Ford Focus RS vs Honda Civic Type-R vs Audi RS3 vs Mercedes-AMG A45 & more: Hot Hatch Mega Test

Welcome to the biggest hot hatch comparison test ever conducted on video, featuring the all-new Ford Focus RS, Honda Civic Type-R, Audi RS3, Mercedes-AMG A45, Volkswagen Golf R, Renault Sport Megane 275 Cup-S, Peugeot 308 GTI By Peugeot Sport 270, BMW 135i and Subaru Impreza WRX STI. We've driven each of these cars on road, set times on track, plus covered essential ownership items such as running costs and practicality to name, definitively, Britain's best hot hatch!
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Welcome! Auto Trader is the UK’s biggest, best and most trusted car buying website, and our KZbin channel will help make finding your dream vehicle easier than ever.
Every week, we’ll present the latest new car reviews, covering everything from supercars to family estates. Our motoring experts have more than 75 years of testing experience between them, and their jargon-free verdicts cover real-world practicality, recommended specifications and reveal the real cost of ownership. Every video review is even complimented by a full written report on AutoTrader.co.uk.
But don’t just take our word for it; every month, we’ll ask some of Britain’s most passionate petrolheads to share their owner reviews. Factor in tutorials, used car guides, plus bonus motorcycle and van reviews and we have all your motoring needs covered.
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[@BigEddie.]

Auto Trader should do more of these. close to top gear but keep doing these

[@soundseeker63]

+Sir Gaming "Close to Top Gear"....? I disagree. This was WAY more informative and in-depth than anything on Top Gear!

[@adriand1586]

+soundseeker63 right, real review not a show

[@LittleBitOfThisNThat]

To be fair. They did say "Close" not exactly like.

[@JackBandicootsBunker]

+soundseeker63 Maybe closer to the old Top Gear?

[@dashcamuk6168]

To save you reading all of the comments, I've summarised for you. Auto trader is a UK publication, so the review is based on UK driving conditions. There was no VXR because it's soon to be replaced. The weather in the UK is very often wet, or roads covered in leaves i.e. slippery. The M2 is not a hatch. The Civic wasn't up to the job. Mazda speed 3's are almost unheard of here. Any of the cars here can be chipped to make them faster. The Ford won because it was the best overall drivers car. The RS3 understeer is terrible. Ford did not sponsor this, they just made a fantastic all round, drivers car for people who don't spend all day on the track or just go 0-60 time after time

[@AutoTraderTV]

+DashcamUK Love it!

[@chriskerry3777]

+DashcamUK don't forget the flavoured windows on the £38,000 model and the included repair grenade that should be issued with all British fords

[@daniellaraeroberts8827]

jm0

[@TheRangerman00]

My favorite part is what you said about ford.

[@darenn71]

RPG Entertainment Mine was the most reliable car I've had. VW, Skoda, Vauxhall all had issues that needed dealer to fix within first 3 years. Focus ST had 0 issues.

[@gregmcclelland7105]

Regardless of the outcome, this was one of the best car reviews I've seen.

[@dallasmellsop5488]

Really?

[@gottliebdee263]

Lost all credibility for me when he claimed some rubbish about not believing the A45 is a 4 cyl. Oh please. Anybody who's been in a 5, 6, 8, 10 or 12 cyl will never make that mistake. Quite frankly a 3 cyl has more character than a 4.

[@baronvonhoughton]

4 years on and Ford have cancelled making the RS. Sad face.

[@willscurran]

Because no one really wants to be in a "Focus". They need a new model.

[@davidlegkodukh6969]

@@willscurran Probably renamed it honestly

[@subscribemf3528]

The merc is better anyway

[@DutchMastermind]

The megane CUP-S has no cup holder.... how ironic :D

[@djkonflikt713]

lmaooo seriously?

[@DutchMastermind]

+djkonflikt713 xD

[@Chrisf1990]

XD

[@BrianKongXD]

Weight reduction bro

[@DutchMastermind]

+Brian KongNam because racecar?

[@DevPack]

Love the Focus RS and A45 amg...both amazing. Ford is just building some world class cars right now.

[@dogetothemoon223]

+DevPack I agree at a much better price too.

[@justfunstuff5418]

I wish they give the cars the right amount of power like the mustang but I still love ford!!!

[@dogetothemoon223]

The beauty about the 2.3L 4-cyl engine is that you can easily tune it to get more power if you need it. I'll be getting an RS probably next year if not at the end of this year, can't wait.

[@jacobwigley2689]

Ford have always built world class cars if you ask me, but at the minute they do seem to be on top, in the past with the cosworth's for example they we're 2nd best to Lancia's, M3's and maybe R32 skylines too but now as a proud owner of the new ST (and a cosworth!) I can't think of a better car in its class!

[@justfunstuff5418]

+Jason Bourne yea your right as well but I want a ford that's has a great amount of power all around like the gt350 and also raw speed in stock I been a ford fan since I was born .

[@brianliu3380]

I love this video! It's the best test I've ever seen. Thank you! I own a 2013 Ford Focus ST and now I can't wait to get the 2016 Focus RS.

[@Templar2k2k]

Best car review I've ever seen so far, fun, technical (I did hit pause twice), objective and in the end gave a great view of the cars involved in different settings. Thank you.

[@ApexIXMR]

Any other publication in the world: "Damn, it's going to rain. Better postpone the test" UK publications: "It's raining. Just another day. Fuck it."

[@PubsWubs]

Great video guys, would have loved to see a drag between all 10 though

[@stinger15au]

+PubsWubs can already tell you the result. The RS3 winning by 2 tenths over the A45, the focus next, then the rest.

[@stinger15au]

Tab Tiurf the A45 isn't faster, we know this. The RS3 does a 12.19, have also seen it backed up with 12.24, 12.26 the FASTEST stock A45 Ihave seen is 12.42, most in the 12.5 range.

[@stinger15au]

Tab Tiurf for the RS3 motor australia got 12.24@113mph, autobild got 12.19, Every video on the internet has the RS3 faster to 60mph, 100mph. For comparison motor got 12.42 for the A45@112mph. Same day, same conditions. They also clocked the RS3 3.95sec to 62mph, the A45 4.19 sec to 62mph. So what does this tell us. it tells us the RS3 is making way more than its advertised power, somewhere in the region of 385 to 390hp. Since it is much faster than its "claim". The A45 may make more on paper, the RS3 has more in the midrange in the real world. 80-120kph the RS3 is .2sec faster despite a gearing and weight disadvantage, the reason why its faster is because the makes more torque over a longer rpm range. That isn't personal bias, but the cold hard numbers. As for exclusivity, i guess it depends on where you are, here in Australia at least, there is 10 A45's for every RS3. Of course I like the RS3, but I know its limits as well, ill freely admit, when pushed to 100% on a track, it will understeer and generally be less fun than the other "hot hatches" But the reality is, its not a hot hatch, its a day to day road weapon. The near pace of a supercar with the practicality of a hatch. It sounds amazing, it draws attention when wanted, but subtle when not. Its a road car, NOT a track car. The A45 is fantastic, and if its gearbox was better and the interior was better, I might have gone for it, But Those were deal-breakers for me on a daily driven road car.

[@kurtrusellpatrickswayze]

+Tab Tiurf Your small town has 4 RS3s? Shit, do you live in Monaco?

[@zarakmaxful]

+Nich Rigga lots easier to lease or hire cars nowadays.

[@Yoni-G]

Great and entertaining review. And great scenery, especially in North Wales. Even the non-RS Focus is extremely well balanced, powerful, and a joy to drive (I have a Trend 1500 Turbo).

[@alexpalmer9379]

Focus RS is still my dream car

[@jennypenny7243]

Awesome job guys. A45 AMG is my pick through.

[@dschonsie]

+SuperSayanFitness mercedes and dacia? Since when?

[@azihanazuka]

👍

[@valmirsadiki536]

+James May I like the A45 AMG more it's more beautiful and it's pretty damn fast

[@verzekeringsadviseur]

+James May and what if you had only 32.000 pounds?

[@valmirsadiki536]

***** We are not talking about budget in here we're talking about the cars we love.if i had those money i wouldn't buy neither of them cuz I love Mercedes

[@recpro7847]

I had an ST when they first came out. I've never driven anything that could compare to it. I can only imagine what the RS is like. Job well done, Blue Oval.

[@malcolmh5736]

I had an ST3 and loved it. I test drove the ST and GTI both 3 times and the ST won for sure! I have a new RS now and it is an awesome car!

[@pfwww12]

Omg same. That rally car steering and push is crazy for such a small car.

[@supercarsofchester4319]

That Focus RS is just beautiful! Great video as well!

[@ikybaiiki]

Ford Focus RS deserves this crown 👍🏼

[@Apple-ct9wc]

FUCK SHIT 1 track, 1 car, 1 driver doesn’t mean a thing...

[@tassoskoutsoubas4510]

agree fully!

[@FordNewsEurope]

Nice group test. It's a rather long watch, but well worth sticking through for the best part: which is just before the end.

[@ditchy1mini]

+Ford Europe its swung me to get one!

[@emgaming2004]

I'll stick with the old rs500

[@revoltoff]

+Ford Europe How much did you guys pay them so that the Focus would be 1st place?

[@danielchia23]

+Revolt agree

[@FordNewsEurope]

Euan Matthew​ still a good choice.

[@vincentlee9638]

This is the best comparison test ever in quite a long time. Keep up the good work guys! A similar comparison for some affordable coupes would be prefered

[@ChristopherPovey]

+David Cloud Depends on which manufacturer pays for it. That's the one what will win. ;)

[@vincentlee9638]

+Christopher Povey I chose to believe 3 companies paid to get their product through the first round :) As they are not being very fair imo

[@JonQuirkUK]

+Christopher Povey Thanks for watching and for your comments, Christopher. As the editor of AutoTrader, I can assure you that no manufacturer £££ were used to support the production of this group test. This was an editorially controlled and editorially funded group test with the single, consumer-focussed aim of finding Britain's best hot hatch. Our highly experienced road testers, both on screen and off, take this responsibility (and impartiality) incredibly seriously so there was no pre-conceived outcome. The Focus RS has just gone on sale in the UK and was merely our catalyst for conducting the test. Hope that helps to clarify. Best, J

[@dushyantx]

+David Cloud agreed

[@kenwhite98]

@@JonQuirkUK9ooo

[@fahmidkhondaker3791]

Great video, just came across your channel now! I'll definitely be watching the rest of your videos! Keep up the great work guys.

[@Jikangire957]

An exceptionally well done comparison between the Focus RS, AMG A45, and the Renault 275 Cup-S! I was really hoping you wouldn't automatically tag the Mercedes as the winner just because it was a Mercedes, and you did not! The information you provided in every test, from track running to every day practical use, is spot on! You get a well deserved Like and Subscribe from me!

[@TsuiFelix]

I have been searching for a good review and comparison of hot hatches for long time. And here I have found from Auto Trader. Thanks! Well done guys!

[@TheOutdoorFun]

Who needs TopGear. Good camera, Good editing and Good hosts. More videos please.

[@realbeef6538]

This was a great video guys. As an American I am jealous of your country side. I will definitely be watching more of your videos.

[@Goriaas]

Pros: Automatic Gearbox wait what?

[@sinnersspeed472]

Goriaas I'm assuming they're talking about the functionality of the auto, not the fact that it is a auto.

[@AliSalahat]

Goriaas they mean that there's an optional automatic gearbox

[@jonnathanjean7071]

A ladies car

[@GraveUypo]

at 34 years old i'm buying my first automatic. Kinda tired of manuals all the time. although i made sure i got a model that supports manual shifting.

[@BennyJ69]

@@GraveUypo I feel like it's a swap you have to do some point in your life. Fuck manual clutches 😂

[@dallasbagley]

Went to Ford the other day, in hopes of checking out the new RS. And they were sold out before any of them ever arrived. Bummer. That car looks absolutely amazing!

[@martin8uq]

+Dallas Bagley Went to Polar Ford in St Helens to be told I cant even buy a car! (problems with their computer system) walked past 400 cars in the sale, and went to Honda - Brilliant!

[@FastRedPonyCar]

+Dallas Bagley - I've had several dealers offer me a place in line to buy one but they all are commanding 3~4K over MSRP and no one is budging on that due to the demand. Not worth it IMO. I got my 2016 Golf R for $37k and I just don't see the RS being worth 4~5k more than that. I'm not exactly suffering.

[@matthewd6306]

+Dallas Bagley I was on there first contact list to order an RS. I declined because I was in the process of buying my first house. If they just called me a few months later I would have jumped all over it.

[@malachiashley528]

Coolest, awesomest car video I've seen in months. Well done! Subscribed!

[@Betterdays248]

awesome awesome reviews, great gathering selections of vehicles, awesome roads and great commentary, had my attention all along good music and interactive with the pause experience.

[@trunker007]

Great review from Auto Trader, bought back good memories from watching top gear, you all should've been on the new set up 10/10

[@rolo_061]

35 minutes of my lunch break well spent!

[@gmannym3]

A truly awesome and detailed comparison test. As expected, the Focus RS won :-) My only wish would have been to see the laptimes of all these cars in the dry, but weather wasn't permitting, I guess. Thanks once again for this!

[@JonQuirkUK]

+gmannym3 Thanks for watching! Indeed, we only had access to Anglesey for two days and day one was rain. Incessant, relentless, sideways rain. That said, it was very interesting to see how dynamically consistent cars like the Ford Focus RS were in wet or dry conditions. And how others were less so...

[@gmannym3]

+Jon Quirk Thanks for the response. Perfectly understandable regarding the limitations due to weather. Living here in the northeast USA, we get nearly every weather condition imaginable, so I think that consistency in dynamics that you speak of makes the RS a win in my book as well. I can't wait to see it arrive on our shores.

[@joobaggs6886]

+Jon Quirk those pilot super sports are killer in the wet too!

[@gmannym3]

+joo baggs from their description in the video of the vehicle's equipment/options, it sounded as if their RS was fitted with the Pilot Sport Cup 2s (which are not as good in the wet as the Super Sports). Hmmm 🤔

[@AutoTraderTV]

+Ken Healy All the cars were tested both days.

[@thelocustemperor]

A few more wouldn't hurt, Hyundai Veloster, Mini Cooper, Mazda 3 MPS...

[@decaygrim8943]

Those cars are all gay as fuck and hella slow compared to the video cars lol

[@dallasmellsop5488]

@@decaygrim8943 wow your thick, 0-60 in 5.8 for the mps is faster then the pug, megane, and same as type r? Some people 🙄😂

[@blackops070771]

i was always a big fan of alfa romeo, 147GTA was my favorite hot hatch untill now i guess.,but thisFord RS...is my next ride!!!! Great work guys!

[@jackvanepps7301]

I'm gonna buy one soon!

[@Oldpainless]

Thanks AutoTrader for a great in depth test and review which we need to see more of on youtube from other channels. It's good to know that the RS will hold its value better too compared with the others in the test. I have one on order and really looking forward to it. Would be good to see dry lap times too if you did them.

[@soundseeker63]

Great in-depth test! Nice to see the emphasis placed on road driving fun rather than lap times and drag races, as is often the case. Also great to see ownership costs and practicality factored in. More reviewers should do that! I agree the RS is the best combination of fun, speed, practicality and value. I must admit the A45 is desirable, but at 40k, so it darn well should be!

[@lefora87]

ain't seen such good content in a while...subscribed.

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

A great review of hot hatches. Looking forward to seeing more of these.

[@Feintgames]

Awesome video. Watched to the end. Very well done comparisons and well thought out. Nice job. Cool cinematography and editing too.

[@gazman9468]

Interesting test and I'd agree that the CIvic is a lesson in how much power you can put through front wheels - in fact I wish it had less power but remained NA as opposed to just another turbo 4. Still impressive that it was also the only one to give the AWD cars a run for their money in lap time being almost 2secs ahead of the other FWD's on test including the Megane that the reviewers love so much.

[@TheExergamer]

Superb review guys - just subscribed - really enjoyed it it, thanks.

[@LESHEWIN]

Amazing video. Great job! better then all those bigger reviewers, make more long lengthy videos we appreciate them. Next for me its still the A45 cause each time you get in and start it its materials and finish does it for me. Not everyday you will drive your car hard lets be honest the merc is a better all rounder in terms of power it blows your mind away yes there is not much driver feel as the ford or renault but at the end of day its about that one sparkling feel that only the mercy can provide. No offence to the rest its my personal opinion and it may vary for others. Anyways great video well done! make more of this and i am pretty sure you will get the viewers in.

[@ryancooper73]

Props to the Mégane RS, released in 2009 and competing in the top 3 against 2015 high tech 4WD hot hatches... makes me wonder how good the next gen Mégane RS could be.

[@storyclips]

I am fraid not as good as this one...just like the clio😨😨😨😨

[@shaunstst]

did i just watch a 35 minute ford advertisement?

[@AutoTraderTV]

+Shaun Pugh Hi all. Just to make it absolutely clear, THIS IS NOT SPONSORED CONTENT. We weren’t paid a penny by Ford - or anyone else - to do this test, or deliver this result. This is a genuine, robust and thorough group test in which the final three weren’t known until the discussion scene took place, let alone the winner. Sponsored content does occasionally appear on this channel, granted, but when it does, it’s marked clearly so there’s no confusion. People may not agree with our choice of winner, and that’s fine because everyone has their own opinions and priorities. We do, however, stand by it. Thanks for watching.

[@bobbybawbager]

same!! talking shit like the scooby hasnt changed in ten years lol yet it won track car of the year!! lmao XD

[@naysaynever]

+Shaun Pugh no, you didn't. these guys are not the only ones that are saying that the ford is amazing, many other reviewers have said very similar things. you're just being overly cynical

[@MrKeyboardCommando]

+Auto Trader " The lady doth protest too much, methinks. O, but she'll keep her word. ". Don't get your knickers in a twist, girls, you're not being accused of taking backhanders; just sycophancy.😅😅😅

[@Ze-Germanzuk]

+BillyTwinkle Have you ever driven one? It's well known in the car community that Subaru has changed basically nothing in the last 10-15 years, yes they are still great cars but it's a fact they have barely changed a thing. Like he said to a lot of people it will feel old fashioned and a bit cheap but amongst purists and real car enthusiasts that like a more hands on car that doesn't drive itself.

[@GurtyVideos]

Awesome video! Thanks for the info. I've been dying to get one of these Focus RS

[@BerserkFury89]

This comparison was just wonderful. Full of facts along with great explanations of how the cars make you feel. I saw one of these AMG A45's fly by me on a B road last week, the way it sounded and how flat it looked going over a hill made my heart rate spike. However with that price difference it's really hard to justify it over the RS.

[@anonharingenamn]

I don't understand why people are downvoting this? Salty Audi owners?

[@Montblanc1986]

evo x would have been a great entry

[@AutoTraderTV]

+Kazak Thranduil You can't by one new in the UK anymore, so we couldn't offer that up as a choice in a new car test. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@matthewd6306]

+Kazak Thranduil The new STI tops the EVO on the track and the Focus RS beat the STI by 2 seconds in this test. EVO X is a great car but outdated.

[@carluyabut2824]

+Kazak Thranduil That would have been an awesome wildcard cameo for the Evo

[@Dzver000]

+Auto Trader Is the Astra VXR available ?? Cuz that is a good hatchback car too ..

[@vulcanproject]

+Kazak Thranduil Yeah, the Evo X is like the Subaru, prehistoric really in new car terms. Mitsubishi knew this and already discontinued it. The interior was badly dated and cheap, the engine old, thirsty, dirty (emissions wise) and turbo lagged to the eyeballs. WRX and Evo X are now cars from a bygone era, this new generation of AWD super hatches are superior in virtually every measurable metric.

[@ethannewhouse7541]

Whole-heartily agree with you. It's been too long since we have seen a Ford RS and this one is a worthy successor to the lineage.

[@luciengranger2762]

After 5 years and the Ford still looks amazing till this day... 😍 👌🏽

[@danaichinyenze2105]

Insane review that covered all of today's hottest hatches, not (and most likely never) to be conducted anywhere else. And all bases covered too! Auto Trader for the win :)

[@sniper2606]

While i do like the Mercedes better on looks and interior, i feel like people are bias towards the Mercedes just because its a "Mercedes"

[@sniper2606]

Well thats why i picked it as well. The point i was trying to make was simply the fact that people will always pick a Mercedes over a ford lol

[@Nakke144]

+The Truth LOL you again. You are biased as f towards Merc.

[@Nakke144]

The Truth It lost to the Focus. The Merc is ugly, too heavy, too expensive and has shit steering. And not a proper manual gearbox. And Mercedes reliability is VERY bad. "The Focus RS is simply the best hot hatch money can buy."

[@shaunsimpson3499]

+Nakke144 the merc is lighter than the focus

[@AlDim000]

+The Truth There are also people like me who are not Ford fans and couldn't care less about Mercs. I just look at what the car can do. In this case I think the A45 is a fairly exciting car due to its engine, but it's got a rather shitty Haldex AWD system just like the Golf R (that's why they kept saying it felt "heavy" in the comparisons even though the RS is actually heavier). In terms of driving excitement and dynamics, I'd pick the RS or an STI any time over the rest of these cars.

[@dream-_weaver4769]

That was one hellava' review!! I was so intrigued I watched every second when normally I'm gone in 5 min. Well done indeed!

[@REDEEL16]

Great video! so wanted the amg and want with focus, gotta say after 8 months of owning RS its sic as but gotta keep rippin it to bits to enjoy it, I’m happy

[@zGJungle]

Top quality upload, big fan of hot hatches and you chose a good selection to compare, presenters that seemed sound, subscribed.

[@JustSayin993]

I like the dynamic of you three guys. A comprehensive test too. Well done

[@BOOSTEDDUDE]

Excellent review guys! I gotta say I was very impressed when I took a Ford Focus ST out on a test drive not long ago. It impressed me quite a bit more than I thought it would! However, the GTI beat it for all out refinement. Not to mention I'm a huge VW fan.

[@TheRossicle]

Well, of course I agree with you... I bought a Focus RS here in the US! Fascinating lineup you had. That Mercedes looked like a monster! Glad I made the right choice. (Also glad Ford finally brought RS to the States!)

[@robotman321]

Just more reasons for me to get excited for my RS to arrive in the next few months! Fantastic video :D

[@westlylewis1]

i think you guys did an extremely good job on this comparison test. it felt real, fluid, honest, well thought through. the writing along with your delivery felt engaging. i truly felt like i was one of the boys. a fourth passenger (tester). well done lads. btw i totally agree with you. the ford is mega and deserves its spot!!

[@mateuszslezionski31]

The best test I've ever seen! Great!

[@dallasmellsop5488]

I'm not to sure about that well at all tbf, they were good with the surface stuff, but deeper then that uhhhhhhhh noooooo

[@danielhelu493]

Excellent work guys, One of the best comparatives I've seen, the only thing missing is the translation into Spanish because my English is very very basic. Thank you

[@FakeSTi555]

that's a brilliant test, wonderful scenery, and finally agreed with your top 3,

[@Memories-_]

This was actually really well filmed and edited Very good content Thumbs up

[@FLRSKLVR]

UK car testers will always put the Focus RS in front of everything else, it's like a car god.

[@DarthTed369]

Pistonheads didn't... ;-)

[@TC-db5fm]

Because most UK car testers and U.S. Testers are either as blind or as brainwashed as those who voted trump for president thinking he'd be a successful leader

[@letsroll2463]

funny cause i see alot of mustangs and other ford vehicles on the road , and there a dime a dozen. Not a ford fan btw but i do like the Ford GT and the RS is rubbing off me a little

[@djwarren5081]

Bought myself a Focus RS a few weeks ago and I am really pleased with it. Great fun.

[@steeldevil98]

Has it broken down yet?

[@bdr1414TV]

if there's one word to describe the 3 cars megan = purity focus = balance A45 = quality

[@zarakmaxful]

M135i = versatility

[@TheRatchet35]

+Steven Ross-watt We all know you can't transport a nuclear warhead in the BMW. ;)

[@zarakmaxful]

+TheRatchet35 haha not in the back seat anyway. Terrible space in the rear. But overall very well refined according to reviewers.

[@Bluelizard87]

+bdr hsin lol, A45 = the real winner

[@BabySkinCondom]

+bdr hsin type r = vtech brah

[@Bluelizard87]

How they decided that the ford focus was better than the mercedes AMG A45 which has more horsepower, better looks, better practicality, better sound, better interior, better quality, and even freaking canards on the front is beyond me.

[@alexmotors4172]

First of all the rs is cheaper and more reliable than the A45, and other things The RS will be better is modified it

[@aakashpsf]

+Alex Cuevas the reliability in mercs of today are great. I would say that they are both reliable

[@rickyallen3773]

Actually the merc has a worse interior than the rs, although the rs isn't a special looking car

[@aaronellison4775]

+BlueLizard87 To answer your question, go back to 15:44.

[@Bluelizard87]

Alex Cuevas Price is a big thing to consider when buying the car but not when judging how good it is, the price was higher because it was the best, engineering perfection comes at a price.

[@ghostking0019]

I think you're right in your choice of cars the ones eliminated and the ones left and ironically the same order; that being said i have subscribed

[@carranzajonathan1991]

Wow, I loved this video! Hot hatches have a special place in my heart lol

[@hammadkaka]

Great video! Watched the entire thing. More of these

[@HENRYHOBBS1]

excellent video auto trader,keep up the good work 👍

[@michaelhesford5191]

I totally agree 💙 great choice!! I’ve also test drove most of the cars you picked and the focus was to me the best and now I’m a proud owner 😎

[@jackvanepps7301]

Congrats. I want one

[@godlamma1792]

Facts, the RS is way more of a blast to drive, speed ain’t everything

[@michaelhesford5191]

God Lamma defo mate 🚙💭

[@nicholas4611]

I'm a Ford Focus SE owner and I love it. Considering an RS upgrade. The ST is nice but I'm after the AWD feature. Thanks guys. I vicariously lived your experience.

[@lukeeddy]

A thoroughly brilliant video, for me the AMG is my personal favourite with the focus coming a close second but I'd be happy with either. Well done 👍🏻

[@ImEnhalos]

hate how you guys ruled cars out because of wet traction, that a lot of tire and not the actual car

[@subzerotohero6320]

Thanks guys, Very useful input & quite timely.

[@kapolani9539]

Just picked up an RS. I haven't had this much fun in a long time. Special car for sure!

[@tylerhoagland1535]

I just ordered mine! super stoked for it!

[@steeldevil98]

Have you broke down yet

[@kapolani9539]

@@steeldevil98 I did get rid of it. I had to replace the head for the recall. Car never ran right after that. Got rid of it! It was a great car, but didn't want to deal with the headache. Looking at getting into an M5 or RS7.

[@steeldevil98]

@@kapolani9539 yeah it's a shame, I'm not sure why Ford can't build a reliable engine these days.

[@davidlegkodukh6969]

@@kapolani9539 I have no idea if you bought anything yet. But the M5 sedan is one of the FASTEST cars in the world Top 5. Beating many super cars. If you want the best performance

[@DreamCarGarage1]

I knew from the beginning they were going to go for the Ford, I wouldn't be surprised if Ford was in fact the sponsor. That said it is a pretty sweet looking thing. If it were my own money however I think I'd go all out for the Merc or maybe eve the banzai Type R. I saw one the other day in metallic grey and it just looked epic! Failing that for everyday usability it would be hard to look past the Golf R.

[@BERGERJeah]

I bet it wasn't sponsored by Ford at all, they just liked the RS best. And the RS badge has been only on some of the best Fords ever built. I'm getting an RS, so yeah I like it. But, the Merc was badass, but you also play 10,000 more for it. Which hurts your average pocket book. And as for looks Type R is the sexiest looking hatch back on the market. But the review was based on everything, the all around package. That's where the RS delivered.

[@DreamCarGarage1]

BERGERJeah My man I hear you. Good points. Which would be your choice?

[@AutoTraderTV]

+/Dream Car Garage 1 (DCG1) Hi all. Just to make it absolutely clear, THIS IS NOT SPONSORED CONTENT. We weren’t paid a penny by Ford - or anyone else - to do this test, or deliver this result. This is a genuine, robust and thorough group test in which the final three weren’t known until the discussion scene took place, let alone the winner. Sponsored content does occasionally appear on this channel, granted, but when it does, it’s marked clearly so there’s no confusion. People may not agree with our choice of winner, and that’s fine because everyone has their own opinions and priorities. We do, however, stand by it. Thanks for watching.

[@Porschelover456]

The comparation is pointless, because the cars where tested on a wet track! The amg is slower than the rs3 in a 1/4 mile race, the Golf 7 is beating the Ford Focus in any aspect, and know the RS is better than the Golf 7 R? Is very intresting that cars like: jaguar, range rover, ford, aston martin, mclaren wins only in british tests:)) We don't know why....Something is very special about this cars when they perform in Britain. They chose the car they like the most, not the cars that are better from an objective and tehnical perspective. Ok, i like ford, so ford should be the winner! I like x, so it should win the test! This is an amateur test!

[@terencekuzgundehaas5025]

+Auto Trader Well its a stupid Comparison.... kick the 4 wd cars.... because they have a league of their own

[@batman291]

Why not the M2? Would be more fair to compare that to the A45 and the RS3.

[@Malc180s]

+Anders Olsson It's not a hatch? Isn't the answer really obvious?

[@batman291]

+Malc180s Is the Subaru ?

[@Shabec2982]

+Anders Olsson a45 and rs3 are hot hatches. Yes, you are right about the subie but... Even though it's not a HH the fan base and support (people likely to buy it) are in fact HH guys and gals so I see why they included it.

[@clivereid]

+Malc180s True...although it is a competitor for some of the higher-priced cars in this test. I'd rather have one over the A45 etc.

[@Malc180s]

Anders Olsson There isn't an equivalent subaru hatch. Why not a cayman?

[@Axwell-fg2jb]

The new Honda is a bit disappointing in that test... losing to the way older Renault. A-class and Focus are really awesome!

[@24motor22]

Tires. They are shit, it was mentioned over and over again and they still are breaking them fwd records with those shitty plastic tyres.

[@daviddouillet4138]

Passionate and informative with a touch of humor, theses three could form a good trio for the new Top Gear.

[@Afgelope1]

deserves more views, great Review guys.

[@d33pNacho]

Quite unsurprisingly,the Ford wins as it does in most UK tests (no matter which Ford model,no matter the rivals,UK is SO in love with Ford!). I don't think it's a fair winner as the Mercedes proved best in almost every test.But the thing that really annoys me is Megane's 3rd position.Both the Leon Cupra in its latest configuration (nearly 300hp) and the 308 in its 270hp version are faster,more refined,more modern (or should I say "not so old"),better looking,probably less thirsty and more technological.And both of them are actually close to the Renault in price.So,not the fairest of comparisons but it was fun anyway.

[@PR-fs9os]

The Type-R is the fastest of all of these at the Nurburgring and a few other tracks. It's got the best 6 speed manual of this entire group. It's at least ~200lbs lighter than any of the AWD options.

[@veinssvise6775]

Boooo.

[@MrDanrx]

Disclaimer - I own an A45. I test drove the Focus RS before buying. For 4 days. The A45 is, by a long stretch, the more rounded car. The interior reminds you that you're actually in something special, the RS has like 15 badges trying to tell you that. The Benz does it the second you open the door. Drift mode - awesome. Shame the A45 doesn't have it. If it did, there is no test on the planet that it wouldn't win.

[@Rolilasx]

5:31, pros : automatic gearbox ? WHAT THE FUCK ? Nice video though.

[@OussamaErraji]

+Rolilasx It is one of the best auto trans out there

[@Fed.Smoker]

+Oussama Erraji They should have wrote something about it being a good transmission not "automatic gearbox"

[@Rolilasx]

Yes, I agree

[@markjones2547]

what a selection of cars. epic review

[@MandeepPanesarkenya]

Great episode. There's a lot of really nice hot hatches out there, very exciting times. If i could, I'd find the extra 10k and go for the merc A45 personally. I'm not that keen on the way it looks, but that exhaust sound and the AMG "one man, one engine" philosophy although a bit of a gimmick is very seductive. It is highly practical daily driver and comfortable too. Some of the other cars certainly offer a lot more bang for the buck and near identical performance like the ford and audi. For me it comes down to budget, if i had the money, i'd go for the merc, if not, there are so many other choices which are almost equally as good going down to the very comparatively cheap Megane which is great. Everyone's a winner lol

[@Tommymazzel]

Very nice test! I would be very interested in the same test again with the same cars but then all with a stage 1 chip.

[@3goalex]

Absolutely agree with the final result I love all the cars of the review but I think the Focus has the best balance. Thanks for this great review. You have make me smile with the sound test, I´ve enjoyed with you the explosions of the exhausts.

[@jamiep61]

No other Motoring Website won't a Big Group Test like this

[@dhruvsinghpal8737]

A45 amg quite aggressive best low end torque best seats but still prefer focus rs,fun to drive,handling

[@alanthecat59]

superb vid best hot hatch comp iv seen

[@justpassingthrough...6128]

My RS should be arriving here in Chicago... early July. Happy times almost here.

[@Gasinduced]

Great review guys! Regarding the speccing up of the Meg, Recaro's absolutely. If you can't afford them ,go into debt to get them. The Sportster CS is an amazing seat. Ohlins if you have the coin, the wheels are a bit of a pain to clean and are a subjective choice I guess. I personally don't rate them. Alcantara wears faster than leather but does feel very "race car". The infotainment system will never be as good as a smart phone so I'd leave that out too. For a 6 year old chassis it's impressive to still be a contender in some of these reviews. Merc just doesn't appeal to me despite the power and grip. The Focus just keeps winning hearts and minds all over. I'd love to drive one.

[@ashfordtaxis2907]

Great all round fun & a light hearted test of these amazing hot hatches. I agree the Ford RS the best all rounder. Very entertaining too.

[@DunkyThicc]

In the US we only have a few of these car available and chose an RS. Rains 9 months out of the year, roads are crap with grit, dirt and Leaves so the car does very well. Payed only 2k over MSRP. Lots of twisty tight back roads here where the car does some amazing things. At low speeds the car is a little stiff even in normal mode but not unbearable, after about 50mph you can see why the suspension is so stiff, nothing unsettles it. I noticed something a lot of people who review the car don't do is giving the car a little gas in the corner instead of just power on exit. If you continue to give it a little power it helps rotate the rearend because the rear diff will speed up the rotation to the back wheels by 1.8 times. Its fun, I like it. I was looking at getting a new 2017 CTR and a few dealerships had one but they were asking $54K, $59K and the other was auctioning it off. Wanted AWD for the weather conditions and roads here, owned 2 different GEN si's and a TSX. Love hondas but FWD at that price compared to available cars just doesn't make sense for me. I wish we had a few more options here in the US for Hot Hatches but we are limited. Golf R most refined, most liveble and best looking interior hands down out of the options we have here, STi's are amazing cars but everyone and their mom has one here in the NW and they like to charge a hefty asking price because of the popularity, but for the North West the car is a beast and makes back roads and conditions a non -issue. I don't know why the comment sections on car videos becomes a pissing match, a true car enthusiast appreciates the details and engineering in all cars aimed at performance on a budget. Drivers drive and enjoy the car they are in. If you have a smile on your face as you come over that blind crest or get a good chuckle out of the last corner you apexed on your way to the local market then who cares. Enjoy the drive.

[@Focusclubtr]

Thanks guys, great video.

[@stinger15au]

Ill take the fastest day to day, the nicest sounding, the nicest inside.......the RS3, don't really care if it under-steers at the limit on a track in wet, never going to happen in the real world.

[@stinger15au]

Tab Tiurf at the very limit on a track yes. But on the road its really not that bad. On the street there is just tons of traction, the gearbox is excellent (much faster than the a45's, more responsive and less overriding). Dont get me wrong, the rs3 is not perfect, it has its faults like any car, its just that its main issues (price, understeer at the limit, subtle looks) just are not relevant to me and to the vast majority who buy the car. Clearly the focus is better value, and may even be a more engaging drive, but the reality is i have other cars that are brtter than all these hatches for track work, wjen i drive the rs3 its for comfort, ambiance, speed and sound all of which it is great at.

[@jamesrothwell8693]

+stinger15au Small slightly irreverent point but the Bang&Olufsen system in the RS3 is superb, just another thing to make it shine as a great daily driver but yeah on the track they're not great.

[@stinger15au]

Tab Tiurf In Australia the sports exhaust is standard so yep :) Pretty much everyone I have met ask's me what exhaust is on it, they don't believe it is factory. Mine is the sepang blue but I do like the nardo, I just couldn't pull the trigger on it so went blue instead. I have noticed that matt grey is becoming pretty popular in merc & bmw too The focus RS is good, but I am now at a stage in life where as a daily driver its just too compromised, and as a track car it is compromised too. As a "hot" hatch, it might be the best of the bunch from a dynamics POV, but I expect more from a car than that. So I have different cars for different purposes and am lucky to be in that position. The Bmw M2 I drove has the same problems, fantastic chassis, great steering, precise turn in, slip at the back on command and idrive was all good. But for 110k (cost in Australia) - the sound is synthesised from the speakers(I mean Really, who does that), no adaptive dampers (its quite firm all the time then understandably), no blindspot warning, no front parking sensors, the armrest moved on its own several times, the seats are not comfortable, the dakota leather is the same as you would find on a 118i, Several times the gearbox refused my downshift, or didn't execute double upshifts (VERY annoying), It took me 10mins to find a good seating position and even then because I am short the gauges were obstructed, the gauges are hard to read in the sunlight and from last decade, the digital speedo is about font size 1, the drycarbon is real but feels fake with a bad texture to it, there was a rather large rattle coming from the parcel shelf, and a bunch of other little things, I could go on but I think my point is made. Its these things that would drive me insane after a few weeks and is simply not good enough for a 110k car. The RS3 is not perfect by any means, but as a daily driver it is fantastic and its main faults just are not relevant 99% of the time. What the press really don't get is that in the real world, life is busy and for most people who don't own 50 cars, cars have to be good at many things. That is why the RS3 is great, its extremely fast with a great engine/exhaust note, the gearbox is smooth on takeup and very fast on shifts, manual mode is truly that - manual, practical, subtle most of the time, shouty when you want, its a lovely place to sit with typical fantastic audi build quality, its comfortable, great sound system, immense traction & grip. It just does so many thing extremely well. It is expensive, but it is expensive for a a reason, partly because they can charge that much, but secondly because imo at least it is worth the premium...if you have that much to spend. For reference sake in Australia RS3 is 90 to 100k A45 AMG is 90k - good value at that price M2 pure - 100k - lacking lots of features M2 DCT - 110k - overpriced imo Golf R - 58k - good value here Focus RS - 55k - Again good value here Audi S3 - 68-70k

[@stinger15au]

Tab Tiurf yeh the M2 looks great, no problems with the looks. The RS3 is defiantly very subtle on the looks front, some like it, some don't. I like the subtle looks. The M2 engine looks like a N54 with a tune and some nicer insides, while the S3 to RS3 gets you a completely different and characterful engine.

[@stinger15au]

Tab Tiurf defiantly a reasonable choice. Every year the cars get better

[@dancecolin393]

great review guys :) imho id buy a hot hatch for driving experience, so i would go all the way with the megane. you see too many ford and mercs in the uk so those two are quite boring and too much trendy for me.

[@malcolmh5736]

Great and fun video! I've a 2018 RS and absolutely love it.