It's a true luxury quintet: Audi RS3, Mercedes-AMG A45 4 Matic, Volkswagen Golf R and Ford Focus RS. Five models that represent the best that each brand is capable of doing in this segment.
An unfair face-to-face?
As I said, each represents the best that each brand is able to do (or is willing to do…) in this segment.
Audi is going to play with the «all sauces» and equipped the RS3 with a 2.5 TFSI five-cylinder engine capable of delivering a massive 400 hp and traction is in charge of a quattro system (naturally). Mercedes-AMG chose to bet on the refinement of its 2.0 liter turbo with a total power of 381 hp (the best in terms of specific power).
The Ford Focus in its last appearance abandoned the mechanic 2.5 liters of five cylinders (of Volvo origin) and started to come equipped with a modern 2.3 liter Ecoboost engine with 350 hp and all-wheel drive system. Volkswagen appears in this comparison with the most radical production version of the Golf range, the Golf R. The less powerful model of this quintet, yet with a very respectable 310 hp of power.
Finally, the only representative of the FWD (front wheel drive), the iconic Honda Civic Type R, which appears in this comparison equipped with the latest generation of the 2.0 Turbo VTEC engine, an engine capable of developing 320 hp of power.
Given these values, there is a clear favourite. But there are surprises…