Ford Focus RS

Ford Focus RS: which version to buy

If the question is which Ford Focus RS to buy, the data split into three generations and five named versions. The later 2.3 MT (2016–2018) is the only AWD car and the fastest 0–100 km/h figure here (4.7 s). The second generation offers two 2.5 MT cars with the same name: 305 hp and 350 hp, both FWD three-door hatches.

If the question is which Ford Focus RS to buy, the data split into three generations and five named versions. The later 2.3 MT (2016–2018) is the only AWD car and the fastest 0–100 km/h figure here (4.7 s). The second generation offers two 2.5 MT cars with the same name: 305 hp and 350 hp, both FWD three-door hatches. The first generation is a choice between 2.0 MT (measured performance) and 2.0 AT (automatic, several figures not measured). Horsepower, torque, drive, body, and 0–100 separate the pack more than badge names.

Ford Focus RS generations compared for a buyer

3 generation (2016-01-01 to 2018-12-31) is Hatchback 5-door with one version: 2.3 MT. It is the only five-door RS in this dataset and the only AWD. Power is 350 hp (257 kW) at 6000 rpm and 440 Nm from 2000 to 4500 rpm from a 2300 cm³ Gasoline inline 4 with Turbo and Direct injection (direct). Ground clearance is 104 mm — the lowest measured figure among versions that list it.

2 generation (2009-01-01 to 2011-12-31) is Hatchback 3-door with two versions, both named 2.5 MT. Do not treat them as one car. The 305 hp 2.5 MT and the 350 hp 2.5 MT share 2522 cm³, Gasoline, inline 5, Turbo, Distributed injection (multi-point), compression 8.5, bore × stroke 83 × 93.2, FWD, Manual 6, kerb 1468 kg, gross 1850 kg, tank 62 L, and 140 mm clearance. The 350 hp car adds 45 hp and 20 Nm (460 Nm vs 440 Nm) and cuts 0–100 from 5.9 s to 5.6 s. Rear brakes are Ventilated disc on the 305 hp car and Disc ventilated on the 350 hp car.

1 generation (2002-01-01 to 2005-12-31) is Hatchback 3-door with 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT. Both are 215 hp (158 kW) at 5500 rpm and 310 Nm at 3500 rpm from 1988 cm³ Gasoline inline 4 Turbo, FWD. 2.0 MT is Manual 6 with Direct injection (direct), compression 10, 95-octane fuel, 0–100 in 6.7 s, 232 km/h, kerb 1210 kg, rear Drum. 2.0 AT is Automatic 4 with Distributed injection (multi-point), compression 8, 92-octane fuel; 0–100, top speed, consumption, and kerb are not measured. Ground clearance is listed only on 2.0 AT (170 mm).

Across generations the body changes from 3-door (1 and 2) to 5-door (3). Drive changes from FWD (1 and 2) to AWD (3). Cylinder count goes 4 → 5 → 4. Displacement goes 1988 → 2522 → 2300 cm³.

Ford Focus RS specs: engine, hp, gearbox, drive

Specific output (hp per litre of listed displacement): 2.3 MT 350 / 2.3 ≈ 152.2 hp/L; 2.5 MT 350 hp 350 / 2.522 ≈ 138.8 hp/L; 2.5 MT 305 hp 305 / 2.522 ≈ 120.9 hp/L; both first-generation 215 hp cars 215 / 1.988 ≈ 108.1 hp/L. The 2016–2018 four-cylinder therefore extracts more power per litre than the five-cylinder 2.5 MT of equal peak horsepower.

Peak torque is 440 Nm on 2.3 MT and on 2.5 MT 305 hp, and 460 Nm on 2.5 MT 350 hp (+20 Nm). First generation is 310 Nm — 130 Nm below the 305 hp second-generation car and 150 Nm below the 350 hp 2.5 MT. Torque band: 2.3 MT holds 440 Nm from 2000 to 4500 rpm; 2.5 MT 350 hp holds 460 Nm from 2500 to 4500 rpm; 2.5 MT 305 hp quotes 440 Nm at 2500 rpm only; both 2.0 versions quote 310 Nm at 3500 rpm.

Engine position is Front, transverse on 2.3 MT, both 2.5 MT, and 2.0 MT. On 2.0 AT engine position is not measured.

Fuel grade: 98 on 2.3 MT and both 2.5 MT; 95 on 2.0 MT; 92 on 2.0 AT. Compression: 9.5 (2.3 MT), 8.5 (both 2.5 MT), 10 (2.0 MT), 8 (2.0 AT). Valves per cylinder: 4 on every version.

There is no 2014, 2019, 2021, or 2025 horsepower row in this dataset. Stock peak hp here is 215, 305, or 350 depending on version.

Ford Focus RS 0–100, top speed, mpg

0–100 km/h: 2.3 MT 4.7 s; 2.5 MT 350 hp 5.6 s; 2.5 MT 305 hp 5.9 s; 2.0 MT 6.7 s; 2.0 AT not measured.

Gaps: 2.3 MT is 0.9 s quicker than 2.5 MT 350 hp, 1.2 s quicker than 2.5 MT 305 hp, and 2.0 s quicker than 2.0 MT. Inside generation 2, 350 hp vs 305 hp is 0.3 s. Generation 2 305 hp vs 2.0 MT is 0.8 s.

Top speed: 2.3 MT 266 km/h; both 2.5 MT 263 km/h; 2.0 MT 232 km/h; 2.0 AT not measured. Generation 3 is 3 km/h above generation 2 and 34 km/h above 2.0 MT.

Consumption (L/100 km, city / highway / mixed): 2.3 MT 10 / 6.3 / 7.7; 2.5 MT 305 hp 13.4 / 7 / 9.4; 2.5 MT 350 hp not measured / not measured / not measured; 2.0 MT 14.2 / 7.7 / 10.1; 2.0 AT not measured.

Versus 2.5 MT 305 hp, 2.3 MT uses 3.4 L/100 km less in the city, 0.7 less on the highway, and 1.7 less mixed. Versus 2.0 MT, 2.3 MT uses 4.2 / 1.4 / 2.4 L/100 km less. Mixed figure on 2.3 MT is 1.7 L/100 km below the 305 hp five-cylinder despite matching that car’s 440 Nm and exceeding its horsepower.

CO2 and eco class: 2.3 MT 175 g/km, Euro 6. All other versions: CO2 not measured, eco class not measured.

Tank: 62 L on 2.3 MT and both 2.5 MT; 55 L on both first-generation versions (−7 L).

Ford Focus RS dimensions, weight, clearance

Kerb weight: 2.5 MT (both) 1468 kg; 2.0 MT 1210 kg; 2.3 MT not measured; 2.0 AT not measured.

Gross weight: 2.5 MT (both) 1850 kg; 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT 1725 kg; 2.3 MT not measured.

Weight per horsepower where kerb is measured: 2.5 MT 305 hp 1468 / 305 ≈ 4.81 kg/hp; 2.5 MT 350 hp 1468 / 350 ≈ 4.19 kg/hp; 2.0 MT 1210 / 215 ≈ 5.63 kg/hp. The 350 hp second-generation car is the lightest per horsepower among versions with a kerb figure. 2.3 MT cannot be ranked on kg/hp because kerb is not measured.

Payload implied by gross minus kerb: 2.5 MT 1850 − 1468 = 382 kg; 2.0 MT 1725 − 1210 = 515 kg. 2.0 AT has gross 1725 kg but kerb not measured, so payload is not measured. 2.3 MT payload not measured.

Ground clearance: 2.3 MT 104 mm; both 2.5 MT 140 mm; 2.0 AT 170 mm; 2.0 MT not measured. Generation 3 sits 36 mm lower than generation 2. 2.0 AT is 66 mm higher than generation 2 and 66 mm higher than 2.3 MT.

Wheel sizes: not measured on every version.

Suspension: Independent, spring front and rear on all five versions.

Brakes: front Ventilated disc on all. Rear: Drum on 2.0 MT; Disc on 2.0 AT, 2.5 MT 305 hp, and 2.3 MT; Disc ventilated on 2.5 MT 350 hp.

Which Ford Focus RS version to choose

Buy 3 generation 2.3 MT if the numbers that matter are 0–100, top speed, drive, doors, and listed consumption. It is the only AWD, the only Hatchback 5-door, the only Euro 6 / 175 g/km CO2 row, and the only 4.7 s / 266 km/h pair. Versus the equal-horsepower 2.5 MT 350 hp it is 0.9 s quicker to 100 km/h and 3 km/h faster at the top, with a 222 cm³ smaller engine (2300 vs 2522) and higher specific output (≈152.2 vs ≈138.8 hp/L). Versus 2.5 MT 305 hp it adds 45 hp and matches 440 Nm while cutting 1.2 s off 0–100 and 3.4 / 0.7 / 1.7 L/100 km off city / highway / mixed. Trade-offs in the data: 104 mm clearance (lowest measured), kerb and gross not measured, wheels not measured. Fuel is 98. Gearbox is Manual 6 — no automatic in this generation.

Buy 2 generation 2.5 MT 350 hp if you want generation-2 three-door packaging and the higher torque of this catalogue. Same name as the 305 hp car; distinguish by 350 hp / 257 kW at 6000 rpm and 460 Nm. You get +45 hp, +20 Nm, 0.3 s quicker 0–100 (5.6 vs 5.9), the same 263 km/h, the same 1468 / 1850 kg, the same 140 mm clearance, and rear Disc ventilated instead of Ventilated disc / Disc. Specific output rises from ≈120.9 to ≈138.8 hp/L; kg/hp falls from ≈4.81 to ≈4.19. Consumption for this 350 hp 2.5 MT is not measured — do not assume the 13.4 / 7 / 9.4 figures of the 305 hp twin. Versus 2.3 MT you give up AWD, the fifth door, 0.9 s, 3 km/h, Euro 6, and the measured 7.7 L/100 km mixed figure; you keep a measured kerb and 36 mm more clearance.

Buy 2 generation 2.5 MT 305 hp if you want the five-cylinder FWD hatch with a full consumption row. Engine size, layout, gearbox, drive, weights, tank, and top speed match the 350 hp 2.5 MT. You give up 45 hp, 20 Nm, 0.3 s, and ventilated rear discs. Versus 2.0 MT you gain 90 hp, 130 Nm, 0.8 s, 31 km/h, a 7 L larger tank, and disc rear brakes instead of Drum, at +258 kg kerb (1468 vs 1210) and worse kg/hp (≈4.81 vs ≈5.63) but better hp/L (≈120.9 vs ≈108.1). City / mixed use is 13.4 / 9.4 vs 14.2 / 10.1 on 2.0 MT — slightly lower despite more power. Fuel 98 vs 95. Peak power arrives at 6500 rpm, 500 rpm above the 350 hp 2.5 MT and 2.3 MT (both 6000).

Buy 1 generation 2.0 MT if measured performance, lowest kerb, and Manual 6 matter more than peak power. It is the only first-generation version with 0–100 (6.7 s), top speed (232 km/h), and a full 14.2 / 7.7 / 10.1 consumption set. Kerb 1210 kg is 258 kg below both 2.5 MT. Gross 1725 kg is 125 kg below generation 2. Rear brakes are Drum — unique in this table. Direct injection (direct) and compression 10 contrast with 2.0 AT (multi-point, compression 8). Fuel 95. Engine position Front, transverse. Clearance not measured. Versus 2.3 MT you are 2.0 s and 34 km/h slower, FWD not AWD, 3-door not 5-door, 135 hp down, 130 Nm down.

Buy 1 generation 2.0 AT only if Automatic 4 is the requirement. It matches 2.0 MT on 215 hp, 310 Nm, 1988 cm³, Gasoline, inline 4, Turbo, FWD, tank 55 L, and gross 1725 kg. It is the only automatic and the only 92-octane spec. Clearance 170 mm is the highest measured. Rear brakes Disc, not Drum. 0–100, top speed, consumption, kerb, and engine position are not measured — a buyer cannot rank this version on sprint, speed, or kg/hp from these data. Four speeds versus six on every Manual.

What later generations change in arithmetic, not in marketing copy. From 2.0 MT to 2.5 MT 305 hp: +90 hp, +130 Nm, +534 cm³, +1 cylinder, −0.8 s to 100, +31 km/h, +258 kg, +7 L tank, rear Drum to Disc. From 2.5 MT 305 hp to 2.5 MT 350 hp (same generation, same name): +45 hp, +20 Nm, −0.3 s, same 263 km/h, same mass. From 2.5 MT 350 hp to 2.3 MT: same 350 hp / 257 kW @ 6000, −20 Nm (440 vs 460), −222 cm³, −1 cylinder, FWD to AWD, 3-door to 5-door, −0.9 s, +3 km/h, clearance 140 to 104 mm, consumption becomes measured at 10 / 6.3 / 7.7, Euro 6 appears. There is no price field here, so “what the extra money buys” can only be read as what the extra specification buys: AWD and the fifth door live only on 2.3 MT; the five-cylinder and the 460 Nm peak live only on 2.5 MT 350 hp; the automatic lives only on 2.0 AT.

Practical shortlist. Need AWD, five doors, 4.7 s, 266 km/h, Euro 6: 2.3 MT. Need 350 hp in a 3-door FWD with a listed kerb and the highest torque (460 Nm): 2.5 MT 350 hp. Need a 3-door five-cylinder with city/highway/mixed numbers: 2.5 MT 305 hp. Need the lightest measured kerb and a complete performance sheet on 215 hp: 2.0 MT. Need Automatic: only 2.0 AT, accepting not measured 0–100, top speed, consumption, and kerb.