Would I buy a Hyundai hot hatch developed on the Nurburgring by the ex chief of BMW's M division for sub £29K with a 5yr 100k mile warranty? You're damn right I would.
@@Ben-oy1td he did not say shit handling he said the tyres hamper the cars performance.... 2 that firmness can be adjust in N custom and it didn't look like Rory did that at all.
Having owned an i30 N, the traction really is something it struggles particularly in the wet on those P zeros. But upgrading to pilot sport 4s and upgrading the torque flex makes a massive difference with the wheel hop
Absolutely word for word. I'd like to add, getting a shifter calibration done fixes notchiness, unplugging the sound-generator takes 10 minutes and lets the car sound it's best, going down to lightweight 18 inches improves the ride massively as well as adding a touch of thin butyl rubber for dampening the resonant areas in the boot and the doors, takes the car to a whole new level. Oh and this car hates allignment with a passion and I'd recommend to get a 3d allignment done once every 12 months to take that out of the ecuation. This is also extensively documented on the ncars forum. Check it out if you're interested in buying
I own the ST mk4 and it’s best car I’ve driven, coming from owning an Audi. Driver dynamics are brilliant..it’s quick and puts a massive smile on your face. Don’t judge until you drive one please. 🙌
Fair play to you for going for a Ford. There is so much snobbishness against fast Ford's. But what the German club boys don't understand is that a Ford puts a smile on your face like no other can, and that's what driving is all about for me. I don't care if the interior isn't as nice as a VW, Audi or BMW. I want to enjoy the experience. Welcome to the fast Ford club!
I’ve owned a mk8 fiesta st and it was fantastic to drive a and b roads I don’t think that many cars would pull away I currently own a a35 and I honestly think round the bends the fiesta would be pushing me, on the the straights it’s a different story
I owned the mk2 ST and loved it, had a new mk4 hire car last year and it was fantastic, the week before i had a fkn MG in that was similar RRP and the Focus felt like a Porsche in comparison lol
@@evanswaby7246 you have no idea mate. The first car after a Merc and BMW I don‘t have any quality issues. They are getting better and better. Btw..South Korea is in technological aspects like 15 years ahead of Europe not mentioning the medieval US😂
@Da bobstar The interior definitely is better than your average hatch, and definitely better than the i30 and the new golf. You got an amazing steering wheel, amazing recaro seats and a lot of leather (leatherette?) all the way from window to handrest on the doors and even on the transmission tunnel where your knees are gonna be. Got no clue why he pointed out the plastic on the focus in particular, everything plastic in the focus also is hard plastic in the i30 and golf. Makes no sense.
@@muckspreader1able Focus and i30 have bad quality interior merc is expensive and golf is kinda eh to drive but still betther option then i30 and focus and its prolly faster but its sadly fwd.
I bought a year-old i30N and had it for a year, drove it 15tkm, had it serviced once for 250euros and traded it in with bold tyres. Gross value of the car was identical to the one I had purchase year earlier. Must have been because it was a rare spec with a panoramic sunroof. Most fun I have had in a car.
To be honest, i30 N is more fun. M140i is much faster and better built but not as fun. You'd need to drive it 8/10 everywhere while Hyundai is fun even when commuting. But then again, Bmw is much more relaxing most of the time
As an edition 30 gti owner I’d go for the i30n if I were to upgrade. It sounds wicked out the box and appears to have the most genuine hot hatch feeling. What people don’t realise is the i30 comes with pretty much every option in the price (adaptive dampers/diff/nav etc) I specced a mk7 gti spec for spec and it was nearly £15k more expensive!
@diamus100 You can, depends where the chap is based in the world. With the new facelift, it's a hot contender to the MK8 golf GTI and beats the focus ST as that's still needing a facelift.
I have an N and yes, it’s abysmal in the wet on the p zeros but once those tires are warm and on a dry surface, it’s planted. It’s a riot. Makes every drive much more fun.
If it's anything like it's smaller brother, hell yeah. Still a bit hesitant though because of the FWD, I remember a little more wheel spinny spinny action than i wouldve liked with the fiesta.
I done the change from the MK3 to MK4 and you won't look back. It's a totally different car to sit behind the wheel of. Only issue is it has made my right foot very heavy
callum moran I have a 2017 ST with a bluefin remap and quaife diff, on pilot sport 4 not S It’s still a bit of bastard to put power on from the lights in the wet but on the road the torque is pretty decent and it handles good enough for most times, I have just finished paying for it. I live in east London and work in the city with LTN’s and pop up cycle lanes and 7 day a week congestion charge until 10pm ive been pushed out of my car pretty much. I’d love the New Focus but with things the way they are I doubt I’d get into dept for any new car. I’m feel like I’m being pushed to buy an EV when the only thing I can realistically afford is an MG ZS , and I won’t be swapping my ST for an EV unless it’s a Tesla . 🤧 so it seems as though I’m stuck with my mk3.5
Finally someone gave the most under rated Ford Focus ST the much deserved credit. I for one was really surprised with how good the Focuz ST was. Easily the 2nd best hot hatch on market today barring the Type R.
It's close ... Focus maybe better steering and low down grunt + the suspension can be set to soft while having everything else in race. Honda is ultimately quicker in the straight line and around the track. Honda's balance and stability is superior. The Ford is fun and flickable. That said, if you’re all about playfulness, have a drive of the manic Renault Megane RS. While the Focus ST will tighten its line nicely into hairpins when you lift off the accelerator, it won't swing its rear-end round like a shopping trolley as the Megane does. But softening the suspension also softens the engine response in the Honda. Focus' infotainment system has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity feature along with an 8.0-inch touch-screen with inbuilt sat-nav and voice activation. Boot space is class leading in the Honda. Honda's 7.0-inch infotainment system's screen is smaller and fiddly to use - no inbuilt sat-nav. The manual Focus has a better exhaust sound, while the auto ST is about the same as the Honda's. But no wrong choice here: win, win.
Focus ST is the best looking in my opinion. The back and front end and head and tail lights are gorgeous. Every angle looks good. Everything just works.
Agree. Didn't think much of him on Top Gear as it didn't seem like he was particularly knowledgeable...but it's clear from his work here that he is and it was just a case of bad scripts.
i own one and seeing how it has snowed bad im shitting myself for driving to work tomorrow however there are alternative tyres available the michilen pilot sport 4 S's which make a huge difference. as for the DCT of course it will make it perform a lot better but the car is more about the driving experience so it will always be the 6 speed manual for me
@@fynnday6128 I own an i30Nperformance too and best advice I can give is do yourself a favour and get a set of winter tyres. I have the stock wheels with Vredstien Wintrac Pro on them and on snow, ice, cold wet slimy winter roads it's almost cheating. It's got better braking than my Golf R had on all seasons and no problems with traction unless you are hammering it. I still have the P zeros on a set of Team Dynamics Pro race 3's for the rest of the year as the Pirellis are awful in winter conditions.
Focus ST since one Year. It is a joy to drive! day by day. Absolutetly amazing. And i also love the look of it. i prefer the interieur over the golf. More easy to use and quality is pretty good for the price
To be honest i do not know how you can ever compare a ford focus interior to a VW golf.I have golf R my friend has a RS Focus. the interior in the focus looks like its been designed by Preschool children,
@@MrRonan3 i totally agree if you compare a mk3 focus to a golf mk7 or even mk8. But the mk4 in the focus made huge step. I drove a mk4 gti tcr. And i cant say it felt any better than the focus. And mk8 golf is just garbage interieur. Just touch bullshit everywhere. If you steer you suddenly touch a button and mute the music....thats so useless
@@FalconXE302 yeah thats right. Manual is even much quicker at higher speed. You can drive 270 kph easy. When you have good circumstances and you are driving slightly downhill you can even reach 280kph. And yes i got the manual too. Best decision ever! Love the manual with the rev matching downshifts
I have had an i30N now for 3 years. It's just so so fun. Changing the tires to the ps4s does make a significant difference especially in the wet. I'm bias here and would recommend the hyundai, who else offers for year warranty and that includes for use on a track! It's not as quick as the Merc. Or a civic type R or an RS focus. But the change of tires will make it quicker than others shown. Here. In the dry. But it's not about that. It's just a great great great car. So much fun. It will surprise anyone that thinks hyundai weren't gonna be capable.
The Hyundai i30N was designed and developed in Namyang S.Korea, which is what the N stands for (Namyang) but yes it was further developed at their European test centre at The Nurburgring, in particular the chicane parts is what they concentrated on most, getting the i30N through those bends as quick as possible.
Agreed, they are ok to a degree but you need physical buttons for basic things like heating. The infotainment system in the old golf was way better, its just cost cutting and i think it's gonna bite vw in the arse.
What!!? Haven’t you guys heard of MBUX? Hey Mercedes! What can I do for you? Turn the bloody heating up because this presenter hasn’t thought of switching the courtesy light on for a second to see in the dark. Mercedes: Be kind like me; I’ve turned the temperature up to 20 degrees. But by the end of the review I thought it was high quality presentation. Thank you.
@@WinkelHoof I agree it improves safety besides convenience. The way forward , No Doubt About It, as Errol Brown of Hot Chocolate used to sing, God rest his soul.
Ever since the i30n came out, it has been my favourite hot hatch, and it still is in 2021. And to be honest, I'd say it is one of my favourite cars that has been released in my lifetime. What you get for your money is simply unbelievable and I just love that it has been designed to make you laugh every time you drive it. It is utterly bonkers, which for me is what a hot hatch should be about. Perhaps not the best one in the class to live with every day, but for driving pleasure, there is little better imo. If I had the money, I'd buy one straight away.
@@stickvortex People purchase them on finance deals, they lease them or finance them on hire purchase, a loan, PCP etc. Those cars eventually go back when the term is up.
Great review Rory, it’s more or less spot on with my preconceived idea of how these would drive. I’m glad the ST drives so well as I’m a Ford fan and they’ve always been near the top of that game. I know plastics give a less luxurious feel but it doesn’t actually mean the quality is any poorer. We all know the A35 is in the wrong company here - really you’d be talking Audi S3, M135i and Golf R. I’d go for the Ford as a driver but the old man in me is kind of wanting flappy paddles these days, something that Ford don’t seem to excel at.
i30n's custom setting solves the problem of stiffness... It is easily the most customisable car there in terms of its setup. On normal setting suspension is perfectly fine for normal use from what I've heard.
Yeah I own an I30N but I completely agree with what you said about the tires, it needs Michelin's to be able to properly put the power down, especially in the wet. Despite that it is still the best drivers car in the video. Plus 5 year warranty (including track days) and all options come standard with it aswell only extra I had to pay for was the blue paint. Well worth it. P.S. i promise I'm not a salesman i just love my hyundai 😁
Drove my dads new Focus ST last week. It is sensational. Ive had around 15 cars since i started driving in 98 and the Focus ST is the best driving by a country mile.
I will pick i30N all the way! Its a good value! Well package for the price! Do we really need plush n luxurious feel in hothatch (merc) ? I dont think so ✌🏻😝
@@denomoable Gearbox, Clutch, Wiper Nozzle, Wiper motors, Wiper Aerodynamics, Headlight, Windnoise, Weight, Servo sensor, Panel build quality, rust door area, cold start problems, injector problems and so on. Just some information from a 4k user big community. Or check my video for example and other N forums. I have like 70% of the problems on my 2020 one. It´s a friday Lemon like a lot of them. It´s a nice try from Hyundai, but they have a lot to learn.
@@andreneves6727 Since people started buying Kia/Hyundai, Germans stopped making good cars. The golf is the worst by far. Interior quality Hyundai is top.
@@haseebwaqar8980 eh i don't know about that. If I want a fun car it's between the Hyundai and a Renault Megane RS. I don't buy a hot hatch to be boring
Nice man I'm happy for you... I just wanted to ask your opinion, how is the i30n in N custom for example with suspension on its most comfortable setting? I've heard it's fine as a daily but would you consider it comfortable enough?
@@Pr0hunt3r18 Amazing car, wheel hops from 0-60 in the wet, I got 5.2 seconds in dry weather (pilot sport 4s tyres sorts the wet road issues out) also yes, its a little rough in full N mode in my opinion, but you can have everything in N mode but have the suspension in normal, sport or N so you can adjust it to you liking without sacrificing the pops bangs, throttle response, firm steering, E-Lsd 😁 hope this helps (I kept mine on normal suspension unless I was on a smooth road)
@@themagicmessiah372 How would you comare it to for example a normal i30 when i30n is in most comfortable suspension setting? Are they comparable in this scenario?
Everyone forgets that the Renault 5 Alpine/Gordini was arguably the first hot hatch as we know them today , it was on the market several months before the Golf GTI in 1976 with sports seats , alloys , front spoiler & 5 speed gearbox unlike the original 4 speed GTI that looked like a basic Golf !
They just needed one car to be beaten by the proper hot hatches ;) Megan’s Rs is shit. Quality is bad and lack of lsd means it will be catastrophically slow
Take off the GTi badge it could be mistaken for a TSI.. Not very inspiring. As for the Ford, whilst driving along, you'll most likely see another...🙄🤔 A class is just full of tech, how much of it is mechanical? Maybe the wheel studs.. 🤣🤣The Hyundai, do away with badge snobbery, as it looks like the most fun!! and wants to be driven like it was stolen not that I'm implying anything 🤣🤣
Here I am with my 2017 Astra OPC/Vauxhall GTC VXR at 320 HP and 500 Nm wishing it was still made today. Loved this review and as a hot hatch driver appreciate it even more. Thanks Rory, and thanks AutoTrader. What a dynamic you have! 💙
A colleague of mine has the new ST and he's had the Mountune upgrade pushing power up to about 320hp. Great handling & performance. Never drove it pre uprade but it feels very fast now. Great fun too.
Golf gti is the best for me. It doesn’t matter which has the most power or drives the best etc. It’s about the whole package. The merc is far too expensive and isn’t really a competitor for the other cars in this test.
As an owner of a mk7 Golf, I’m really disappointed in the overuse of touch screens in the new mk8. They don’t work that well as it is now, especially if you jump in the car in a rain storm and try and adjust the radio with wet fingers. Such a shame, but I’ll definitely be giving the new mk8 a wide berth.
@@sbstn110Most definitely just likes watches and wears it like a normal person? If it was a casio rather than a yachtmaster he wouldnt be saying this comment 🤷♂️
I used to own two Ford Focuses, one from 2009 and the other from 2014 and let me tell you that yes, while at first glance you think the interior isn't very plush, you soon get to appreciate it for being extremely practical and frankly ok enough, you won't embarrass yourself in front of anyone. BUT, when it comes to driving, they are absolutely heavenly, they always put i smile on my face, even in heavy traffic, even on long distances the time just flew by because they are soo good to drive. Now I own a Golf mk7 and it's very good, more refined, ok, I get it, my missus likes it more. But I do miss the Focus and would not be put off from owning one again.
really nice video! I´m from German and my english is not quite good, but i can understand almost everything! I love it. very emotional video!!! Best rergards!
Leaving out the Mercedes, I test drove the other three and ended up with the golf GTI (mk7.5). The Hyundai is great fun but when you’re talking about a daily driver it just as nice to be in. The Ford felt huge and simply not as nice as the golf. When it came down to it the gold had enough power to be fun, very nice to drive and ultimately the nicest to sit in for extended periods. If I could afford the A35 I’m sure that would have been my pick as it beats the golf on the reasons that I chose it.
I have an A35 Edition 1, and I'm loving every second I spend with it. That being said, I'm sure I'd be just as happy with any of the other 3 cars. It's a good time to be a hot hatch owner.
Hi there, cause I am thinking on buying one , could you tell me about possible problems and services? I mean the A Class is rock bottom reliability wise compared to others
@@Tsukuyomi8 Knock on wood, I've had no issues with the car so far. Bought it September 2019. And I've been doing track days 7-8 times a year. Changed brake pads several times, and the disks this winter, but that's a given. One annoying thing I started noticing a year or so ago is some rattling noise from the dashboard and the doors. Plastics and screws rattling when driving on a crappy road. But I can't say if this would have happened if I wasn't going wild on the tracks.
Ive had both the Golf GTI and the AMG A35 and by miles the AMG wins. For a very similar price the build quality and the premium materials in the AMG makes it my fav hot hatch after the EP3 civic
I've seen some tuners get their hands on the MK 8 GTI and they have already fixed both the bad exhaust note and the power output to be just a bit more without breaking the bank in price either. Still , would rather keep the MK 7.5 with the better interior and physical buttons over those crappy touch buttons any day and do the exact same tuning upgrades
Sorry but that merc shouldn’t be in this group. It would compare more to the golf r/Audi S3. But I also have to say I prefer the other 3 cars. Just more lively cars.
great review. exactly what i want out of a comparison video. every car has its strengths and weaknesses. It all depends on what you want, need and can afford.
In my opinion it would be the ST, not just bc of Ford's knowledge of suspensions, I would guess that more litres of displacement mean more options to get more power afterwards
Let's all do our part - Write or Call Ford Customer Relationship Center and tell them their customers in America want to buy the new Focus ST - maybe we can convince them it's a profitable choice for them to bring it to the US
this is how every channel should compare performance of cars, i mean every other channel makes a drag and rolling race but in a race track you can see handling of the car or how good brakes are or it gives much more better information about the engine power and shifting. i said to much ''or'' but this video was very informative for me
I say st all the way but that's probably because I own one and absolutely love it can be driven casually when needed but pop it in sport or track mode and have some fun it's just an amazing car to drive
That ST is just a masterpiece. Ford engineers with all the experience they had in the racing world, they putted in the FOCUS. "It's just an engineering innovation"
Not having more Rory (and also Chris Harris) is where Top Gear slipped into the nonsense it became. Still, there’s now this Auto Trader content so that’ll do nicely. Thanks 👍🏻
I reckon this ST model looks awesome, specially in that blue. I own a 2013 ST atm and after watching this, I think my next car will be a ST in this blue 😁
Lmao you only saying it because you own st 😂. You're not a true car enthusiast you're loyal to the brand you own and not thinking outside the box. I30N is by far better than st and gti
Put an APR Stage 1 tune, cat-back exhaust and cold air-intake on your GTI (as I did), and you'll have exactly what the factory should have done with the car. My car now has ~290 hp, and has a dg short shifter and a few tweaks to the clutch to give it more feel. Car is perfect.
Thanks for pointing out the big flaw with the golf. If you can’t use the heater controls easily, then it’s a potential safety issue and I don’t care how good the rest of the car is. The Focus ST is the one I would have. All day long!
Which hot hatch are you driving home? ⬇️
Golf
2021 GR Yaris + Track Pack
The Honda
Focus people Focus
JCW 306 Countryman all 4 lol
Would I buy a Hyundai hot hatch developed on the Nurburgring by the ex chief of BMW's M division for sub £29K with a 5yr 100k mile warranty? You're damn right I would.
Developed at the “ring” and the shittest handling car here. Lol
@@Ben-oy1td he did not say shit handling he said the tyres hamper the cars performance.... 2 that firmness can be adjust in N custom and it didn't look like Rory did that at all.
You're damn right I would too. And I actually went and did it 3 weeks ago! Not regretting that choice one bit. It's amazing!
@@Cernunn0s90 nice one 👍
@@Ben-oy1td that understeer looked catastrophic
A35 doesn’t really belong there it’s literally the likes of golf R, S3, mini jcw
Yeah it’s competitors are not here, and in it’s true competition it’s the slowest, the S3 M135i are faster
There’s the A45 for that though
@@jfletcher1029 if you want to pay like £60k for a hatchback !!! I’d rather have a bmw m2 competition please
They obviously just had to make do with which press cars they were offered.
@@lbnewell23 true! Me too.
This has replaced Top gear, for car fans.
Agreed
Absolutely right mate he's getting even better Rorrie
I wish we could get Rory, Doug Demuro and Henry Catchpole in a show together. That would be bliss.
yeah they should have kept rory will always remember his review of the fiesta st (made me want one bad)
Try carwow
i30n is the best looking people just can’t get over the fact its a Hyundai
Nah
Look is a personal preference
Agree
I can't believe there are people out there that have that sort of mindset.
So true
Rory has become my favourite person to go to in terms of reviewing cars. He is now very good at his job.
Imo, he is the best..well done Rory
Rory should do the new top gear
Having owned an i30 N, the traction really is something it struggles particularly in the wet on those P zeros. But upgrading to pilot sport 4s and upgrading the torque flex makes a massive difference with the wheel hop
Absolutely word for word. I'd like to add, getting a shifter calibration done fixes notchiness, unplugging the sound-generator takes 10 minutes and lets the car sound it's best, going down to lightweight 18 inches improves the ride massively as well as adding a touch of thin butyl rubber for dampening the resonant areas in the boot and the doors, takes the car to a whole new level.
Oh and this car hates allignment with a passion and I'd recommend to get a 3d allignment done once every 12 months to take that out of the ecuation. This is also extensively documented on the ncars forum. Check it out if you're interested in buying
The finance company’s i30n… not yours
@@LMAO2510 I bought mine outright actually. So yeah, my i30N
@@Tear741 yeah, on a pcp spread out over 60 months
@@LMAO2510 😂 no my own money
The Mercedes A35 is more of a VW Golf R and not the GTI
cos VW R is top of the line, A45 would be the competitor to it...let's just stick to that not the performance
@@just_motoring_australia no it isn’t... golf R and a35 both have 300ish bhp. A45 is 400bhp, RS3 is the a45 competition. That’s it.
@@MrSargentMK 👌
@@just_motoring_australia I love The Mercedes Benz the best 👌 😍 ❤ 💓
@@MrSargentMK correct
Top Gear goes live on the same day with a similar video. Also on the same day they realise they made a massive mistake for letting Rory go.
I own the ST mk4 and it’s best car I’ve driven, coming from owning an Audi. Driver dynamics are brilliant..it’s quick and puts a massive smile on your face. Don’t judge until you drive one please. 🙌
Fair play to you for going for a Ford. There is so much snobbishness against fast Ford's. But what the German club boys don't understand is that a Ford puts a smile on your face like no other can, and that's what driving is all about for me. I don't care if the interior isn't as nice as a VW, Audi or BMW. I want to enjoy the experience. Welcome to the fast Ford club!
I’ve owned a mk8 fiesta st and it was fantastic to drive a and b roads I don’t think that many cars would pull away I currently own a a35 and I honestly think round the bends the fiesta would be pushing me, on the the straights it’s a different story
I owned the mk2 ST and loved it, had a new mk4 hire car last year and it was fantastic, the week before i had a fkn MG in that was similar RRP and the Focus felt like a Porsche in comparison lol
Yep, now I'm a Hyundai fan boy
Crap cars
@@evanswaby7246 Dont agree. Hyundai are producing as good of quality if not better than a lot of manufacturers.
Had one for 2 years - it's a brilliant thing, especially with better tyres!
@@evanswaby7246 youd be very wrong
@@evanswaby7246 you have no idea mate. The first car after a Merc and BMW I don‘t have any quality issues. They are getting better and better. Btw..South Korea is in technological aspects like 15 years ahead of Europe not mentioning the medieval US😂
If an A class was a Golf GTI competitor, surely it’d be an A250?
a220 or cla250
Yeah agree, it’s be up against M135, Golf R, S3 really. New 128ti would have something to say about this lot too I’m sure.
The Fiesta ST is also not fair to be compared. Should be the Focus ST.
@@123italiano321 it is a focus
@@ramacameo lol I have no idea why I made that comment. I am dumb 😅
Id choose the focus st, its like the jack of all trades here, i30n nice too, golf just seems boring and mercedes too expensive 👍
St for me..
You know whats more boring then golf, kia
@Da bobstar The interior definitely is better than your average hatch, and definitely better than the i30 and the new golf. You got an amazing steering wheel, amazing recaro seats and a lot of leather (leatherette?) all the way from window to handrest on the doors and even on the transmission tunnel where your knees are gonna be. Got no clue why he pointed out the plastic on the focus in particular, everything plastic in the focus also is hard plastic in the i30 and golf. Makes no sense.
@@Michael-nx1cd nothing is as boring as a golf.A car for when you've given up on driving and life.
@@muckspreader1able Focus and i30 have bad quality interior merc is expensive and golf is kinda eh to drive but still betther option then i30 and focus and its prolly faster but its sadly fwd.
I bought a year-old i30N and had it for a year, drove it 15tkm, had it serviced once for 250euros and traded it in with bold tyres.
Gross value of the car was identical to the one I had purchase year earlier. Must have been because it was a rare spec with a panoramic sunroof.
Most fun I have had in a car.
why did you end up trading it in?
I got a raise and upgraded to an M140
Do you find the m140 better? Or more fun?
To be honest, i30 N is more fun. M140i is much faster and better built but not as fun. You'd need to drive it 8/10 everywhere while Hyundai is fun even when commuting. But then again, Bmw is much more relaxing most of the time
I30n any day of the week, the most fun and the most reliable. Dealing with vw and Mercedes dealers is punishing
💯 👌🏼
Lol a35 is best
Absolutely. Would even take it over the A35 which just tells everybody you couldn't afford the A45
@@ARDEN440i that's a seriously unhealthy way of looking at a car mate.
@@xIcarus227 It's the bitter truth, though.
As an edition 30 gti owner I’d go for the i30n if I were to upgrade. It sounds wicked out the box and appears to have the most genuine hot hatch feeling. What people don’t realise is the i30 comes with pretty much every option in the price (adaptive dampers/diff/nav etc) I specced a mk7 gti spec for spec and it was nearly £15k more expensive!
@diamus100 You can, depends where the chap is based in the world. With the new facelift, it's a hot contender to the MK8 golf GTI and beats the focus ST as that's still needing a facelift.
I have an N and yes, it’s abysmal in the wet on the p zeros but once those tires are warm and on a dry surface, it’s planted. It’s a riot. Makes every drive much more fun.
Ford Focus ST anyday... would love to drive it and push it and see how much better it is than the current mk III focus station I drive.
same))
If it's anything like it's smaller brother, hell yeah.
Still a bit hesitant though because of the FWD, I remember a little more wheel spinny spinny action than i wouldve liked with the fiesta.
I done the change from the MK3 to MK4 and you won't look back. It's a totally different car to sit behind the wheel of. Only issue is it has made my right foot very heavy
Drove a MK3 at Spa my 220edc was better especially on the brakes and more stable through Blanchimount
callum moran
I have a 2017 ST with a bluefin remap and quaife diff, on pilot sport 4 not S
It’s still a bit of bastard to put power on from the lights in the wet but on the road the torque is pretty decent and it handles good enough for most times, I have just finished paying for it. I live in east London and work in the city with LTN’s and pop up cycle lanes and 7 day a week congestion charge until 10pm ive been pushed out of my car pretty much.
I’d love the New Focus but with things the way they are I doubt I’d get into dept for any new car. I’m feel like I’m being pushed to buy an EV when the only thing I can realistically afford is an MG ZS , and I won’t be swapping my ST for an EV unless it’s a Tesla . 🤧 so it seems as though I’m stuck with my mk3.5
Finally someone gave the most under rated Ford Focus ST the much deserved credit. I for one was really surprised with how good the Focuz ST was. Easily the 2nd best hot hatch on market today barring the Type R.
No
@@seanmaguire380
Ok.. there is always room for disagreement. But my opinion is solid
@@1989rs500 just no.
It's close ... Focus maybe better steering and low down grunt + the suspension can be set to soft while having everything else in race.
Honda is ultimately quicker in the straight line and around the track.
Honda's balance and stability is superior.
The Ford is fun and flickable.
That said, if you’re all about playfulness, have a drive of the manic Renault Megane RS. While the Focus ST will tighten its line nicely into hairpins when you lift off the accelerator, it won't swing its rear-end round like a shopping trolley as the Megane does.
But softening the suspension also softens the engine response in the Honda.
Focus' infotainment system has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity feature along with an 8.0-inch touch-screen with inbuilt sat-nav and voice activation.
Boot space is class leading in the Honda. Honda's 7.0-inch infotainment system's screen is smaller and fiddly to use - no inbuilt sat-nav.
The manual Focus has a better exhaust sound, while the auto ST is about the same as the Honda's.
But no wrong choice here: win, win.
I would go for the Civic Type R or the GR Yaris.
Focus ST is the best looking in my opinion. The back and front end and head and tail lights are gorgeous. Every angle looks good. Everything just works.
It’s good to see Rory as his normal self here ... not ‘acting’ all the time like he did in Top Gear.
Keep it real , bro 🤘
Agree. Didn't think much of him on Top Gear as it didn't seem like he was particularly knowledgeable...but it's clear from his work here that he is and it was just a case of bad scripts.
Please do another review like this when the Golf R comes to the market.
A i30 N from 2021 with a DCT and other tyres I'll guarantee you things will be quiet different by a lot... You'll remember this! 🤔 🙄 😉
i own one and seeing how it has snowed bad im shitting myself for driving to work tomorrow however there are alternative tyres available the michilen pilot sport 4 S's which make a huge difference. as for the DCT of course it will make it perform a lot better but the car is more about the driving experience so it will always be the 6 speed manual for me
@@fynnday6128 I own an i30Nperformance too and best advice I can give is do yourself a favour and get a set of winter tyres. I have the stock wheels with Vredstien Wintrac Pro on them and on snow, ice, cold wet slimy winter roads it's almost cheating. It's got better braking than my Golf R had on all seasons and no problems with traction unless you are hammering it.
I still have the P zeros on a set of Team Dynamics Pro race 3's for the rest of the year as the Pirellis are awful in winter conditions.
honestly that first minute of review is the best ive ever seen and perfectly sums up how most people will buy these cars lol
Mate this i30n is my dream car as a 2nd car. Having a nice tuned and wrapped renault clio rn hahahaha
Focus ST since one Year. It is a joy to drive! day by day. Absolutetly amazing. And i also love the look of it. i prefer the interieur over the golf. More easy to use and quality is pretty good for the price
To be honest i do not know how you can ever compare a ford focus interior to a VW golf.I have golf R my friend has a RS Focus.
the interior in the focus looks like its been designed by Preschool children,
@@MrRonan3 i totally agree if you compare a mk3 focus to a golf mk7 or even mk8.
But the mk4 in the focus made huge step. I drove a mk4 gti tcr. And i cant say it felt any better than the focus. And mk8 golf is just garbage interieur. Just touch bullshit everywhere. If you steer you suddenly touch a button and mute the music....thats so useless
@@FalconXE302 yeah thats right. Manual is even much quicker at higher speed. You can drive 270 kph easy. When you have good circumstances and you are driving slightly downhill you can even reach 280kph.
And yes i got the manual too. Best decision ever! Love the manual with the rev matching downshifts
@@siegbertschnosel9524 Funny you you say that i have just sold my golf R
and purchased a GTI TCR the interior
in the TCR is better than the golf R
I have had an i30N now for 3 years.
It's just so so fun. Changing the tires to the ps4s does make a significant difference especially in the wet.
I'm bias here and would recommend the hyundai, who else offers for year warranty and that includes for use on a track!
It's not as quick as the Merc. Or a civic type R or an RS focus. But the change of tires will make it quicker than others shown. Here. In the dry.
But it's not about that. It's just a great great great car. So much fun. It will surprise anyone that thinks hyundai weren't gonna be capable.
Fun fact: All of those cars were developed in Germany.
The Hyundai i30N was designed and developed in Namyang S.Korea, which is what the N stands for (Namyang) but yes it was further developed at their European test centre at The Nurburgring, in particular the chicane parts is what they concentrated on most, getting the i30N through those bends as quick as possible.
As not designed for comfort
@@WalkthroughWill Yes, but the man behind it is german from BMW M division. So this car is more German than Korean
@@silimarina. Fuck logic :D
@@silimarina. true. even in our homeland, we give Germans most of the credits
Touch screens should be made illegal ! It’s no safer than using a mobile phone while driving !
Agreed, they are ok to a degree but you need physical buttons for basic things like heating. The infotainment system in the old golf was way better, its just cost cutting and i think it's gonna bite vw in the arse.
What!!? Haven’t you guys heard of MBUX? Hey Mercedes! What can I do for you? Turn the bloody heating up because this presenter hasn’t thought of switching the courtesy light on for a second to see in the dark. Mercedes: Be kind like me; I’ve turned the temperature up to 20 degrees. But by the end of the review I thought it was high quality presentation. Thank you.
I use the voice command in my Mercedes for almost everything: climate, radio, satnav, settings etc...
@@WinkelHoof the voice recognition in vag cars are shite
@@WinkelHoof I agree it improves safety besides convenience. The way forward , No Doubt About It, as Errol Brown of Hot Chocolate used to sing, God rest his soul.
i30N all day long!!
2 months after delivery and I'm still guessing where the temperature controls are. But the voice control is excellent and easy to use.
Touchscreens in car's absolutely suck, much like those VW wheels 🤮.
Ever since the i30n came out, it has been my favourite hot hatch, and it still is in 2021. And to be honest, I'd say it is one of my favourite cars that has been released in my lifetime. What you get for your money is simply unbelievable and I just love that it has been designed to make you laugh every time you drive it. It is utterly bonkers, which for me is what a hot hatch should be about. Perhaps not the best one in the class to live with every day, but for driving pleasure, there is little better imo. If I had the money, I'd buy one straight away.
same here mate
Head would get the Merc, Heart the Focus..
The best is a mk7 for around 16k and pocket the rest of the cash
Or a mk6 and slap some mods on and keep the rest.
I agree 👍
Sorry, who's buying a brand new car outright?? Nobody.
@@SuperSuperAllons93 How tf do you think cars end up on the used market? Lmao
@@stickvortex People purchase them on finance deals, they lease them or finance them on hire purchase, a loan, PCP etc.
Those cars eventually go back when the term is up.
Great review Rory, it’s more or less spot on with my preconceived idea of how these would drive. I’m glad the ST drives so well as I’m a Ford fan and they’ve always been near the top of that game. I know plastics give a less luxurious feel but it doesn’t actually mean the quality is any poorer. We all know the A35 is in the wrong company here - really you’d be talking Audi S3, M135i and Golf R. I’d go for the Ford as a driver but the old man in me is kind of wanting flappy paddles these days, something that Ford don’t seem to excel at.
i30n's custom setting solves the problem of stiffness... It is easily the most customisable car there in terms of its setup. On normal setting suspension is perfectly fine for normal use from what I've heard.
In Australia we get the S4 tyres on the I30N. Makes a big difference in grip. I30N would be my pick.
👍🏼2021 Hyundai i30 N Performance with DCT transmission.🔥😎
@@FalconXE302 I'm supreise d the Megane isn't in this group. i know it is getting on a bit but that Renault Sport chassis.
@@shanemitchell5807 Nah it's still P Zero on i30n Hatch. The Sedan version gets the Michelin PS though.
Ford makes the most fun and affordable cars even the low end version fiesta and focus are fun to drive.
That'll be the Hyundai which is most affordable
@scubaru hr Entry level focus has a beam on its rear
Sorry i don't agree i find the focus st and mk3 rs feels really heavy and much slower round a track than the stats would suggest.
Even the S-MAX
@@steeldevil98 i agree, Hyundai no.1
Rory is so good at this. Good job, bruv!
Yeah I own an I30N but I completely agree with what you said about the tires, it needs Michelin's to be able to properly put the power down, especially in the wet. Despite that it is still the best drivers car in the video. Plus 5 year warranty (including track days) and all options come standard with it aswell only extra I had to pay for was the blue paint. Well worth it.
P.S. i promise I'm not a salesman i just love my hyundai 😁
More videos like this, love it :) For me is Ford Focus ST
Drove my dads new Focus ST last week. It is sensational. Ive had around 15 cars since i started driving in 98 and the Focus ST is the best driving by a country mile.
I will pick i30N all the way! Its a good value! Well package for the price! Do we really need plush n luxurious feel in hothatch (merc) ? I dont think so ✌🏻😝
As a objective (not fanboy) i30N owner, I can say you should inform yourself about all the design flaws of the i30N before you buy one.
@@m0LN4r whats wrong with them? Ive found no faults about the design, its a car. It doesnt need much more
@@denomoable Gearbox, Clutch, Wiper Nozzle, Wiper motors, Wiper Aerodynamics, Headlight, Windnoise, Weight, Servo sensor, Panel build quality, rust door area, cold start problems, injector problems and so on. Just some information from a 4k user big community. Or check my video for example and other N forums. I have like 70% of the problems on my 2020 one. It´s a friday Lemon like a lot of them. It´s a nice try from Hyundai, but they have a lot to learn.
@@m0LN4r nothing wrong with any one of them on the list for me👍 its 3 years old
I'd love an I30N, but France has effed up the whole hot hatch Market with its ridiculous push to EVs.
Mercedes has its own "nob gang" 🤣
I tried 😂 not to laugh 🤣
I like when he compare everything with the Golf, Still a benchmark.
It's because it just came out, so it's showing us how it compares with already existing cars up to 2 years old.
@@andreneves6727 Since people started buying Kia/Hyundai, Germans stopped making good cars.
The golf is the worst by far. Interior quality Hyundai is top.
yes, even though the golf is the worst car there
@@micheledallalba8950 Common man its best of both world's Sensible and Fun.
@@haseebwaqar8980 eh i don't know about that. If I want a fun car it's between the Hyundai and a Renault Megane RS. I don't buy a hot hatch to be boring
I had an i30N, was absolutely over the moon with it, can't wait to buy the new version in DCT once I dont have a company car for work.
Nice man I'm happy for you... I just wanted to ask your opinion, how is the i30n in N custom for example with suspension on its most comfortable setting? I've heard it's fine as a daily but would you consider it comfortable enough?
@@Pr0hunt3r18 Since people started buying Kia/Hyundai, Germans stopped making good cars.
@@Pr0hunt3r18 I have an i30N too, in custom with the suspension on nor al its fine. I use it as a daily
@@Pr0hunt3r18 Amazing car, wheel hops from 0-60 in the wet, I got 5.2 seconds in dry weather (pilot sport 4s tyres sorts the wet road issues out) also yes, its a little rough in full N mode in my opinion, but you can have everything in N mode but have the suspension in normal, sport or N so you can adjust it to you liking without sacrificing the pops bangs, throttle response, firm steering, E-Lsd 😁 hope this helps (I kept mine on normal suspension unless I was on a smooth road)
@@themagicmessiah372 How would you comare it to for example a normal i30 when i30n is in most comfortable suspension setting? Are they comparable in this scenario?
The Ford, baby! All the way! And it looks the best too!
Where's the Type R and WRX STI...?
Although the Hyundai, what a pleasant surprise 👍
WRX is old tech
@@ekimandersom4478 true
Everyone forgets that the Renault 5 Alpine/Gordini was arguably the first hot hatch as we know them today , it was on the market several months before the Golf GTI in 1976 with sports seats , alloys , front spoiler & 5 speed gearbox unlike the original 4 speed GTI that looked like a basic Golf !
Renault isn't sold everywhere.
Where’s the new Megane 300 RS edc ?
My thoughts exactly, cracking car
@@MrSunnyBhoy was thinking that precisely
Definitely
He can't include every hot hatch
They just needed one car to be beaten by the proper hot hatches ;)
Megan’s Rs is shit. Quality is bad and lack of lsd means it will be catastrophically slow
Watching from SA🇿🇦
Me too 🙋🏽♂️
We are a Golf GTI country 👍😂
Swansea? 😝
same here.owning an I30 N Which South Africans Love
Umm imbfrom south africa.and i drive gen 1 mazda 3 mps.😝😝😝13 years old.but still a beast
How did VW manage to make a hot hatch look so dreary. I havent seen a single one out on the road yet either.
The only reason why you say that is because some fanboy car enthusiasts said it and now you've tricked yourself to believe it
Take off the GTi badge it could be mistaken for a TSI.. Not very inspiring. As for the Ford, whilst driving along, you'll most likely see another...🙄🤔 A class is just full of tech, how much of it is mechanical? Maybe the wheel studs.. 🤣🤣The Hyundai, do away with badge snobbery, as it looks like the most fun!! and wants to be driven like it was stolen not that I'm implying anything 🤣🤣
VW is a maker of generic cars.
Not true it’s the best looking GTi please go check it out in real life
@@downshiftpedal given its not available as a three door (which always look better IMO), im not buying it.
So good to see Rory lamp a car around Curbrough, and answering the questions real fans would ask!
Here I am with my 2017 Astra OPC/Vauxhall GTC VXR at 320 HP and 500 Nm wishing it was still made today. Loved this review and as a hot hatch driver appreciate it even more. Thanks Rory, and thanks AutoTrader. What a dynamic you have! 💙
Love the new Golf 8 GTI, but the Clubsport is the one to get!
Love all 4 of these hot hatches. The mercedes is probably the most capable and the best but taking price into account the ST is the one I would go for
A colleague of mine has the new ST and he's had the Mountune upgrade pushing power up to about 320hp.
Great handling & performance. Never drove it pre uprade but it feels very fast now. Great fun too.
Golf gti is the best for me. It doesn’t matter which has the most power or drives the best etc. It’s about the whole package. The merc is far too expensive and isn’t really a competitor for the other cars in this test.
As an owner of a mk7 Golf, I’m really disappointed in the overuse of touch screens in the new mk8. They don’t work that well as it is now, especially if you jump in the car in a rain storm and try and adjust the radio with wet fingers. Such a shame, but I’ll definitely be giving the new mk8 a wide berth.
He be flexing his watch like Yianny now.
By covering it with the hoodie?
@@sbstn110Most definitely just likes watches and wears it like a normal person? If it was a casio rather than a yachtmaster he wouldnt be saying this comment 🤷♂️
The answer to this very simple question is - The Toyota GR Yaris
If your family has just one member, definitely. Much too small for everyone else
I used to own two Ford Focuses, one from 2009 and the other from 2014 and let me tell you that yes, while at first glance you think the interior isn't very plush, you soon get to appreciate it for being extremely practical and frankly ok enough, you won't embarrass yourself in front of anyone. BUT, when it comes to driving, they are absolutely heavenly, they always put i smile on my face, even in heavy traffic, even on long distances the time just flew by because they are soo good to drive. Now I own a Golf mk7 and it's very good, more refined, ok, I get it, my missus likes it more. But I do miss the Focus and would not be put off from owning one again.
On the Bridgestone’s - “Keeping this car on the straight and narrow... very impressive in the bends”
really nice video! I´m from German and my english is not quite good, but i can understand almost everything! I love it. very emotional video!!! Best rergards!
What a wild ride Rory! Fantastic review. Thank-you. I don't need a hot hatch. But, I sure want now! :)
I'd go for the focus ST all day but try telling my wife she loves all the gizmos and hates what it was made for.
A real good time on the road. 🔥🚘
Leaving out the Mercedes, I test drove the other three and ended up with the golf GTI (mk7.5). The Hyundai is great fun but when you’re talking about a daily driver it just as nice to be in. The Ford felt huge and simply not as nice as the golf. When it came down to it the gold had enough power to be fun, very nice to drive and ultimately the nicest to sit in for extended periods. If I could afford the A35 I’m sure that would have been my pick as it beats the golf on the reasons that I chose it.
Well done you bought the most boring car.
Yeah i30N is more forcused on performance and taking it to track while gti is more of fun little daily car
I am a fan of CarWow and Throttle House but I must say: I love this guy! Your reviews are simply beautiful.
Thank you!
I have an A35 Edition 1, and I'm loving every second I spend with it. That being said, I'm sure I'd be just as happy with any of the other 3 cars. It's a good time to be a hot hatch owner.
Hi there, cause I am thinking on buying one , could you tell me about possible problems and services? I mean the A Class is rock bottom reliability wise compared to others
@@Tsukuyomi8 Knock on wood, I've had no issues with the car so far. Bought it September 2019. And I've been doing track days 7-8 times a year. Changed brake pads several times, and the disks this winter, but that's a given. One annoying thing I started noticing a year or so ago is some rattling noise from the dashboard and the doors. Plastics and screws rattling when driving on a crappy road. But I can't say if this would have happened if I wasn't going wild on the tracks.
Ive had both the Golf GTI and the AMG A35 and by miles the AMG wins. For a very similar price the build quality and the premium materials in the AMG makes it my fav hot hatch after the EP3 civic
I've seen some tuners get their hands on the MK 8 GTI and they have already fixed both the bad exhaust note and the power output to be just a bit more without breaking the bank in price either. Still , would rather keep the MK 7.5 with the better interior and physical buttons over those crappy touch buttons any day and do the exact same tuning upgrades
It's a shit car the golf isn't it
Focus ST can get 330hp with a simple map. For sub £350. No brainier.
Really wish Ford USA brings the Focus ST to the states - I'd definitely buy one!
Sorry but that merc shouldn’t be in this group. It would compare more to the golf r/Audi S3. But I also have to say I prefer the other 3 cars. Just more lively cars.
great review. exactly what i want out of a comparison video. every car has its strengths and weaknesses. It all depends on what you want, need and can afford.
Surely should’ve had a GTI Clubsport to even it out. As for the A35, its in a completely different class. S3 and Golf R territory.
Not a fan of the GTi. For driving excitement, the Focus ST. For features, the i30N. For comfort, the A35.
A35 doesn't belong in this comparison, compare it to the new golf r
A45 I would say is more a rival for the R
The only rival to the A45 is the Rs3.. Those are hyper hatches
@@Bless_Mabunda 100%
True A35 with S3 and M135i xdrive. Otherwise I think they put it here for reference purposes
@@henrysithole3623 yes 👍 exactly
In my opinion it would be the ST, not just bc of Ford's knowledge of suspensions, I would guess that more litres of displacement mean more options to get more power afterwards
At least VW has the balls to bring the new GTI to the US
What are you on about VW having balls....previous gen's are all over the place so it's selling like fresh baked bread
@@TermlessHGW went over your head.. the other cars aren't avail in the US.
@@lloyd_3656.....unfortunately. Neither is there any good selection of wagons. Shame
Let's all do our part - Write or Call Ford Customer Relationship Center and tell them their customers in America want to buy the new Focus ST - maybe we can convince them it's a profitable choice for them to bring it to the US
this is how every channel should compare performance of cars, i mean every other channel makes a drag and rolling race but in a race track you can see handling of the car or how good brakes are or it gives much more better information about the engine power and shifting. i said to much ''or'' but this video was very informative for me
The sound from the Hyundai is the coolest.
I say st all the way but that's probably because I own one and absolutely love it can be driven casually when needed but pop it in sport or track mode and have some fun it's just an amazing car to drive
That ST is just a masterpiece.
Ford engineers with all the experience they had in the racing world, they putted in the FOCUS.
"It's just an engineering innovation"
Same could be said about Hyundai in the WRC
@@willsmyth639 Yes exactly
Not having more Rory (and also Chris Harris) is where Top Gear slipped into the nonsense it became. Still, there’s now this Auto Trader content so that’ll do nicely. Thanks 👍🏻
Should have brought the GTI Clubsport to the test. Just a little more expensive, way better.
I reckon this ST model looks awesome, specially in that blue. I own a 2013 ST atm and after watching this, I think my next car will be a ST in this blue 😁
Lmao you only saying it because you own st 😂. You're not a true car enthusiast you're loyal to the brand you own and not thinking outside the box. I30N is by far better than st and gti
Focus THE BEST of this bunch
I like Rory's driving style it's between reckless and safe amazing
Considering price and everything the i30N is really really impressive... just need to slap on some good tires and it’s more than good to go
Currently saving for the next model , sold my old car to save me even more money , thats how good i think it is
I get an old school Top Gear vibe from your videos man. And I fucking love it.
I Drive an ST 250, honestly ford st's have always been drivers cars no pretend, no badge snobbery, if you know you know.
So sad that in South Africa we no longer get the new ST. It was well loved and fun to drive
I think Rory went to one of those schools where everybody's a winner,
If u don't criticize faults they never improve
Put an APR Stage 1 tune, cat-back exhaust and cold air-intake on your GTI (as I did), and you'll have exactly what the factory should have done with the car. My car now has ~290 hp, and has a dg short shifter and a few tweaks to the clutch to give it more feel. Car is perfect.
Does the finance company know about this ?
The GTI is a little on the soft side as standard, waiting for the GOLF R
Love this car channel! It’s like a mix of classic 5th gear with the amazing cinematic shots of the cars of top gear! Brilliant review
You can turn the reaction control off in the gti you just need to learn the system, also u can use the heater controls on the screen too
Thanks for pointing out the big flaw with the golf. If you can’t use the heater controls easily, then it’s a potential safety issue and I don’t care how good the rest of the car is. The Focus ST is the one I would have. All day long!
You don’t actually have to use the sliders to control climate. Reviewers are just being silly
The Best Allrounder is GTI
The best hot-hatch is civic type R
Rory is the best! For modern car reviews he has no equal.