is where it was created for.
Fast forward a few of months and it was time for me to take a proper look at the car, away from the headline making drive modes, and see what it was like as a family car. I needed to see if it would work for the school drop off, how it was in rush hour traffic, and if it was as much fun and as comfortable to drive everyday as it was for a couple of hours on a test track.
So, the first test – would the child set fit on the back seats? Of course, and the space was really good for our tall nearly 4-year-old. The fastening of the seat was quick and easy too, with the anchor points easily accessible (not always the case in cars at the moment, can you believe that?)
Getting into the driver’s seat I was reminded about how much this car felt like it was ready to fly off the mark, the Recaro seats instantly make you comfortable and all the controls are in easy reach. Obviously the one downside to the Recaros is that you lose the ability to get the heated seats, which you’ll know, if you’ve read any of my other reviews is a BIG plus in any cars thanks to my dodgy back. The other small issue is that if you are on the shorter side, the Recaros support can be ever so slightly in the wrong place for you. That said, they look cool and they certainly suit the Focus RS.
Firing the car up, the sound is amazing, it roars to life and if you give it some revs in neutral it coughs and spits in a way that certainly raises the attention of anyone happening to be nearby. It’s a beautiful sound – it’s worth listening to, so much so, on more than one occasion I started the engine up, turned it off, and started it up again!
One thing that took some getting used to was how eager the car was to get off the mark, the bite point of the clutch was very different to the base model Focus I own, and once you found the bite point, the car was away… quickly. This obviously took some getting used to, particularly when my first journey was in rush hour traffic and I was frequently stopping. It’s not a criticism, just something to look out for if you do take a Focus RS for a drive.
Next important thing from a family point of view is the boot space, which in the Focus RS is very impressive. Would it pass the stroller and golf club test? Of course it would! In fact it’s quite surprising given how much of a ‘hot hatch’ this is… how roomy it is in all aspects. My son in the backseat had plenty of space, my 6”2 frame fit comfortably into the driver’s and passenger side seat and at no point did I feel like space was an issue.
If you haven’t driven a Ford Focus before, let me tell you about one of my favourite things about them. Their cornering ability is absolutely outstanding. They stick to the road. For a car of their size, it’s amazing how confident you can be when you turn the car in. I’ve never (touch wood) had any issues in any weather conditions. Granted I’ve only driven them in Australia so I’ve not had to contend with ice or snow, but in wet and greasy conditions the Focus has always handled well and given me the utmost confidence that the car would keep travelling in the direction I wanted it to.
I’ll finish this piece covering off the topic I started it with. YES this has Drift Mode, NO you shouldn’t try it unless you are in the right place and the right environment, and by that I mean a closed track, a place where you have the correct supervision, safety procedures and very importantly permission. There are other drive modes which are great to experience on public roads, so make sure you do that. Enjoy this car, it is there to be enjoyed, but do it legally. This is certainly a car that works for a family, so go out and give them a go, just don’t pretend you are Ken Block… you’re not.