Used 2018 Ford Focus RS Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2018 Focus RS, so we've included reviews for other years of the Focus RS since its last redesign.
I couldn't wait
MikR, 10/08/2017
2017 Ford Focus RS 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
21 of 22 people found this review helpful
I fully intended on waiting until I had a good amount of miles on my RS before Writing any reviews but I don't need anymore miles than the 2000 or so that I've already put on it, I have already come to my conclusion.. For lack of a better word This car is Epic! Of all the Magazine reviews, YouTube videos and Car Forums the hype is, in my opinion, much more conservative then what I have experienced in this 4 cylinder, Turbo charged, 350 - HP / Ft.lbs of Torque, All Wheel drive Beast! The power is seemingly limitless, the acceleration will throw your head back and put butterflies in your gut every time, especially with Launch mode activated, it is insane! Handling? Pshh I have taken curves at speeds that I have never attempted before, and I push all my cars to my limit. The Brembo brakes are so tight I thought my neck was going to break when I punched the brake peddle at 85 mph. The steering is super tight, the suspension is rock solid and the Michelin sport cup ll tires are sticky and grip like a cheetah on sandpaper. Okay, so I'm sure my review sounds incredibly sensationalized, possibly fabricated and maybe even a little ridiculous. Well I assure you, I am just a regular guy and a genuine owner of a 2017 Shadow Black RS2 pkg. Focus RS. I bought into the RS hype but I prepared myself for the possibility of being underwhelmed. Welp I'm not, quite the contrary, I am pleasantly shocked! How do they put so much power and performance in a four cylinder for around 40k? I don't really know but I know that I am glad I got one before they stop making them next year (2018) As for the durability and reliability, I obviously can not speak for that, I only have about 2000 miles on it so far but I bought the 100000 mile extended warranty. And aside from driving it like I stole it, for which it was made and intended, I will maintain and baby it like it was a 2 million dollar Bugatti. And hopefully it will last a long long time. But I'll definitely make some updates as time and miles pass. So.. if you're looking at the Hyperhatch class, you're probably checking out the Golf R, Type R, WRX Sti ( And so many more in the European market. Lucky! ) these are all super cool cars and I can't see you going wrong with any of them. But I can only speak for the RS.. If you're considering the Focus RS.. Yeah, It's freaking Awesome! It's a great time for the sports car enthusiast. Enjoy!
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GOAT, Performance Hatchback sold in North America
John Smith, 07/10/2020
updated 07/19/2021
2018 Ford Focus RS 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
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.
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2018 Ford Focus RS for sale near you
3 of 8 listings
- Base 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $34,99521 mi away
- Base 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $39,29536 mi away
- Base 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $29,47577 mi away
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Super capable Super fun
Joe, 01/16/2019
2018 Ford Focus RS 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
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....
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More fun than I expected
Matt C, 11/25/2018
updated 11/27/2019
2017 Ford Focus RS 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I'm typically into sports cars, I own a few mustangs and Corvettes, etc. I got the opportunity to get this RS and thought it might make a fun driver considering I live in MN so my sports cars get parked half the year. I'm not really a "hot hatch" fanatic. The cars summer handling really surprised me and the torque vectoring is amazing. Hit a tight corner fast and it is solid, push the throttle down in the corner and the torque vectoring makes it turn even better! When you expect it to either start understeering or oversteering, it doesn't, it handled it with ease. The brakes are incredible and seem to not have limits. Power is very respectable and it leaves the line hard. But as much fun as this is to drive in the summer, winter is where it's at. With a good set of winter tires, it is dead stable on icy roads and incredibly fun in sport or drift mode, which loosens up the traction and stability control. When the weather's bad I leave my truck in the garage and take the RS. The active headlights are also wonderful and keep the lights pointing the right direction even when you're drifting around corners. The ride can be rough on some roads, but the performance more than compensates for it. After a few months of winter weather, my wife, who doesn't care for manual transmissions, now wants to sell her fusion and get an RS of her own. It's that good. UPDATED Nov 2019: After another year and 10,000 miles of ownership, I still love the car. My wife also still loves the car, enough that we bought a second RS for her!
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Best $ for fun hot hatch you can buy.
Alexander Minevich, 12/12/2018
updated 12/14/2020
2017 Ford Focus RS 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
PROS: 0-60MPH = 4.7sec. Very comfortable seats once you get over the elevated leg positioning. Inexpensive to increase power (e.g., Mountune airbox and CPU flash = 380HP & 450 Torgue). LOVE the exhaust and pop noise with shifting. transmission and traction control are at supercar levels (e.g., torque vectoring). CONS: harsh ride, poor adjustability of excellent seats, needs Ford (under warranty) engine gasket replacement, and need to endure people who constantly want to drag you at a red light. Update: at 46000 miles the engine sustained catastrophic breakdown. The engine was replaced by Ford at no cost. This is after the head gasket was replaced by ford when the car was new.
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