If you’re looking for a small yet practical car, you’ve probably considered a hatchback. They are small enough to make it easy to zip through traffic and drive around the city, while also generally having enough room for when you need it.
When it comes to finding the right hatch, there are plenty of options out there, but today we want to focus on two of the Ford Focus hatches out there – see what we did there?
The Ford Focus XR5 Turbo and the Ford Focus RS are two of the coolest and most functional hatchback car siblings out there, but what’s the difference? Let us give you a run down of the features of each one to help make your decision easier. Keep reading to find your new car today.
Ford Focus XR5 Turbo
Also known as the Focus ST, the Focus XR5 Turbo is the cheaper of these two hatchbacks, but while it’s cheaper, it certainly doesn’t skimp on the details and features.
Exterior
The XR5 Turbo hatchback comes to the party looking sporty and edgy, especially when compared to the standard Focus model.
Front and rear bumpers, side skirts, and a rear roof spoiler combined with the dual exhaust, black grille, and alloy wheels gives the XR5 Turbo an air of high performance.
While it looks pretty sporty, there’s still plenty of ways you modify it to make it even more formidable on the road.
Interior
The blue light glow from the interior’s electric console and entertainment unit provides a calming glow and the leather wrapped soft to the touch steering wheel is gentle on the hands and makes for incredible comfort.
Speaking of comfort, the driver and passenger seats are sports focused and heavily padded. For the XR5 Turbo, the seats can be upholstered in fabric or leather, and can be coloured to suit your car’s interior, of which the options depend on the package you opt for.
Engine and Drivability
The 2.0L four cylinder engine is powerful, offering 184kw of power, 360nM of torque at its peak, and 5500 rpm. You can hit zero to 100 km/hr in 6.2 seconds.
The XR5 Turbo is front-wheel drive, with torque-vectoring control. What this means is that when you’re turning corners while driving, brakes are applied to the front inside wheel which provides great grip and control.
And to add to the comfort of the interior, the suspension system provides a cushioned drive, meaning lumps and bumps in the road will feel like nothing for everyone in the XR5 Turbo.
Ford Focus RS
The Focus RS is going to set you back a little bit more than the XR5 Turbo, however, for the extra money, you can certainly see some pretty great performance.
Exterior
To generate the ultimate downforce, the RS has a rear wing, as well as a rear bumper and high diffuser to improve the flow of air under the car. To aid in the optimal air flow, the car features a front splitter, while the large front grille is lower to ensure that the engine is kept cool, and the high-performance exhaust outlets give the car both a dramatic and high performance look.
The car also features fog lights – on the front of the car they are vertically mounted, while on the back there is a central fog lamp.
Interior
Many of the interior features we mentioned for the Focus XR5 Turbo are also fitted to the Focus RS – the blue light illumination, same gauge positioning, and leather wrapped steering wheel – though the stitching detail in the RS is blue to add that pop of colour.
The RS also has the same sports style seating for the ultimate comfortable ride, with full leather upholstery seating.
Engine and Drivability
The engine is where we really start to see that performance difference in action. The turbocharged engine is 2.3L four cylinders, and offers 440 Nm of torque and 257kW of power, and can go from zero to 100 in around 4.7 seconds – not too shabby.
Unlike the XR5, the RS is all-wheel drive, meaning that the torque-vectoring tech provides superior handling around corners, and makes you feel like you’re planted to the ground at all times and always in control.
And with the same suspension system as the XR5, you’re in for a really comfortable ride.
Which is better – the XR5 or the RS?
At the end of the day, each of the Ford hatchbacks offer a really nice and high performance experience. And you can add mods to each car to create the exact look you want with Maxton Design Ford Australia body kits – so at the end of the day, it really comes down to how much you want to spend. If you’ve got the cash to spare you can splurge for the RS but we think you’re going to be happy with any choice you make.
The Ford Focus is a great car for those who are looking for a reliable and affordable vehicle. It has many features that make it a great choice for families and individuals alike. The Focus comes in two different models – the XR5 and the RS. Both models come with a variety of features, but the RS model has a few additional features that make it a better choice for some buyers. The RS model comes with an upgraded engine, sports suspension, and 18-inch alloy wheels. It also has heated front seats and a sunroof. Both models come with a 2.0L engine, but the XR5 has a slightly higher horsepower. The RS also has a sport-tuned suspension, making it the better choice for those who want a more performance-oriented car.
If you’re looking for a car that’s packed with features and is still affordable, the Ford Focus is a great option to consider.