Ford Focus RS and Suzuki Swift Sport
I’ve had a Suzuki Swift Sport on long-term loan for the past six months and I’m quite keen on the little hot hatch.
As with the Renault Twingo Renaultsport and Fiat 500 Abarth, the Swift is a cracking little car.
It’s not rapid, but 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds and a top speed of 124mph is more than adequate if you’re looking for a cheap thrill.
Then earlier this week a Ford Focus RS turned up for a week’s loan. Myself and Vijay took both cars out for a good drive.
The Focus RS, as you’ve probably read by every motoring writer, is one of the most incredible cars ever built; 300bhp, 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 163mph. It’s frighteningly fast but super-composed – a technological tour-de-force. A mega hatch of the highest magnitude.
But at £26,000, it’s £14,000 more expensive than the Swift Sport.
Yes, it’s much faster, much more refined and more practical but is it twice as fun?
No. You can chuck the Swift into corners at speed and it’s great. As with the Focus, there’s plenty of grip, minimal understeer and little bodyroll.
Except in the Swift, you’re not constantly looking at your speedo for fear of losing your license because the Focus is so fast. It’s going at a more-than-adequate speed to put a smile on your face.
So if you’ve got the money, would you buy the Focus RS or save £14,000 and buy something like the Suzuki Swift Sport or Twingo RS? Or ignore both and split the difference and spend £19,000 on a ‘2008’ Volkswagen Golf GTi?
Adrian Hearn
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- Ford Focus RS and Suzuki Swift Sport
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i really like this two cars they remind me of Batman & Robin , Batman (FocusRS) is a proper superhero, Robin (Suzuki Sport) is the kind of super hero who doesn’t need gadgets or super suit to save the world, and without him the world would be too serious.
i have a swift sport too (in pearl white n 5 drs)….somtimes i think its more “gti” than the modern “gti”s…..i m glad its compared to a Focus RS, which is another car i like very much (in electric green/blue?)…..imo i ll get the Focus if i got $$ (i wont save it ^^) but if thats not the case, the little swift is more than enough…..