That there is not a great deal to report here is perhaps the most telling finding. Other than the Recaro bucket seats, a shorter gearlever and a smattering of carbon-effect plastic, the RS is disappointingly similar to the ST.
Flashes of colour on the seats (but thankfully not the steering wheel this time) try to lift the cabin, but overall the interior fails to match the exterior for sense of occasion.
That said, from a functional perspective the Focus is an excellent place to sit, whether up front (where the ergonomics are superb) or in the back (where the RS’s sculptured pews make this a strict four-seater).
The broad Continental tyres generate quite a bit of noise, but this is surface dependent, and although our car suffered from some wind noise, we suspect this is down to a misaligned door.
Overall, the RS should be an easy car to live with, the refined engine and tall sixth gear making light work of long-distance cruising.
Our biggest gripe is the high-set driving position, a result of safety regulations. Even with the seats set in their lower position (adjustment requires an Allen key), you never feel as if you’re sitting low enough.
Some may say £25,745 is a lot to pay for a Focus. We think it’s exceptional value, considering the performance on offer and the depth of chassis engineering, especially next to an Impreza STi or Evo X. What’s more, strong demand and tight (if not limited) supply should keep residuals strong.
Running costs (group 19 insurance) could be more of an issue, although the RS returned a respectable average of 24.8mpg (better than the ST); that can easily drop to single figures, though. A 62-litre tank helps boost the range.
While we doubt the RS will feature on many company lists, its 225g/km emissions put it in the 33 per cent bracket, higher than the Mk6 Golf GTI.
