Used 2018 Ford Focus RS
Pros & Cons
- Huge turbo power from a small engine
- Clever all-wheel-drive system improves handling in the wet or dry
- Remarkably civil at low speeds
- Sport front seats might feel constricting to the wider-bodied
- Ride quality is quite stiff
- No automatic transmission available
Other years
Which Focus RS does Edmunds recommend?
Considering the limited-run nature of the 2018 Ford Focus RS, we recommend moving quickly. Those in chillier climates should consider the Winter Wheel and Tire package, as the standard summer tires are useless in the snow. The optional Michelin Cup tires are overkill with regard to grip, but you won't be able to find a set of four cheaper anywhere else.
Edmunds' Expert Review
Overall rating
7.6 / 10The 2018 Ford Focus RS has everything you'd expect from a sports car, including a high-output engine, super-sticky tires and stout brakes. Certainly, the RS is a blast to drive. Yet this hatchback also delivers a decent amount of utility.
The Focus RS fits squarely under the "hot hatch" category of cars, meaning it combines the utility of a hatchback commuter car with serious performance. But it also goes beyond more common hot hatches such as the Volkswagen GTI or Ford's own Focus ST. The RS' turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four makes 350 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, while its all-wheel-drive system can selectively bias power to individual wheels. It even has a drive setting that allows a tail-out "drifting" style of cornering easier.
This year marks the final run of this generation Focus RS. To send it off, Ford is providing a run of only 1,500 cars for North America, each outfitted with performance-enhancing options such as a front locking differential and lightweight forged wheels. We suspect this RS is going to be prized by enthusiasts for a long time to come.
Ford Focus RS models
The 2018 Ford Focus RS is a high-performance hatchback that is available in one fully loaded trim level. As this is the last year of its production, there are only a handful of options to choose from. The RS employs a turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four (350 hp, 350 lb-ft of torque) that is connected to a six-speed manual transmission. A torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system is standard.
Standard features include keyless entry, 19-inch wheels wrapped in summer tires, a Quaife limited-slip front differential, LED lights, RS badges throughout, a high-mounted rear spoiler, carbon-fiber interior accents, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a rearview camera, and Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system.
Aside from a moonroof, the Focus RS' options list mostly consists of tire options. Available Michelin Pilot Cup Sport 2 tires dramatically improve tire grip at a significant expense of tread life, while the Winter Wheel and Tire package provides smaller diameter (18-inch) wheels shod with Michelin winter tires.
Trim tested
Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Ford Focus RS (turbo 2.3L inline-4 | 6-speed manual | AWD).
NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2016, the current Focus RS has received some revisions, including the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in 2017 and newly standard features for 2018. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's Focus RS, however.
Scorecard
| Overall | 7.6 / 10 |
| Driving | 8.5 |
| Comfort | 7.5 |
| Interior | 7.0 |
| Utility | 7.5 |
| Technology | 7.0 |
Driving
8.5There's barely a mark against the Focus RS in terms of performance. Its torquey engine delivers solid power. Combine it with the trick all-wheel-drive system and powerful brakes, the RS is a backroad beast. But the RS' brakes, when cold, are grabby, and cold tires have low limits.
Acceleration
8.0A robust wallop of midrange power helps you forget the turbo lag under 2,500 rpm and the power drop after 6,000 rpm. Using launch control, the RS tears away from the line with a bit of wheelspin. The shift linkage isn't the most positive but it is quick. The sprint to 60 mph takes 4.9 seconds.
Braking
8.0The powerful and predictable Brembo brakes have a firm pedal feel and trustworthy feedback, but they can be a bit grabby when not up to temperature. Very heavy braking results in some rear-end instability, which is odd for an all-wheel-drive performance car. Spirited real-world driving produces no noticeable fade.
Steering
8.5Just off-center, the steering feels darty and takes some getting used to, but everything starts to feel more natural once the wheel passes the 10 or 2 o'clock position. Accuracy and feel are good, especially from a front-drive-based AWD performance car. The steering weight changes with drive mode but is never unduly heavy.
Handling
8.0Quick and clean or fast and ultra-aggressive, the RS can cover ground any way you like. The optional tires are temperamental and need heat to work properly. Some bumpy transitions result in the RS oscillating and hopping, likely a result of the all-wheel-drive system binding up under power. But grip is still impressive.
Drivability
9.0The RS benefits from a wonderfully flexible motor. It's happy being driven sedately as well as aggressively. The clutch takeup is easy. Despite the serious level of performance, the RS remains friendly and true to its humble Focus roots.
Comfort
7.5The seats, like the ride, are going to be a love-it-or-hate-it affair for most buyers. The seats are aggressive and supportive or tight and unnecessary, and the ride is either passable for its capability or unduly harsh and unforgiving. Either way, no one will have much room in the back seat.
Seat comfort
8.0These are possibly the most aggressively supportive seats on the market, and certainly in the class. We found the optional heated and power-adjustable leather-trimmed seats mostly comfortable and hugely supportive, even for long distances. Breathability is only fair, however.
Ride comfort
6.5The RS has two suspensions modes, "stiff" and "are you kidding me?" — the latter of which is the default setting in Track mode. Thankfully, settings can be selected independent of drive mode. It's best in its standard setting, which is acceptably aggressive. The Track setting is simply too much unless you're actually on a racetrack.
Noise & vibration
5.5It's hard to tell if there's any wind noise at high speeds because the huge amount of tire noise drowns everything else out, including the radio. At lower speeds, the cabin is vibration-free and seems to be well-insulated, letting in just enough engine growl and pops from the exhaust.
Climate control
7.0The vent size and placement could be better since the center vents are too narrow and the side vents are a bit too low. The interface is also a bit too low for quick changes and it looks dated, but the system does a good job of maintaining cabin temperature.
Interior
7.0The interior of the Focus RS is polarizing. The tall and tilted driving position provides good visibility but can feel awkward. Along those lines, some will find the layout busy, dated and ergonomically unfriendly. Others will see it as endearing and honest to the character of the RS.
Ease of use
6.5The RS is still a Focus on the inside. Quibbles arise over the usability and large real estate that Ford's Sync 3 infotainment systems demands. The menus in the instrument panel are slow to browse, and the climate controls are pushed low and are less convenient to access.
Getting in/getting out
6.5The pronounced lateral seat bolsters prevent front-seat occupants from simply sliding in to the RS. The optional leather accents make it a bit easier, but it's difficult to make an elegant entry or exit. Rear passengers have a much easier time provided the front seats are far enough forward.
Driving position
7.0The seating position in the RS seems unnaturally high. The flat-bottom steering wheel is of actual use since your knees are close to both it and the dashboard. It's not difficult to adjust to the unique seating position, and there's good visibility. Some editors found the shift lever too low.
Roominess
6.5Even though the driver sits tight to the steering wheel and the dashboard and the seats hold you firm, the cabin doesn't feels cramped or claustrophobic. Rear passengers won't have much legroom if the driver or front passenger is over 6 feet tall, but headroom and shoulder room won't be an issue.
Visibility
8.0There's plenty of glass and visibility out of the cabin. Only the view out the back seems a little pinched by a small rear window. The slightly awkward seating position does provide a commanding view of the road ahead. The blind-spot mirror inserts are of questionable value.
Quality
7.5The RS is generally well screwed together with tight gaps and no discernable rattles or squeaks. But some of the plastics, especially the piece around the touchscreen, are hard, which looks and feels cheap. The RS is still clearly based on an economy hatchback.
Utility
7.5The Focus RS trades none of its hatchback practicality for capability. Oversized items are easily swallowed, and even though the trunk floor is a little high and there's not a lot of room for larger car seats, this is a usable, everyday performance car.
Small-item storage
6.5Though there are plenty of places to put things, most of them seem not designed to hold anything specific. Most are slightly too large or too small for a given object and made solely of hard plastic. The rear storage bins outboard of the rear seats are a good example of odd sizing.
Cargo space
8.0There's plenty of room to load larger items, even if the floor of the trunk isn't very deep. The rear seats are a 60/40-split, making it easy to load in items over 6 feet long. Our only issue involves the cargo cover, which is a bit finicky to remove and reattach.
Child safety seat accommodation
6.0The LATCH anchors are where you'd expect them but they're difficult to access through the cushions. Larger car seats also might prove to be a bit of a struggle without moving the front seat far forward.
Technology
7.0Not only is the Focus platform aging, but its tech is also getting a little gray around the temples. Patches to make the RS Apple- and Android-friendly are available but the interface and presentation hold it back. The audio system receives high marks for its power and clarity.
Driver aids
7.5Stability control and tire-pressure monitoring are standard. The selectable drive modes have varying degrees of traction and stability management built in, but the stability control system can be fully disabled independent of the mode.
Voice control
5.0Because of the high levels of road noise in the RS, the voice recognition system had a difficult time responding to requests. Requests other than tuning to a radio station usually resulted in looking at the center screen prompts to decipher your options.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2018 Ford Focus RS.
Trending topics in reviews
- engine
- handling & steering
- appearance
- emission system
- wheels & tires
- maintenance & parts
- brakes
- seats
- interior
- comfort
- value
- ride quality
- reliability & manufacturing quality
- transmission
- sound system
- technology
- steering wheel
Most helpful consumer reviews
5/5 stars, GOAT, Performance Hatchback sold in North America
John Smith,
4dr Hatchback AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
Aside from being limited to just 1000 units in the United States, the 2018 has various minor tweaks from previous years. The most significant is the mechanical LSD up front. You might think the LSD wouldn't do much, considering the prior years already had torque vectoring with eLSD functionality upfront. Perhaps it may seem like an unnecessary change, done simply to do something for the 2018 model year. I assure you it’s nothing minor. The LSD makes a SIGNIFICANT improvement to the RS’s handling, and raises it to a whole other class. Literally, the 2018 RS is in a different class than prior years for things like SCCA autocross because the performance difference is so significantly better.
Other improvements, of some significance, for the 2018 model year include the higher standard equipment, with the prior “RS2” package as standard, interior carbon fiber bits, updated programing (to correlate with the LSD), updated dampers (to improve the ride), lowered seat frame rails, etc. Also, the 2018 models were all built late enough that they weren’t subject to the well known head gasket TSB a.k.a “recall” that prior model year could be, because Ford had since resolved the issue and built them with the correct Cosworth head gasket as intended, by the time the 2018’s were being built.
The RS is a performance variant built up from an economy car. It shares many bits with those. So, it doesn't blow you away with a luxury. However, the RS on a twisty backroad is sure to impress. It would be hard to find any car, even a purpose built sports car, to be much more fun on that sort of road. There are so many tweeks to the RS that even owners sometimes don’t realize, which combine to add up to a performance bargain. No, this isn’t a drag car, or even a decent drag platform, and it’s not a car for “40 rolls". That said, if you like hitting the twistys, enjoy gobs of traction, like a vehicle that makes you feel like a better driver than you probably (honestly) are, this is a vehicle that can deliver that and plant a smile on your face while doing so.
All of that said, the RS is over dampanded, IMO. Yes, even the 2018. There's loads of “fixes” but one of the simplest and most effective is the DSC sport controller. Look into it, it’s not hype, it’s real. They make a HUGE improvement and plug and play. They also hold their value very well, so the investment is minimal when considering the potential resell. If you have any concerns about suspension after reading other reviews about ride quality, just know that little device will help the RS ride as well as anything it was typically compared against, such as a Golf R.
5/5 stars, Super capable Super fun
Joe,
4dr Hatchback AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
I’ve waited a long time for the MK to arrive stateside and the 3rd gen doesn’t disappoint. Yes the ride is firm and at times bouncy (new springs will help that). All that dissapears to nothing when you press the throttle and feel a wall of TQ shoving you against the seat. The trick rear drive unit is AMAZING. Wanna pop the back end out a little around that 90 degree turn? Press Drift and apply throttle. So much fun....snow? Even more fun with less $ going up in smoke in the form of tires. The exhaust pops as I slip around corners makes me feel like a WRC driver. A -Mazing. I cart my boys around, do grocery duty then hit a track on the weekend and put up some really good LapTimes all the while grinding. I will NEVER own a FWD sports car again. ...way too much fun with this....
5/5 stars, Great car, even with recall for cylinder head
dan wasdahl,
4dr Hatchback AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
I upgraded to this from a wrx sti. The handling is superior, with remarkably precise steering. Torque biasing via differential braking makes tight turns at speed a joy. Chassis is well balanced. The car is a joy to drive, almost as fun as my Lotus. Maintenance issues (clutch master cylinder, head gasket recall) have arisen, but were fixed under warranty without difficulty. I would definitely buy one of these again if they continued to make them.
5/5 stars, I traded up.
Gordon Day,
4dr Hatchback AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
I traded a 16 ST,for this sexy beast of a vehicle. I could of put a crap-load of money into the ST,but it's still going to be an ST. The awd in this vehicle,outweighs having 500+hp ST. Plus the looks on this vehicle,is soo much better than the ST. The nitrous blue is one sexy looking color. The 2018 Limited Edition,basically the last year of owning an RS,in the usa. I bought the RS for the history,and you'll find alot less RS,than you will an ST. I read about the ride quality,but it isn't as bad once you press that accelerator. The Inside for the price you pay for the vehicle isn't upscale,but I bought the car for the performance. I ain't rich,and 40k is alot more than 22k otd for an ST,but the all around package is well worth it.
2018 Ford Focus RS video
2016 Ford Focus RS Acceleration Test
NOTE: This video is about the 2016 Ford Focus RS, but since the 2018 Ford Focus RS is part of the same generation, our earlier analysis still applies.
Our experts review the 2016 Ford Focus RS. How fast can the 2016 Ford Focus RS hatchback go? Edmunds Road Test Manager Jonathan Elfalan hits the quarter-mile at California Speedway in Fontana, California, to test out the 350-horsepower hot hatch's acceleration prowess.
Features & Specs
- Base MSRP
- $41,120
- MPG & Fuel
- 19 City / 26 Hwy / 22 Combined
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 13.4 gal. capacity
- Seating
- 5 seats
- Drivetrain
- Type: all wheel drive
- Transmission: 6-speed manual
- Engine
- Inline 4 cylinder
- Horsepower: 350 hp @ 6000 rpm
- Torque: 350 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm
- Basic Warranty
- 3 yr./ 36000 mi.
- Dimensions
- Length: 172.8 in. / Height: 58.0 in.
- Overall Width with Mirrors: 79.1 in.
- Overall Width without Mirrors: 71.8 in.
- Curb Weight: N/A
- Cargo Capacity, All Seats In Place: N/A
Safety
Our experts like the Focus RS models:
- Rearview Camera
- Shows what's behind you in order to make reversing safer and easier.
- Blind-Spot Monitoring
- Description: Signals when a vehicle is occupying your blind spot, which makes lane changes safer.
- Hill Start Assist
- Holds the vehicle in place when stopped on a hill, which prevents you from rolling backward.
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FAQ
Is the Ford Focus RS a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2018 Focus RS both on the road and at the track, giving it a 7.6 out of 10. You probably care about Ford Focus RS fuel economy, so it's important to know that the Focus RS gets an EPA-estimated 22 mpg. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Ford Focus RS. Learn more
Is the Ford Focus RS reliable?
To determine whether the Ford Focus RS is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Focus RS. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Focus RS's average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2018 Ford Focus RS a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2018 Ford Focus RS is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2018 Focus RS and gave it a 7.6 out of 10. Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2018 Focus RS is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2018 Ford Focus RS?
The least-expensive 2018 Ford Focus RS is the 2018 Ford Focus RS 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 6M). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $41,120.
Other versions include:
- 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 6M) which starts at $41,120
What are the different models of Ford Focus RS?
If you're interested in the Ford Focus RS, the next question is, which Focus RS model is right for you? Focus RS variants include 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 6M). For a full list of Focus RS models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more