The Two Hottest New Hatchbacks: Ford Focus ST and Vauxhall Astra VXR
I have in front of me two of the world's hottest new hatches, to my right I have the Ford Focus ST, which is Ford's new Global Sports hatch, and to my left I have the Vauxhall Astra VXR, now depending on where you're watching you might know it as the Opel OPC or something else. The Focus is a little bit cheaper than the Astra, but the Astra counters with more power, a mechanical limited slip differential, and torque-steering reducing clever front suspension. It's on paper the more serious piece of kit, but I want to know the answer to two questions: which of them is faster, and crucially, which of them is more fun.
For the purposes of this video, I'm in the Focus ST and my rapid colleague Victoria Parrot is in the VXR. So, I'm just going to see if I can follow her in the Focus ST. My suspicion is that the Astra should be a little bit quicker, but we're just going to see if I can keep up. This is a lot of fun actually, this car, I don't think it's as mobile as the Focus ST really, but it's flipping quick. I've got to say the Astra is more about its front end whereas the Focus is more inclined to engage its back end as well. So when you come on the brakes, it feels like it's turning in, it feels like it's lifting a rear wheel, don't think it is actually, but feels like in really grippy conditions it would, and as you lift a mid corner, very adjustable, very agile, as you'd want. I think a hot hatch should make a good noise, doesn't it? Hope you can hear it, it sounds a bit like the old five-poot St, if I'm honest, it's only a four-cylinder now, hard on the power really does drag you out of corners this thing, the diff you can really feel it, I really like it, actually. Oh, this is good, this car.
So, let's talk about this Focus. It's faithful responds really nicely to steering, but there's a slightly artificial feel to the steering because it's got an electric torque steer compensator which is not as clever as the hyper strut or Revo knuckle suspension that the old RS had. I really would like just a bit more feel from this steering, it's really quite bland, which is a shame because this hyper strut suspension with the diff and this much power is really good. The great thing is you come down on the brakes in it, Trail them in on the back end just a bit, it's engaging, it's entertaining, everything I think that a sort of hot hatch should have that adjustability, but means it.
On the other hand, we have the Astra VXR, which is fast and fun to drive. That was good fun, really thoroughly thoroughly good fun. Okay, so that is the Honny over and done with, very entertaining too. But here's the science bit: I've been out in both of these cars and I've set a data logged lap time in exactly the same conditions for each of them. The Focus went round our handling circuit in 1 minute 16.7 seconds, while the Astra went round in 1 minute 15.4 seconds. So, it's well over a second quicker around our handling circuit does that mean it's more fun? Well, the answer is no actually, I find that the Focus is the more entertaining car to drive by a considerable distance.
So, what makes the Focus ST so enjoyable to drive? It's faithful responds really nicely to steering, which is one of its greatest strengths. The Focus has a very good weight distribution and it feels like it can hug the road tightly at high speeds. However, there's a slightly artificial feel to the steering because it's got an electric torque steer compensator which is not as clever as the hyper strut or Revo knuckle suspension that the old RS had. I really would like just a bit more feel from this steering, it's really quite bland, which is a shame because this hyper strut suspension with the diff and this much power is really good.
The Astra VXR, on the other hand, has an even better weight distribution than the Focus ST. It feels very agile and quick to change direction, making it one of the most fun-to-drive hot hatches I've ever had the pleasure of driving. The Astra's suspension is also one of its strongest points - it's a clever system that makes the car feel like it's floating over bumps and potholes, which is exactly what you want in a hot hatch. And let's not forget the sound - the Astra sounds great, really fun to drive.
But despite the Astra being the quicker of the two, I still think the Focus ST is more entertaining to drive. There's just something about the way it responds to your inputs that makes it feel more connected and more engaging than the Astra. It's not that the Astra isn't a great car - it is - but it's just that the Focus has a certain magic to it, a certain je ne sais quoi that makes it truly special.