Renault Megane RS250 2.0 and Ford Focus ST 2.0 Review: Motorsports Stars
Filled to the brim with lessons gleaned from their respective motorsports arenas, Benjamin has his work cut out picking his favourite hatch.
On paper, both hatches are equally matched. Both are powered by a straight four 2.0-litre lump. Both have a power rating of 250bhp and similar torque figures.
In real world conditions however, we found both cars to be quite different. Despite the similar power and torque figures, the way in which power is delivered is as different as chalk and cheese. Put your foot down in the ST and torque arrives almost instantaneously (at 2000rpm) and the shove doesn’t stop till 4500rpm.
However in the RS, power only kicks in when the needle sweeps past 3000rpm. Now, this wouldn’t be an issue for track days considering you’re always wringing the engine out from corner to corner. But on public roads, nobody drives like that.
Taking both cars through our favourite twisty tarmac, the differences start becoming more profound. Despite the steering wheel being sharp and well weighted in the ST, we found that it was still slower to react than in the RS which felt light and eager to change direction from corner to corner. We figured this was the result of the ST’s electronic alternative to the RS’s mechanical LSD.
Ford applied the same electronic solution to neutralize the ST’s torque steer using the car’s electric power steering with limited effect. It does however prove to be quite entertaining when we have to fight the wheel through second gear corners to the detriment of our lap times. Gear changes though are more slick and accurate in the ST.
This however underlines Renault’s excellence in tuning the torque steer almost completely out of the RS through purely mechanical solutions in the suspension geometry. Another feature lacking in the ST is the selective throttle mapping available in the RS that allows you to alternate the throttle sensitivity depending on the driving conditions.
Off the track, the ST’s suspensions are more forgiving when driving on public roads while the RS continues to pick up bumps where the ST irons out.
During the test, we also observed that the Brembo four pots with slotted discs gave sharp excellent braking feel despite our repeated stomps on the brake pedal. Our past track experience with the RS also showed that these Brembos will stand up well to the harsh track environment with little brake fade. Whereas in the ST, we experienced some sponginess after a short period of hard driving.
It’s no secret that we’ve had a long love affair with the Renault Megane RS since its launch two years ago. We love its on track performance and the excellent mechanical bits that Renault has opted not to compromise for the sake of comfort. And for those (yours truly) who can live with its practical short comings, it is still an excellent machine.
But in terms of everyday usability, the Ford Focus ST gets our vote for being the one the missus (and the parents) will approve. For the $15,000 premium (based on latest prices) you get a better equipment list, 5 door practicality and accessible horsepower you can use most of the time.
Renault Megane Renault Sport Monaco GP 2011 2.0 (A)
Hyundai Veloster 1.6 GLS Turbo (A)
Credits: Story and Photos by Benjamin G. Kline
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