How do you think the Ford Focus RS will stack up against the Subaru WRX STI? Let us know who you think the winner is in each of the following categories:
1. Interior Style
2. Interior Quality
3. Exterior Style
4. Power / Performance
5. Handling
6. Fuel Economy
7. Price
1. Interior Style
RS has the nicer interior - more modern, yet sleek and de-cluttered like a European car interior (in fact, it IS a Euro car interior). This is not a deal breaker, and I would be content with either car's interior - except for the fact that the STI lacks Recaros. Big failure right there.
2. Interior Quality
The RS looks like it has an edge, and you can probably experience it yourself by sitting in a 2015 Focus ST (which has pretty much the same type of interior).
3. Exterior Style
Subaru dropped the ball and ran away from it. The styling may have evolved towards something more aggressive and tighter, but the lack of a hatchback is a major deal breaker. I cannot see any advantage aside from questionable 'styling' to pick a sedan over a hatchback STI. I don't mind the hood scoop, but I think that the RS' lack of one (due to the FMIC, of course) is a sleeker, more toned down design that greatly appeals to me.
4. Power / Performance
The STI has had the EJ257 in it since 2004 or so, or over 10 years with only a small power bump in 2008 (if I recall correctly). This engine could tell Clint Eastwood to get off its lawn and it busts its pistons / ringlands quite frequently, even at stock levels (thanks to the godawful stock tune). The torque curve on this thing is shallow compared to the FA engine in the lesser WRX. By comparison, the 2.3L EcoBoost on the Mustang was putting out some insane HP and Torque figures on just a stage 1 tune (with no supporting parts), and the 2.3L going into the RS will have upgraded internals to boot, plus a twin scroll low inertia larger compressor turbo.
5. Handling
This.... is up in the air. Chances are that the preemptive torque vectoring AWD gives the Focus the edge when blasting around corners and taking curves, but there is something to be said about the 3 mechanical limited slip diffs that the STI has - plus the STI now has brake based torque vectoring on the front axle.
6. Fuel Economy
RS, no question. For one thing, the EJ257 in the STI is older than the pyramids, and it's a port injected design. The STI also runs AWD full-time torque split of like 41:59, while the RS is said to be able to do 100% FWD when cruising at low loads with little to no steering input. The RS also has start-stop tech, but I'm sort of hoping that it doesn't make it into the NA-bound models.
7. Price.
Dave Pericak has stated that they are acutely aware of the competition, and will absolutely be competitive with the RS. I take that to mean that it'll start at, or maybe *just* below an STI (which starts at $34k or so). I'm cool with that. The RS was stated to sit on a level above that of the Mustang GT / Focus ST / Fiesta ST, and I think the price will reflect that.
