A 17 focus RS owner here. Everything is stock, 92k miles and daily driven. I can’t complain it has never given me issues! I love my focus and I’m going to keep it forever. Crazy how the car market is right now. I remember I got mines for 38k brand new. I work at Toyota in southern Cali and they’re marking up the gr Corolla at least 10k.
Same, have a '17 I bought used at 33k miles (72k currently) and it's been the most reliable car I've owned including a ae101 Corolla. Hoping to keep the RS and buy a GRC.
I was hoping so much that someone would get the Focus RS back out against the GR Corolla. I loved mine for four years of trouble free ownership and while I've moved on, I still adore the car.
I'm not sure why. Maybe it didn't sell much, but it's ways been a great little AWD sportscar and now we finally get AMG, M and other small cars with AWD
Still have my 18' RS, totally stock besides the cat back exhaust. IMO it looks better and sounds WAY better then the GR Corolla, especially with a Mountune V2x exhaust. The Kona N is barf ugly. I liked the Velocitor way better. 2 more years till my extended warranty is done then I'll have to pick between a Kia Stinger (also being axed 😔), Audi S3, VW Golf R or GR Corolla (can't beat Toyota reliability).
It’s just amazing to see Subaru Impreza WRX STi’s, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution’s, Honda Civic Type R’s, Toyota GR Corolla’s, Hyundai Elantra N’s, Mazda 3 Turbo AWD’s, and Ford Focus RS’s on the road. Great cars for families that want to bring kids everywhere and for daily drives to work.
@@nickwong2525 Well no shit lol. Mazda has been very open that Mazdaspeed is dead and they are pushing away those Mazda buyers from the past. It's still a let down. It's just boring.
@@Konformation07 Mazda may be boring these days, but their platforms/ powertrains still have potential to make good power. Plus Mazda has the best quality, and NVH out of all the Asian brands by far.
I love you guys for bringing back the RS and for comparing it to GR! This is what I have been waiting for! Me as someone who had an RS I of course would still pic the RS, but the GR is a really really nice car that is worth the hype! ❤
I have a Kona N as a daily and a stage 2 modded M4. The Kona is a ton of fun to drive to work and run my kids around. I wanted an RS, but they are all marked up for an older car and ur Civic Type R is still way marked up. My only debate is if I should have got the veloster N instead, but this car is super convenient and I tend to smile frequently in it.
i daily a veloster N. if you got the kona as your only option to drive the kids around, it's the better choice 100%. the veloster N is an amazing performance car, but extremely rough ride for passengers. if you ever have the chance to get a manual veloster N down the road and you don't need it for kiddos, I highly suggest it.
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had a vn 2019 and sold it for a 2022 kona N and its just the same fun but in a more convenient format, with a little more body roll. would not go back for any reasons whatsoever
@@doriangray2347 i wish they held up better. Would have gotten a grey or blue one for sure they look killer. Didnt feel like bleeding money out on one after 40 or 50k miles when it falls apart tho
Great comparison. I've been waiting for video like this. The Circuit Edition is awesome. I still daily drive my RS. I'm up to 62k miles. No major problems to this day even after all my mods. I'm impressed you were able to find an unmolested RS for this video.
I love my 2017 FOCUS RS, the last hothatch! a 5 door hatchback turned up to 11. At 100k, I got the updated shocks and mountune springs and the ride is great now. On a back road, I have to look back to remind myself it has rear seats, it's like a true sports car.
I love my Kona N but I'm not sure why the Veloster N wasn't used for the comparison. It's being discontinued but you can still buy a '22 VN whereas the RS has been gone for longer. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the video! :) Fun fact: the Kona N is actually slightly taller than the regular Kona bc of its bigger 19 in wheels. I really think they should've sold it on lowering springs and a manual option 🤷♀️
@@phattyhales I mean they just say they used the Kona bc the Veloster is discontinued and being replaced with the Kona. By that rule shouldnt the Edge ST be used instead of the Focus? Edge/Explorer ST replaced the FiST and Focus ST/RS
@@chibiskyrc The idea was to show you where the market came from and where it is headed. Car makers are slowly transitioning to making hot CUVs in favor of hot hatches because that's what the general population is buying, much to our chagrin...
Focus RS owner here with 60k miles and… yep, it’s kind of a one trick pony. The suspension is way too stiff around town and combined with a relatively meh interior, it’s not a particularly rewarding experience in any situation other than driving spiritedly. “You’re always searching for the limit” is spot on, it’s VERY rewarding in the twisties, on track and an autocross. In fact, its mind blowing how capable it is compared to cars twice and three times its price. And it’s fun, TONS of fun in those situations. However, it’s entering second-car status for me. I’d say “daily if you must” but it’s better paired with a softer everyday car.
@@glennscottharris very true. Also the latter dampers help. Lightweight ( >18#) 18" wheels help quite a bit too. Combined it retains all the positives of the RS suspension with the ability to be more comfortable than something like the Golf R.
4 years 50K miles on my Focus RS. Because it's my daily, I don't have something softer to compare it to and thus have grown completely used to it. (That and my 18" wheels).
I daily my 18 and love it. The suspension doesn’t bother me at all, but I’ve heard the 18 has better dampers than the earlier cars, so that may be a factor.
17 RS owner as well. I basically drive my wife's Chevy everyday except on Fridays. The roads here in Mass is just not fun to drive on. But when I do get to open up, the RS is such a thrill
My favourite two hot hatches here in Australia are the Hyundai i30N and the Toyota GR Yaris, however I don’t think America gets them unfortunately. They’re smaller, more nimble and fun versions of the Kona N and the GR Corolla.
The i30 N is basically the same thing as the Veloster N. Those things were awesome and I think Hyundai was foolish for killing it off. For me personally, I saw a number of GR Yari in Germany on our Pilgrimage trip. I think they are great cars but without driving one but did drive this Corolla, I would absolutely go for the Corolla. I just like the size better. Again, that's my preference.
@@phattyhales Actually I think you get the i30N as the Elantra N - both are available as fastback saloons and regular hatchbacks, while the Veloster is more "bubbly", while the normal Veloster has that strange asymmetric door thing going on 🤔😯😀🤘 The Elantra N does have a slightly more aggressive bodykit, than the i30N, but I think they're the same car otherwise 😀
@@phattyhales Are you sure as said, the Elantra N looks like the i30N Fastback with a more aggressive bodykit... While the Veloster N that they showed for a second looked more like the i30N hatchback than the normal Veloster 🤔😯😀🤘...
Indeed, like I thought while clearly the Elantra gets a more aggressive bodykit, according to Wikipedia, it's the same car as the i30 😀🤘 ... en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyundai_i30
Still own a ‘16 RS and it’s my favorite car I’ve owned. It’s so good to see someone bring it back out because even though discontinued, it was the car to beat in this class.
There's a lot of automotive journalists out there, but Everyday Driver has some serious soul in their reporting. Love this comparison, definitely love that GR Corolla.
While it's not a hatchback and it's FWD only, I wish you would have compared the GR Corolla and Focus RS to the Elantra N. I appreciate your show and perspective on each car.
As you probably saw if you watched the piece, the through-line is the Hatchback element. We look forward to having the Elantra N in a comparison. Thanks for watching!
I actually had two FiSts and they are an absolute riot! So sad Ford pulled out of the market here in North America with these. Although the newest ones styling has left me kind of cold. Still, they seem to have kept the magic formula as far as driving dynamics, if not improved on the one we got here. If you get a chance, drive one!
I've owned my 2017 Focus RS since new - 6.5 years and 72,000 miles. The ride has softened up just a tiny bit as it's reached the car equivalent of middle age. It's still an incredibly special car, and you're right, it doesn't feel like it's 6 years old - to me it still looks sharp, not quite "FD RX-7" levels of timelessness but still thoroughly modern. Mine was affected by the head gasket issue and I can tell you Ford went above and beyond with Focus RS owners to make it right. Basically if the cooling system held 15psi overnight they would just replace the head gasket. If it didn't you got a new cylinder head. Mine passed the pressure test so it only got a new HG. I've had 2 other problems: a transmission fluid leak on the shift assembly, and a fitting failed on the AC system. Besides that it's been just regular oil changes, spark plugs, brakes, tires, and cabin air filter. Most of the people who blew these up either tried to cram too much boost into the fully open deck RS block, or worked the turbo hard when it was cold which is a big no-no on any turbocharged car. I've had a bunch of Blackstone UOA reports done - every time it's come back with an extremely clean bill of health.
Thank you to Ford, Hyundai and Toyota for producing these cars, even if not all of them are still available new. I've had such wonderful experiences in rally cars and rally-replica cars over the years, including the Ur Quattro, Celica GT-4, 323 GTX, Galant VR-4, Impulse RS and Evo VIII RS. It just might be time for another one.
I went from an EVO VIII>Mazdaspeed3>EVO X>Focus RS>STi, and now an Elantra N MT. The Elantra N is legit and hilariously fun. Can't wait for your review on it
@@marcov9808 I had a hard time trading in my gen 1 Speed 3 for the Evo X. The Speed 3 was the wild child at the time. Kind of like my Elantra N is now, way more fun than the STI. Favorite though, Evo 8 or my FR-S, close call
@@steveadams8008 I went from an FR-S to a '20 STI (both stock) in late 2021 and considered the fun factor to be roughly equal but in different ways. (RWD ftw though). I'm glad to hear the Elantra N is so much fun, it's solidly on my radar for my next daily, I've had fun with FWD before so I know it's no joke.
Difference between the Veloster N (also has NGS) and the Kona/Elantra N is their turbos. Kona/Elantra have a Hybrid Turbo vs the standard turbo in the Veloster. The difference in the turbos make a massive difference. When you swap the Hybrid turbo into the Veloster, the Veloster is faster due to weight. I own the Veloster N and I love it. We have a giant "N" group of Elantra/Kona/Velosters and go to the tracks from time to time.
Great initial comparison, very excited to see what you guys think of the Elantra N and how it compares to the gr in the realm of sporty “affordable” daily’s
@@unexplainedwearenotalone3537 I’m a Toyota die hard , but I have a Kona N . Hands down best vehicle I’ve owned , the driving experience is unreal . There downplaying the kona because of it’s fwd and shit , but it’s E LSD is amazing .
I think Elantra N is a bit more sport oriented than the Kona N from what I've heard. Test drove the Kona N though and it does seem like a larger sporty hatch back. Similar to how I remember the Veloster N when I tested that a year ago.
@@BensCoffeeRants and the best thing is Hyundai has been lying about the hp numbers. People have dynod the N models and there putting down the 286 hp Hyundai claims as crank hp but there actually putting it down as wheel horsepower which means the crank hp is well over 300 . People also forget in a RWD or AWD system you will lose far more HP to drive train loss than you will in a FWD vehicle . The kona is a spectacular vehicle for pushing 280 whp and fwd
@@jordancleal6380 How is the ride on the softest setting? I really wanted the Kona N to be the car but when I test drove it the ride was incredibly jittery/stiff. That said I don't know what the suspension setting was on. For reference I own a WRX & first gen NSX
I have 1000 miles on mine in one week and it is perfect for me. I love the way it’s tears and grips the road. The grin button is super fun coming out of corners.
Car to beat? Compared to its competitors it was the worst. Golf R and type R had miles better interiors and drove way better in the city. Only thing FOCUS did better was looks. Reliability and modifiability it’s also last in.
I sold my 21 VN DCT and purchased the Kona N. Okay I was going to get the Elantra N but the Kona N was a much better fit for me. I have not smiled while driving as much since I got the 12 Fiat Abarth. Kona N has been a pleasure to drive every day . I have a Rivan on order but it will be hard to get rid of the Kona N. I might have to keep it as well.
Same here. Love the KN. Idk why he wasnt driving it with full settings in this vid, was just in sport mode not N. Also get an afe scorcher it makes the car run like it should. Im at 330ish hp/torque rn
I currently own a 22 Veloster N, a 2017 GTI s, a 2021 Stinger Gt1 and a 20 Kona Ultimate turbo. Have not driven the new Kona N but it seemingly could replace all 4
I'm still disappointed they marketed with a $30k price point and it starts at $36k, by the time you add tax, title, dealer fees and mark up its going to be over $40k for the base trim.
@@ronbleazard not the same thing, it's an automatic SUV so it's a lot more mainstream right away. Markups tend to happen to cars that are decidedly not mainstream
Took my ‘18 RS to a track day and passed a Huracan and two 911 GTRs. They had me on straights but not enough to make up for the RS’s superiority through corners.
I had my focus rs until 93k on the clock until the alternator crapped out on me. Made about 410-420 wheel with an nx2 turbo. Great car, pretty darn reliable tbh for how much shit I put it through. I could've kept driving it past 93k but I decided to move into a miata for the time being!
Oh man I'm still driving my 2016 RS and loving it. I also have considered a miata multiple times. Already owned an FRS/86, but would consider buying one again as well! We're so lucky so have so many great options available on the market.
id love a RS. just not for the used prices of 30 to 35k. to each their own. but id never sell a limited edition awd stick, turbo, more powerful, rs for a Miata. but thats just me.
Even as a Focus ST owner of the first one to roll out of my dealership in 2013, I was so excited to see this comparison and to fun that the sister car RS is still relevant. My ST has 177000 km on it now and it's starting to show its age. My clutch is starting to slip. But aside from that the low clearance severely restricts my love for hiking in the backcountry. I've got a Kona N-Line (not Kona N) AWD on order to be delivered in the new year. But even now my ST is still a capable canyon carver with its willingness to do lift off overseer. I will sorely miss my ST when it goes.
We are one of the longest running car channels on TH-cam - but sadly, it's never been a great place for us. We appreciate your support and are thankful you like what we do!
My last car was a 20 elantra GT n line and im still mad about not having the N option. I love my Kona N because the I30N is what i wanted in 2020 and Kona N does it for me.
I'm a ford fan , and ordered a brand new ford puma st in mean green colour due next week in Scotland, out of these three cars in video I would definitely choose the gr corolla looks amazing and love the exhaust layout out back 👌👍👍🏴
Looking forward to the Type-R vs the GR Corolla Reviews. Really interested to see if the AWD or FWD hurts or helps the cars performance or if the chassis is more important than drivetrain.
@@supraJZA80s you would think so but people tend to think about snow/rain traction/capability as well. Type-R was faster on track than all it's rivals but on anything but dry conditions the Type-R struggled to put power down. People tend to way that sometimes more
Thanks for advocating for us enthusiasts, Todd. Not that the dealers will listen to you, but I think it's great that you voiced your disapproval for their market behavior. It's an unfortunate time to be an enthusiast with these prices the way they are. Hopefully it gets better soon.
So nice to see Toyota make a hot hatch! and love your reviews. I've a 2018 Focus RS limited edition with improved suspension and kept everything all stock. I absolutely still love it. Key statement you make, "The GR has a bit more body roll than I'd care for" but then knocks the RS stiff suspicion but rave on handling/cornering. Hey guys, it's the stiff suspension that give the amazing handling/cornering. :). My 18 RS has 37k miles and has been 100% reliable thus far and still is all tight. The 18s didn't have the gasket issue, have a limited slip differential that prior years didn't have, and more. It's held its value a LOT better than critics predicted!! In other reviews of the GR Corolla, it has a pretty quiet exhaust it seems, which is a real bummer. I love that there's another hot hatch on the US market though!!! The US never seems to have enough or as much as other countries. Maybe the GR Corolla will be a solid choice when I'm back on the market...I'm a hot hatch guy! PS: I'm stoked to hear the reviewer here say that the RS he's in "feels new."
Stiff suspension does not equate to good handling. You can have a compliant ride without losing cornering capability. Rly no excuse for making it as stiff as it is especially with electronically controlled dampers.
I had a feeling it would be said that the GR Corolla brings out the red mist. I loved my '03 WRX wagon, it was a perfect do-everything car, but it was a car that worked better and just felt better the faster it was driven...and almost cost me my license. But that was nearly 10 years ago. While I'm done waiting for Subaru to bring back the 5-door WRX (in the 'States anyway,) I'd be curious to hear how the WRX stacks up to the GRC. Another excellent video gentlemen! I've been looking forward to this one for several months now and based on your detailed and well-articulated driving impressions, it sounds like the GRC could fill my WRX wagon's shoes. Cheers!
You’d likely miss the hydraulic steering feel of your WRX, but otherwise we suspect that GR would impress you. Glad you enjoyed this film. Thank you for watching and commenting!
Long term WRX owner here. Bought a '02 wagon and kept it 17 years. 208K miles when I sold it. Replaced it with it's '05 twin to keep me going until the new model only to be disappointed, too much plastic for me. The GR looks like a viable option if you can get one.
Kona N has to be the most fun car i have owned...there are journalists who prefer it over GR Yaris and FoRS and i definitely agree. With $35k you can buy a run of the mill RAV4...i think it's a steal
@@interceptingfist5682 I prefer slick autos these days... Kona N isn't big, it's smaller than like a Focus ST. Just slightly taller and sits a bit higher.
I'm still a firm believer that the Focus RS is the definitive hot hatchback sold in the United States. It's been almost 5 years since it's been gone and it's still King. They use price of them reflect that they're still selling for MSRP if not more
thanks for posting this. all the cars are fun. the focus is just more powerful in its weight/price class. 2016 bought at sticker after 5K deposit and 13 month wait. 115k miles, no issues other than standard recalls (head gasket) and replacing skid guards. 25.1 mpg across the 155k miles. pretty decent for fun every second you are driving.
Great job guys thanks as always you 2 are at the top of my TH-cam list. And that means alot since I turned my tv off 5 years ago. You guys made doing that alot easier GOD BLESS
Great video! I’ve had an RS as my daily for four years and still love it. It’s great to see that it’s still relevant almost seven years after it was introduced. Mine has 68k trouble free miles. I put Continental Extreme Contacts on it which improved the ride. It was also good to see my impressions of the steering feel confirmed. When I first bought it, I had a Mazdaspeed Miata and actually preferred this electric steering rack to the hydraulic rack on that car.
Currently have a Mazdaspeed Miata and I'm stuck between the RS and GR Corolla. Apparently the RS transmission is unreliable. I've heard this from people that worked sales at Ford dealerships. Is there any weight to that? I want one but I don't want the car at the service department for a month. Any advice?
I loved and still miss my Evo x every day. Looking for a GR Corolla within the next year. Hoping Corolla doesn’t kill it off immediately, and hoping the dealers don’t make sales difficult so Corolla sees the interest in these.
As a current mopar muscle owner I'm either gonna get a GR corolla or the new mustang GT or dark horse as my next car. I always wanted a RS couldn't afford one and now that Toyota has basically made one I'm so excited to build one for rally cross with skid plates and all 🥵
it's fascinating watching different videos from around the world and the different roads that exist. and you see how cars are set up to suit those conditions. and then to tune a car that works everywhere, all the time. what a challenge! explains why UK loves it's small hot hatch, like the Focus and Fiesta.
This makes me even more excited! I have a deposit for one at MSRP! I'm too far down the list for a Circuit Edition but a Core with perf pkg seems to be all you need!
Ah man you are literally in one of my favorite canyon runs I’m so jealous I moved out of Utah a few months ago and the only thing I miss are the canyon runs and back roads
Why buy this abomination instead of an actual sports car? You don’t have to goo too far for a very expensive Corolla GR. I would even take the Elantra N over it everyday.
@@Gurka84 I like my KonaN because it's not full blown. I wanted rear seat cup holders, I wanted a 60/40 split seat, I didn't want those harder N sport seats, I like my comfort N sport seats, I like my power seats. I hummed and hawed between the Elantra and Kona but I go the Kona as the winters get a little crazy so when I saw it has "gimmicky" snow settings, it made it a no brainer. My buddys Elantra N gets scraped everywhere and my Kona is completely fine. Also, lowered it by 1.2 inches and it's beautiful, still more room to clear than the Elantra.
@@Boujizz I agree, ppl feel a CUV or a SUV is useless since it's "not good for track" but no one really uses it on Track for real. In real life, the Kona rocks, it has space, ground clearance yet still walk the walk with the Corola
I've been riding motorcycles for a dozen years or so. Always been big bore 4 cyl sportbikes. A few months ago, a Triumph speed triple got on my radar. It is unlike any bike I have ever had. Not because its the fastest and bestest, but the 3 cylinder engine gives it a noise like nothing else. Being inherently unbalanced I guess, adds an engine note that is truly unique. And its not a one trick pony, giving crackles and pops on decel. Every time. It never gets old. I wonder if Toyota took a page from Triumph in that regard....
The sad part is GR Corolla is limited and it will have an ADM markup of ~20-30k . In 2017 I only paid 35k for my new 2017 Focus RS 2k below MSRP. For 43k GR Corolla is good deal but not at 70k with payment over $1000 a month 😮
@@calebnation6155 that's fantastic if true. That's how to keep fun, relatively affordable cars in production - keep them as affordable as they were designed to be
It's too bad you didn't drive a 2018 RS with the revised dampers, it transforms the car into a great daily driver, and it's even better on the track thanks to the front LSD. Great review all the same!
@@verothacamaro yes, all the 2018 RS cars came with the LSD. The entire run that year were called RS 'Limited Edition' and had a few improved features. It's the year to look for if you're in the market, but the prices have remained high compared to the '16 and '17 MYs.
@Singer IDK if it's your intention, but you almost make it seem like a 16-17 would be preferable on track, or produce better tack times. That simply isn't the case. At least when driven to the limit of the vehicles capabilities. While "they" (at least one guy) did say something along those lines, the '18 doesn't "understeer more on track" with the OEM (Quaife) LSD. You will not find a single qualified person making such a claim, especially if they've driven both. The torque vectoring system calibration (including both both power and brake based) are also optimized for the LSD on the '18. Even if the LSD did introduce understeer on initial turn in (it doesn't), that doesn't mean that doesn't mean it would necessarily "understeer more on track", in total. Even if the LSD did introduce additional understeer, in total, it's not to a total detriment to track performance/times. The 2018 is faster on track. This is supported not only in measured times, but the fact that the '18 RS is literally in another class (because of its increased performance due to the LSD) as reflected in a variety of competitive racing rule sets.
Yes but as a manual guy and at 46 years old I though I would never drive an automatic but here I am and having a blast. The DCT is that frigging good and having a blast with my Kona N Go and test drive one.
Also a softer suspension adjustment would be fine. The Elantra N in manual jumps on front but the Veloster N in MT apparently does not have that bad issue
Love the review! I just don't understand why everyone complains about the ride in the RS... It rides just fine in everyday driving and great on the track. I drove mine 3k miles home from the dealer, I never had a complaint about the ride
Great video. I love my 2016 RS and I completely agree with your feelings on the car. I still thought about going for a GR Corolla but I don’t want to pay the dealer markups, and really I think for an RS owner there is no point to switch unless they own a high mileage RS. Mine is at 40k miles so no reason to move on from it yet, but I love that hot hatches are still being made and I can’t wait to see them in the flesh.
As far as ride goes would it be an option to go with a softer spring set up? I’m looking at them right now thinking about buying but I’m an old man (40) and live in Michigan. Just wondering if there is a way to make it ride a little smoother.
@@eliaswreford4523 Late-2017 and all 2018 cars received the revised dampers that softened the ride and improved handling. Look up the part numbers for the revision 1 front dampers and revision 2 rear dampers. That would likely be enough, but you could also swap out the 19 inch wheels for 18s and tires with more sidewall. I went with 18x8.5 wheels with ET40 offset, and 245/40/18 tires. Really took the edge off the bumps and I do not even have the revised dampers yet.
Great to see the RS back...Wish you all in the US got to see the Renault Megane RS 265, 275 or even the newer 280 and 300 Trophy as they are just stellar hot hatches and the older ones were a match for anything it it's class.
I’d love to buy the Corolla, but unfortunately I’m suspecting these are going to have a gnarly markup. Markups these days make it very depressing to be a enthusiast.
fyi - the 2018 RS came with a front LSD and softer damping. A Cobb $100 shift plate @ 30% takes care of the RS shift throw. That '17 must have had the gasket recall done. It should have been made til at least 2020.
Just bought a 1 owner, very low mileage full optioned (everything exept the sunroof) nitrous blue Rs..... And couldn't be happier its absolutely fantastic and a definite keeper
I actually bought a RS in September, instead of waiting a few months to get the GR Corolla. My main reasons were the Corolla is a tad bit too small, the engine is a HUGE hassle to mod, the ECU can't be tuned, and dealer mark ups will be INSANE.
I just pushed a Focus RS to its limits in the mountain. What a great car Ford built. Ironically I just posted the vid on my channel a couple hours ago if you’d like to watch it some time 🫡
I love this comparison. The Focus Rs is still competitive in SCCA solo II. Ford did a great job with it but the Corolla hits more of a sweet spot for me. Too bad Hyundai didn’t lower the Kona N.
Great review, since it means shorter line-up for Kona N. At over $10k less then the most basic core version (Canadian), it has character that'll age better.
The Kona was not designed as a low-riding hatch. Albert Biermann himself said it. If you want a low-slung N car, choose the Elantra N or the i30N Hatch (not available in the US). To be honest with you, out of the box, the Elantra N can achieve a better lap time than the GR Corolla (confirmed by Throttle House here: watch?v=C_BAr5B6Tc4) and this is considering the Elantra N is 'only' FWD. It's a true testament to the chassis setup on the Elantra N that it can trump an AWD hatch such as the GR Corolla. And the Elantra N has less power than the GR Corolla, too...not to mention the Elantra N is cheaper.
That's funny. Brings back car magazine memories. Back in like 2009, Car and Driver's "Lighting Lap" event - The Chevy Cobalt SS out-lapped the Evo X. With only FWD, less power, and from a brand you'd least expect to accomplish it.
@@oraclemiata845 and be under no illusion - that's because of a tire discrepancy, and with the Kona shifting _for_ them instead of normal human gear shifting.
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A 17 focus RS owner here. Everything is stock, 92k miles and daily driven. I can’t complain it has never given me issues! I love my focus and I’m going to keep it forever. Crazy how the car market is right now. I remember I got mines for 38k brand new. I work at Toyota in southern Cali and they’re marking up the gr Corolla at least 10k.
you are lucky. ive worked on many with failed engines lol
Same, have a '17 I bought used at 33k miles (72k currently) and it's been the most reliable car I've owned including a ae101 Corolla. Hoping to keep the RS and buy a GRC.
You're an outlier
@@deepakkv303 you're also an outlier
Stock is boring, you need to modify it, it’s made for it!!
I was hoping so much that someone would get the Focus RS back out against the GR Corolla. I loved mine for four years of trouble free ownership and while I've moved on, I still adore the car.
Glad you enjoyed this. Thanks for watching!
It's crazy how much hype the RS had, and now it's just died off completely, at least on the Internet.
I'm not sure why. Maybe it didn't sell much, but it's ways been a great little AWD sportscar and now we finally get AMG, M and other small cars with AWD
Still have my 18' RS, totally stock besides the cat back exhaust. IMO it looks better and sounds WAY better then the GR Corolla, especially with a Mountune V2x exhaust. The Kona N is barf ugly. I liked the Velocitor way better. 2 more years till my extended warranty is done then I'll have to pick between a Kia Stinger (also being axed 😔), Audi S3, VW Golf R or GR Corolla (can't beat Toyota reliability).
Why move on if it gave you trouble free ownership and you adored it? There's nothing in the market I would trade mine in for under 60k.
I am still in love with my Focus RS
RS
is a fat girl 3460 lbs...too fat for me
Same owned a grey 2017 now a blue 2018
Same currently own a RS coming from a ST😎
Got fiesta ST stage 3 with multiple tunes....either used RS or GR or the new Z need to make a decision
I love my Focus Rs (2017 stealth grey) I also love my Focus St (2013 Tuxedo black)
Nice to see Toyota getting back into performance. I have missed the days of MR2, Supra, and Celica GTS in the 90s
It’s just amazing to see Subaru Impreza WRX STi’s, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution’s, Honda Civic Type R’s, Toyota GR Corolla’s, Hyundai Elantra N’s, Mazda 3 Turbo AWD’s, and Ford Focus RS’s on the road. Great cars for families that want to bring kids everywhere and for daily drives to work.
The Mazda 3 Turbo AWD is a let down for real. No manual gearbox and it was dulled to not be as visceral and to be as soft as marshmallows.
@@Konformation07 Cause it is not a performance car like those listed above.
@@nickwong2525 Well no shit lol. Mazda has been very open that Mazdaspeed is dead and they are pushing away those Mazda buyers from the past. It's still a let down. It's just boring.
@@Konformation07 Mazda may be boring these days, but their platforms/ powertrains still have potential to make good power. Plus Mazda has the best quality, and NVH out of all the Asian brands by far.
mvmv amavvavvvvvbvmbvvmnsavvabvnvnvbnvmvmmbsmnvmvavvmbvvbvvvvsbav
So cool too see a Focus RS with over a 100K on the odometer shows the durability of the car
I aim to reach 100k on my RS. Just hit 40k
Lol they are not all that reliable… maybe the later 2017s and up but the 2016s are not.. trust me
@@zachmiller2245 not all the 16s are cursed like people tend to believe.
@@sgtmorhew not all but a LOT.
@@Madtigertv understandly they got a bad rep but I'm genuinely happy with mine. AWD FTW!
I love you guys for bringing back the RS and for comparing it to GR! This is what I have been waiting for! Me as someone who had an RS I of course would still pic the RS, but the GR is a really really nice car that is worth the hype! ❤
Especially now, that Subaru dropped the ball with the new and ugly, generic WRX, and the Evo is long gone.
I prefer the Peugeot rcz 😊
I have a Kona N as a daily and a stage 2 modded M4. The Kona is a ton of fun to drive to work and run my kids around. I wanted an RS, but they are all marked up for an older car and ur Civic Type R is still way marked up. My only debate is if I should have got the veloster N instead, but this car is super convenient and I tend to smile frequently in it.
i daily a veloster N. if you got the kona as your only option to drive the kids around, it's the better choice 100%. the veloster N is an amazing performance car, but extremely rough ride for passengers. if you ever have the chance to get a manual veloster N down the road and you don't need it for kiddos, I highly suggest it.
public announcement for hyundai KIA genesis owner.
Jan. 31, 2023-Two of America's largest insurance providers, Progressive and State Farm, refuse to cover older Hyundai and Kia models. According to reports, the insurers say that some models of these two auto brands are too easy to steal in certain cities.9
Love my 1.6T, looks so sharp.
had a vn 2019 and sold it for a 2022 kona N and its just the same fun but in a more convenient format, with a little more body roll. would not go back for any reasons whatsoever
To be honest I think the Elantra N has been their best move by far, improves the shortcomings of both vehicles.
Just rolled over 80k on my RS. It's been super reliable. Got a new cat under warranty at 70k and that's it. Sure can build American cars in Germany...
I feel like the focus RS still punches extremely hard in and above its weight class
It is so heavy though
And it’s built like crap
Shifter is on the wrong place and have a very stiff ride. But yes is very competent even on today's market.
@@jmmch3358 i will admit I do hate the shifter and seat position when driving it. It takes away from the car a lot
@@doriangray2347 i wish they held up better. Would have gotten a grey or blue one for sure they look killer. Didnt feel like bleeding money out on one after 40 or 50k miles when it falls apart tho
2016 RS owner here, FBO. Bought it when they were released, never once regretted my decision.
Seeing the Ken Block hoonigan RS hits different after his passing
Great comparison. I've been waiting for video like this. The Circuit Edition is awesome. I still daily drive my RS. I'm up to 62k miles. No major problems to this day even after all my mods. I'm impressed you were able to find an unmolested RS for this video.
I love my 2017 FOCUS RS, the last hothatch! a 5 door hatchback turned up to 11. At 100k, I got the updated shocks and mountune springs and the ride is great now.
On a back road, I have to look back to remind myself it has rear seats, it's like a true sports car.
Crazy there’s already so many 100k RS cars out there. I still haven’t hit 100K in my 2014 ST.
2016 RS here. Still look forward to drive it every day :)
My 17 RS only has 34k miles on it and I daily the car.
Fantastic video, gentlemen! 😎👍 That GR Corolla continues to impress. Still can't get over how it's pumping out all that power from only 3 cylinders. 🤯
F1s are doing 1,000HP on 4 cylinders.
@@boygonewhoopdataZZ Can that be used for more than 100,000 miles? lol
@@fromfareastindy8234 you got a very solid point there.
Guys! This is great! So glad it dropped as a TH-cam episode so quickly and not having to wait for a TV episode to drop then become available.
I love my Kona N but I'm not sure why the Veloster N wasn't used for the comparison. It's being discontinued but you can still buy a '22 VN whereas the RS has been gone for longer. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the video! :)
Fun fact: the Kona N is actually slightly taller than the regular Kona bc of its bigger 19 in wheels. I really think they should've sold it on lowering springs and a manual option 🤷♀️
It’s explained at the beginning of the review why the Kona was used.
@@phattyhales I mean they just say they used the Kona bc the Veloster is discontinued and being replaced with the Kona. By that rule shouldnt the Edge ST be used instead of the Focus? Edge/Explorer ST replaced the FiST and Focus ST/RS
@@chibiskyrc you should make that video
@@chibiskyrc The idea was to show you where the market came from and where it is headed. Car makers are slowly transitioning to making hot CUVs in favor of hot hatches because that's what the general population is buying, much to our chagrin...
Given the i30N is sold in many markets I wonder if that would have made the choice harder, especially with a A$10k price difference
Props to you guys and the team for comparing GR Corolla to the modern day hot hatch/ rally benchmark Focus RS.👍🏼
Focus RS owner here with 60k miles and… yep, it’s kind of a one trick pony. The suspension is way too stiff around town and combined with a relatively meh interior, it’s not a particularly rewarding experience in any situation other than driving spiritedly. “You’re always searching for the limit” is spot on, it’s VERY rewarding in the twisties, on track and an autocross. In fact, its mind blowing how capable it is compared to cars twice and three times its price. And it’s fun, TONS of fun in those situations. However, it’s entering second-car status for me. I’d say “daily if you must” but it’s better paired with a softer everyday car.
I've heard aftermarket suspension controller improves ride quality.
@@glennscottharris very true. Also the latter dampers help. Lightweight ( >18#) 18" wheels help quite a bit too. Combined it retains all the positives of the RS suspension with the ability to be more comfortable than something like the Golf R.
4 years 50K miles on my Focus RS. Because it's my daily, I don't have something softer to compare it to and thus have grown completely used to it. (That and my 18" wheels).
I daily my 18 and love it. The suspension doesn’t bother me at all, but I’ve heard the 18 has better dampers than the earlier cars, so that may be a factor.
17 RS owner as well. I basically drive my wife's Chevy everyday except on Fridays. The roads here in Mass is just not fun to drive on. But when I do get to open up, the RS is such a thrill
My 2014 focus st is making 290 whp & 385 lb ft of torque 😎🤠 it always puts a smile on my face
I have a 2018 RS….. it’s bright & draws a lot of attention because most people don’t know what it is….. it’s a great car, for the right person.
My favourite two hot hatches here in Australia are the Hyundai i30N and the Toyota GR Yaris, however I don’t think America gets them unfortunately. They’re smaller, more nimble and fun versions of the Kona N and the GR Corolla.
The i30 N is basically the same thing as the Veloster N. Those things were awesome and I think Hyundai was foolish for killing it off. For me personally, I saw a number of GR Yari in Germany on our Pilgrimage trip. I think they are great cars but without driving one but did drive this Corolla, I would absolutely go for the Corolla. I just like the size better. Again, that's my preference.
@@phattyhales Actually I think you get the i30N as the Elantra N - both are available as fastback saloons and regular hatchbacks, while the Veloster is more "bubbly", while the normal Veloster has that strange asymmetric door thing going on 🤔😯😀🤘
The Elantra N does have a slightly more aggressive bodykit, than the i30N, but I think they're the same car otherwise 😀
@@tanner1ie we absolutely don’t get the i30 in the US. Wish we did though!
@@phattyhales Are you sure as said, the Elantra N looks like the i30N Fastback with a more aggressive bodykit...
While the Veloster N that they showed for a second looked more like the i30N hatchback than the normal Veloster 🤔😯😀🤘...
Indeed, like I thought while clearly the Elantra gets a more aggressive bodykit, according to Wikipedia, it's the same car as the i30 😀🤘 ...
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyundai_i30
Still own a ‘16 RS and it’s my favorite car I’ve owned. It’s so good to see someone bring it back out because even though discontinued, it was the car to beat in this class.
This is the newest GR Corolla video in weeks, thanks for the content
There's a lot of automotive journalists out there, but Everyday Driver has some serious soul in their reporting. Love this comparison, definitely love that GR Corolla.
Thank you. We take that as a huge compliment. We're glad to have you watching!
While it's not a hatchback and it's FWD only, I wish you would have compared the GR Corolla and Focus RS to the Elantra N. I appreciate your show and perspective on each car.
As you probably saw if you watched the piece, the through-line is the Hatchback element. We look forward to having the Elantra N in a comparison. Thanks for watching!
Actually probably would've been better to use the veloster n, since that's closer, and it's a hatchback
@Alaberti so, the focus rs has long been discontinued, it's still here
@@jakob9292 I'm about to buy an RS, so it's still here for sure.
@@TheJaymon1962 ... yeah, a used one because it's been discontinued
I am a Ford Fiesta owner, no issues since 2015. And this is the review I always like to watch.
Had an RS an ST and a fiesta ST, loved them all,but the Fiesta St was the most fun, like driving a go kart
I actually had two FiSts and they are an absolute riot! So sad Ford pulled out of the market here in North America with these. Although the newest ones styling has left me kind of cold. Still, they seem to have kept the magic formula as far as driving dynamics, if not improved on the one we got here. If you get a chance, drive one!
I've owned my 2017 Focus RS since new - 6.5 years and 72,000 miles. The ride has softened up just a tiny bit as it's reached the car equivalent of middle age. It's still an incredibly special car, and you're right, it doesn't feel like it's 6 years old - to me it still looks sharp, not quite "FD RX-7" levels of timelessness but still thoroughly modern.
Mine was affected by the head gasket issue and I can tell you Ford went above and beyond with Focus RS owners to make it right. Basically if the cooling system held 15psi overnight they would just replace the head gasket. If it didn't you got a new cylinder head. Mine passed the pressure test so it only got a new HG. I've had 2 other problems: a transmission fluid leak on the shift assembly, and a fitting failed on the AC system. Besides that it's been just regular oil changes, spark plugs, brakes, tires, and cabin air filter.
Most of the people who blew these up either tried to cram too much boost into the fully open deck RS block, or worked the turbo hard when it was cold which is a big no-no on any turbocharged car. I've had a bunch of Blackstone UOA reports done - every time it's come back with an extremely clean bill of health.
I love my 1.6T AWD Kona. It moves when I want it to. I named her “ The Little Beast”.
My cousin has that exact car, 200 hp is definitely enough to have fun and get into trouble with
Awesome Vid!!! Love the content as always guys!!!! Both the Kona N and the GR Corolla have been on my radar. Thank-you!!!!
I love my Kona N, the way it Steers is amazing, and it is super fun!
The Focus still looks the coolest to me.
Thank you to Ford, Hyundai and Toyota for producing these cars, even if not all of them are still available new. I've had such wonderful experiences in rally cars and rally-replica cars over the years, including the Ur Quattro, Celica GT-4, 323 GTX, Galant VR-4, Impulse RS and Evo VIII RS. It just might be time for another one.
Yeah, I'd have to agree some of the best road going cars, bar none, were either Gr A rally homologation or homologation-inspired cars!
I went from an EVO VIII>Mazdaspeed3>EVO X>Focus RS>STi, and now an Elantra N MT. The Elantra N is legit and hilariously fun. Can't wait for your review on it
Which is your favorite? Im looking to get a 19 sti, currently have a gen1 speed
@@marcov9808 I had a hard time trading in my gen 1 Speed 3 for the Evo X. The Speed 3 was the wild child at the time. Kind of like my Elantra N is now, way more fun than the STI. Favorite though, Evo 8 or my FR-S, close call
@@steveadams8008 I went from an FR-S to a '20 STI (both stock) in late 2021 and considered the fun factor to be roughly equal but in different ways. (RWD ftw though).
I'm glad to hear the Elantra N is so much fun, it's solidly on my radar for my next daily, I've had fun with FWD before so I know it's no joke.
Difference between the Veloster N (also has NGS) and the Kona/Elantra N is their turbos. Kona/Elantra have a Hybrid Turbo vs the standard turbo in the Veloster. The difference in the turbos make a massive difference. When you swap the Hybrid turbo into the Veloster, the Veloster is faster due to weight.
I own the Veloster N and I love it. We have a giant "N" group of Elantra/Kona/Velosters and go to the tracks from time to time.
2016 focus owner here got it brand new 7miles in 2017 have 45k miles and not a single issue. Love the car very much and has been great to me 🤘🏻
Great initial comparison, very excited to see what you guys think of the Elantra N and how it compares to the gr in the realm of sporty “affordable” daily’s
U think gr can beat n performance never and never happened Kona n is full flat best stability sound best and still Kona n beast.
@@unexplainedwearenotalone3537 I’m a Toyota die hard , but I have a Kona N . Hands down best vehicle I’ve owned , the driving experience is unreal . There downplaying the kona because of it’s fwd and shit , but it’s E LSD is amazing .
I think Elantra N is a bit more sport oriented than the Kona N from what I've heard. Test drove the Kona N though and it does seem like a larger sporty hatch back. Similar to how I remember the Veloster N when I tested that a year ago.
@@BensCoffeeRants and the best thing is Hyundai has been lying about the hp numbers. People have dynod the N models and there putting down the 286 hp Hyundai claims as crank hp but there actually putting it down as wheel horsepower which means the crank hp is well over 300 .
People also forget in a RWD or AWD system you will lose far more HP to drive train loss than you will in a FWD vehicle . The kona is a spectacular vehicle for pushing 280 whp and fwd
@@jordancleal6380 How is the ride on the softest setting? I really wanted the Kona N to be the car but when I test drove it the ride was incredibly jittery/stiff. That said I don't know what the suspension setting was on. For reference I own a WRX & first gen NSX
I have a kona N... And holy crap that is a fun car and yes, it's a tall hatchback. lol
Same! Great value for what you get, been lovin' it so far!
I have 1000 miles on mine in one week and it is perfect for me. I love the way it’s tears and grips the road. The grin button is super fun coming out of corners.
Steers
My brother has a Focus RS 2018. Ford hit a home run with that one. Still the car to beat.
Car to beat? Compared to its competitors it was the worst. Golf R and type R had miles better interiors and drove way better in the city. Only thing FOCUS did better was looks. Reliability and modifiability it’s also last in.
I sold my 21 VN DCT and purchased the Kona N. Okay I was going to get the Elantra N but the Kona N was a much better fit for me. I have not smiled while driving as much since I got the 12 Fiat Abarth. Kona N has been a pleasure to drive every day . I have a Rivan on order but it will be hard to get rid of the Kona N. I might have to keep it as well.
Same here. Love the KN. Idk why he wasnt driving it with full settings in this vid, was just in sport mode not N. Also get an afe scorcher it makes the car run like it should. Im at 330ish hp/torque rn
I currently own a 22 Veloster N, a 2017 GTI s, a 2021 Stinger Gt1 and a 20 Kona Ultimate turbo. Have not driven the new Kona N but it seemingly could replace all 4
I'm still disappointed they marketed with a $30k price point and it starts at $36k, by the time you add tax, title, dealer fees and mark up its going to be over $40k for the base trim.
I got my Kona N last week for under 40 K out the door
@@ronbleazard not the same thing, it's an automatic SUV so it's a lot more mainstream right away. Markups tend to happen to cars that are decidedly not mainstream
Definitely the comparison I wanted with the Kona N and Corolla GR!!
Thanks guys
Before I even let the ads finish I can tell you it’s the RS all day lone not even close or even a question, period
Try buying one I’ll bet you can’t.
Took my ‘18 RS to a track day and passed a Huracan and two 911 GTRs. They had me on straights but not enough to make up for the RS’s superiority through corners.
I had my focus rs until 93k on the clock until the alternator crapped out on me. Made about 410-420 wheel with an nx2 turbo. Great car, pretty darn reliable tbh for how much shit I put it through. I could've kept driving it past 93k but I decided to move into a miata for the time being!
Oh man I'm still driving my 2016 RS and loving it. I also have considered a miata multiple times. Already owned an FRS/86, but would consider buying one again as well! We're so lucky so have so many great options available on the market.
id love a RS. just not for the used prices of 30 to 35k. to each their own. but id never sell a limited edition awd stick, turbo, more powerful, rs for a Miata. but thats just me.
I own a focus RS and a NA Miata great combo;)
Good God. You switched cars because the alternator went out?? What do you do when the tires wear out? Or needs an oil change? Burn it?
@@Someonehad2sayit That's an absolutely absurd assumption. Purely wanted to get rid of it cause I was bored with it.
Best enthusiast channel on TH-cam. Car guys reviewing cars for car people
Thank you. We’re glad you connect with what we do as intended!
Even as a Focus ST owner of the first one to roll out of my dealership in 2013, I was so excited to see this comparison and to fun that the sister car RS is still relevant.
My ST has 177000 km on it now and it's starting to show its age. My clutch is starting to slip. But aside from that the low clearance severely restricts my love for hiking in the backcountry.
I've got a Kona N-Line (not Kona N) AWD on order to be delivered in the new year.
But even now my ST is still a capable canyon carver with its willingness to do lift off overseer. I will sorely miss my ST when it goes.
Its amazing to me that these guys still dont have 1M subs. This is one of the best car channels out there!
We are one of the longest running car channels on TH-cam - but sadly, it's never been a great place for us. We appreciate your support and are thankful you like what we do!
@@EverydayDriver ive been rooting for you guys since the first everyday driver vid i watched. Will continue to spread the word
Why on earth did they never release the I30N hatch in the US? It addresses all the issues with the Kona in the video.
Probably because the elantra GT hatch never sold well. I wish they gave us the i30N!!!
My last car was a 20 elantra GT n line and im still mad about not having the N option. I love my Kona N because the I30N is what i wanted in 2020 and Kona N does it for me.
I'm a ford fan , and ordered a brand new ford puma st in mean green colour due next week in Scotland, out of these three cars in video I would definitely choose the gr corolla looks amazing and love the exhaust layout out back 👌👍👍🏴
Looking forward to the Type-R vs the GR Corolla Reviews. Really interested to see if the AWD or FWD hurts or helps the cars performance or if the chassis is more important than drivetrain.
I'm excited for the new type r as well
Chassis is more important than drivetrain.
Honda type R yeah stupid car FWD and can't drifting oh shit men
@@supraJZA80s you would think so but people tend to think about snow/rain traction/capability as well. Type-R was faster on track than all it's rivals but on anything but dry conditions the Type-R struggled to put power down. People tend to way that sometimes more
@@quinn4477 you couldn't drift it if it was RWD my guy
Thanks for advocating for us enthusiasts, Todd. Not that the dealers will listen to you, but I think it's great that you voiced your disapproval for their market behavior. It's an unfortunate time to be an enthusiast with these prices the way they are. Hopefully it gets better soon.
As an rs owner I was so excited to see the comparison, thank you
Absolutely sweet car. I had the pleasure of driving a 100% stock one once, it was more fun than my STI
So nice to see Toyota make a hot hatch! and love your reviews. I've a 2018 Focus RS limited edition with improved suspension and kept everything all stock. I absolutely still love it. Key statement you make, "The GR has a bit more body roll than I'd care for" but then knocks the RS stiff suspicion but rave on handling/cornering. Hey guys, it's the stiff suspension that give the amazing handling/cornering. :). My 18 RS has 37k miles and has been 100% reliable thus far and still is all tight. The 18s didn't have the gasket issue, have a limited slip differential that prior years didn't have, and more. It's held its value a LOT better than critics predicted!! In other reviews of the GR Corolla, it has a pretty quiet exhaust it seems, which is a real bummer. I love that there's another hot hatch on the US market though!!! The US never seems to have enough or as much as other countries. Maybe the GR Corolla will be a solid choice when I'm back on the market...I'm a hot hatch guy! PS: I'm stoked to hear the reviewer here say that the RS he's in "feels new."
Every Focus RS is limited edition 😊
Stiff suspension does not equate to good handling. You can have a compliant ride without losing cornering capability. Rly no excuse for making it as stiff as it is especially with electronically controlled dampers.
Focus rs is a beast. Wish Ford kept it . Shocked the gr Corolla was first place given the focus was faster to 60 .
Wanted the focus rs but was too young. Finally got my GR corolla 5 days ago
I had a feeling it would be said that the GR Corolla brings out the red mist. I loved my '03 WRX wagon, it was a perfect do-everything car, but it was a car that worked better and just felt better the faster it was driven...and almost cost me my license. But that was nearly 10 years ago.
While I'm done waiting for Subaru to bring back the 5-door WRX (in the 'States anyway,) I'd be curious to hear how the WRX stacks up to the GRC.
Another excellent video gentlemen! I've been looking forward to this one for several months now and based on your detailed and well-articulated driving impressions, it sounds like the GRC could fill my WRX wagon's shoes. Cheers!
You’d likely miss the hydraulic steering feel of your WRX, but otherwise we suspect that GR would impress you.
Glad you enjoyed this film. Thank you for watching and commenting!
Long term WRX owner here. Bought a '02 wagon and kept it 17 years. 208K miles when I sold it. Replaced it with it's '05 twin to keep me going until the new model only to be disappointed, too much plastic for me. The GR looks like a viable option if you can get one.
I put a deposit on one of these in February. Told I was second in line. Really hope I can get my hands on one of these near launch🤞
Nice to see the GR-Four badging on the Corolla, recalling another rally-bred Toyota (GT-Four) from years past
Kona N has to be the most fun car i have owned...there are journalists who prefer it over GR Yaris and FoRS and i definitely agree. With $35k you can buy a run of the mill RAV4...i think it's a steal
Agreed. Kona Ns rule.
they're cool if you like automatics and big cars bordering SUV's with power
@@interceptingfist5682 I prefer slick autos these days... Kona N isn't big, it's smaller than like a Focus ST. Just slightly taller and sits a bit higher.
I'm still a firm believer that the Focus RS is the definitive hot hatchback sold in the United States. It's been almost 5 years since it's been gone and it's still King. They use price of them reflect that they're still selling for MSRP if not more
Golf R tho
@@usr01 the golf R is cool. But VWs feel like you are driving a kitchen appliance.
If you want more fun l, especially if you only drive on the street the FiST is the way to go
thanks for posting this. all the cars are fun. the focus is just more powerful in its weight/price class. 2016 bought at sticker after 5K deposit and 13 month wait. 115k miles, no issues other than standard recalls (head gasket) and replacing skid guards. 25.1 mpg across the 155k miles. pretty decent for fun every second you are driving.
Great job guys thanks as always you 2 are at the top of my TH-cam list. And that means alot since I turned my tv off 5 years ago. You guys made doing that alot easier GOD BLESS
Glad you enjoy what we do. Thank you for watching!
Great video! I’ve had an RS as my daily for four years and still love it. It’s great to see that it’s still relevant almost seven years after it was introduced. Mine has 68k trouble free miles. I put Continental Extreme Contacts on it which improved the ride. It was also good to see my impressions of the steering feel confirmed. When I first bought it, I had a Mazdaspeed Miata and actually preferred this electric steering rack to the hydraulic rack on that car.
87k on my rs going strong love to see it and i just want to have this car forever lol
If you’re experiencing “trouble” within 100K, you got a lemon lol. Trouble free sub 100k is nothing to boast about, that should be standard.
@@windmillman thanks buzzkill
@@odrs you’re welcome! 😘
Currently have a Mazdaspeed Miata and I'm stuck between the RS and GR Corolla.
Apparently the RS transmission is unreliable. I've heard this from people that worked sales at Ford dealerships. Is there any weight to that? I want one but I don't want the car at the service department for a month. Any advice?
I loved and still miss my Evo x every day. Looking for a GR Corolla within the next year. Hoping Corolla doesn’t kill it off immediately, and hoping the dealers don’t make sales difficult so Corolla sees the interest in these.
You guys do fantastic reviews. Thanks for that.
As a current mopar muscle owner I'm either gonna get a GR corolla or the new mustang GT or dark horse as my next car. I always wanted a RS couldn't afford one and now that Toyota has basically made one I'm so excited to build one for rally cross with skid plates and all 🥵
it's fascinating watching different videos from around the world and the different roads that exist. and you see how cars are set up to suit those conditions. and then to tune a car that works everywhere, all the time. what a challenge!
explains why UK loves it's small hot hatch, like the Focus and Fiesta.
I graduated from college this summer, and when I get a new job I’m so getting a GR corolla.
This makes me even more excited! I have a deposit for one at MSRP! I'm too far down the list for a Circuit Edition but a Core with perf pkg seems to be all you need!
Ah man you are literally in one of my favorite canyon runs I’m so jealous I moved out of Utah a few months ago and the only thing I miss are the canyon runs and back roads
Been lovin' my Kona N, NGrinShift and all! But love that we have these type of cars still before the EV takeover T_T
Why buy this abomination instead of an actual sports car? You don’t have to goo too far for a very expensive Corolla GR. I would even take the Elantra N over it everyday.
@@Gurka84 I like my KonaN because it's not full blown. I wanted rear seat cup holders, I wanted a 60/40 split seat, I didn't want those harder N sport seats, I like my comfort N sport seats, I like my power seats. I hummed and hawed between the Elantra and Kona but I go the Kona as the winters get a little crazy so when I saw it has "gimmicky" snow settings, it made it a no brainer. My buddys Elantra N gets scraped everywhere and my Kona is completely fine.
Also, lowered it by 1.2 inches and it's beautiful, still more room to clear than the Elantra.
@@Boujizz I agree, ppl feel a CUV or a SUV is useless since it's "not good for track" but no one really uses it on Track for real.
In real life, the Kona rocks, it has space, ground clearance yet still walk the walk with the Corola
@@1300l Also saved close to $15k Canadian which I'm going stage 2, N75.
@@Boujizz nice future power mods! Which ecu tune are going with? Can’t wait to see!
I've been riding motorcycles for a dozen years or so. Always been big bore 4 cyl sportbikes. A few months ago, a Triumph speed triple got on my radar. It is unlike any bike I have ever had. Not because its the fastest and bestest, but the 3 cylinder engine gives it a noise like nothing else. Being inherently unbalanced I guess, adds an engine note that is truly unique. And its not a one trick pony, giving crackles and pops on decel. Every time. It never gets old. I wonder if Toyota took a page from Triumph in that regard....
The sad part is GR Corolla is limited and it will have an ADM markup of ~20-30k . In 2017 I only paid 35k for my new 2017 Focus RS 2k below MSRP. For 43k GR Corolla is good deal but not at 70k with payment over $1000 a month 😮
Toyota has said they won’t ship allotments to dealers that mark them up more than like 5k above MSRP or some number like that
@@calebnation6155 that's fantastic if true. That's how to keep fun, relatively affordable cars in production - keep them as affordable as they were designed to be
I just bought a Kona and the letter N @MSRP price, I love it, it is super fun! Good luck trying to get a Toyota without waiting for more than a year.
It's too bad you didn't drive a 2018 RS with the revised dampers, it transforms the car into a great daily driver, and it's even better on the track thanks to the front LSD. Great review all the same!
Was the front LSD available on all trims of the 2018?
@@verothacamaro yes, all the 2018 RS cars came with the LSD. The entire run that year were called RS 'Limited Edition' and had a few improved features. It's the year to look for if you're in the market, but the prices have remained high compared to the '16 and '17 MYs.
@@markhanna7504 ah you’re right. I just looked at the market and most 18s are sitting at $40k or above.
@Singer IDK if it's your intention, but you almost make it seem like a 16-17 would be preferable on track, or produce better tack times. That simply isn't the case. At least when driven to the limit of the vehicles capabilities.
While "they" (at least one guy) did say something along those lines, the '18 doesn't "understeer more on track" with the OEM (Quaife) LSD. You will not find a single qualified person making such a claim, especially if they've driven both.
The torque vectoring system calibration (including both both power and brake based) are also optimized for the LSD on the '18. Even if the LSD did introduce understeer on initial turn in (it doesn't), that doesn't mean that doesn't mean it would necessarily "understeer more on track", in total.
Even if the LSD did introduce additional understeer, in total, it's not to a total detriment to track performance/times. The 2018 is faster on track. This is supported not only in measured times, but the fact that the '18 RS is literally in another class (because of its increased performance due to the LSD) as reflected in a variety of competitive racing rule sets.
@Singer you're impressive. I admire your response to my comment. Thank you for it. It is much better than typical, and/or I come to expect.
My friend just got his GR Corolla. Have not even picked it up yet. delivered to dealer today.
I think the Kona N would be pretty awesome if Hyundai offered it with a 6-speed manual.
Yes but as a manual guy and at 46 years old I though I would never drive an automatic but here I am and having a blast. The DCT is that frigging good and having a blast with my Kona N
Go and test drive one.
The DCT they offer is a great DCT, the six-speed is good at best. I'd rather have a manual, but I want a great one (spoiled by an S2K).
Also a softer suspension adjustment would be fine.
The Elantra N in manual jumps on front but the Veloster N in MT apparently does not have that bad issue
@@thepassionofthegoose5472 Coming from the geezer desk. Yeah, manual for me too (spoiled by '91 NSX)
I'm 42, and just bought a brand new vehicle a few months ago and didn't even consider anything that was auto only @@michaelfont7239
Love the review! I just don't understand why everyone complains about the ride in the RS... It rides just fine in everyday driving and great on the track. I drove mine 3k miles home from the dealer, I never had a complaint about the ride
I remembered when RS first came out in 2016 everyone was complaining about its high sitting position😂😂😂😂 now it is the best?
Great review great video and everyone been waiting on this head 2 head
Great video. I love my 2016 RS and I completely agree with your feelings on the car. I still thought about going for a GR Corolla but I don’t want to pay the dealer markups, and really I think for an RS owner there is no point to switch unless they own a high mileage RS. Mine is at 40k miles so no reason to move on from it yet, but I love that hot hatches are still being made and I can’t wait to see them in the flesh.
As far as ride goes would it be an option to go with a softer spring set up? I’m looking at them right now thinking about buying but I’m an old man (40) and live in Michigan. Just wondering if there is a way to make it ride a little smoother.
@@eliaswreford4523 Late-2017 and all 2018 cars received the revised dampers that softened the ride and improved handling. Look up the part numbers for the revision 1 front dampers and revision 2 rear dampers. That would likely be enough, but you could also swap out the 19 inch wheels for 18s and tires with more sidewall. I went with 18x8.5 wheels with ET40 offset, and 245/40/18 tires. Really took the edge off the bumps and I do not even have the revised dampers yet.
That helps so much. Thank you. Truly thank you for the input.
Great to see the RS back...Wish you all in the US got to see the Renault Megane RS 265, 275 or even the newer 280 and 300 Trophy as they are just stellar hot hatches and the older ones were a match for anything it it's class.
I’d love to buy the Corolla, but unfortunately I’m suspecting these are going to have a gnarly markup. Markups these days make it very depressing to be a enthusiast.
fyi - the 2018 RS came with a front LSD and softer damping. A Cobb $100 shift plate @ 30% takes care of the RS shift throw. That '17 must have had the gasket recall done. It should have been made til at least 2020.
Honestly the Kona N is slept on. Its a really attractive vehicle. Sounds really nice right from the factory too.
Just bought a 1 owner, very low mileage full optioned (everything exept the sunroof) nitrous blue Rs..... And couldn't be happier its absolutely fantastic and a definite keeper
I still own my 2016 Focus RS, looking forward to this one!
Edit: I'm not getting rid of the ol gal anytime soon.
I actually bought a RS in September, instead of waiting a few months to get the GR Corolla. My main reasons were the Corolla is a tad bit too small, the engine is a HUGE hassle to mod, the ECU can't be tuned, and dealer mark ups will be INSANE.
You can tune the ECU but it requires some splitting iirc.
We used to have crossovers back in the 80's when I was growing up too. We just called them station wagons!!
the Kona N also has the turbo from the elantra N.. which is larger then the veloster N .. housings and wheels are bigger not just overboost
Personally I’d opt for the focus RS it even looks more upscale
I prefer the Peugeot rcz
@@heldermonteiro2718 whatever that is lol
@@lsjionredlinesupercharged2049
One exemple
th-cam.com/video/KTXKr-C0TzI/w-d-xo.html
I just pushed a Focus RS to its limits in the mountain. What a great car Ford built. Ironically I just posted the vid on my channel a couple hours ago if you’d like to watch it some time 🫡
I love this comparison. The Focus Rs is still competitive in SCCA solo II. Ford did a great job with it but the Corolla hits more of a sweet spot for me. Too bad Hyundai didn’t lower the Kona N.
This owner autocrosses their RS regularly!
@@phattyhales I get my butt kicked once a month by an RS driver in Lincoln.
Received 2023 Carolla SE hatch! 2 litre...outstanding! 3 drive modes
..manual with paddle shifter!! Toyota go!🤩🇺🇸👍👍👍
👏👏👏GREAT JOB GUYS 👏👏👏
HAPPY FRIDAY...HAVE A BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND EVERYONE ✌️
You as well
The RS/ST platform has such a cult following. I have a stealth Gray RS and a Shadow Black Fiesta ST. I love them both and the GR is calling my name.
Great review, since it means shorter line-up for Kona N. At over $10k less then the most basic core version (Canadian), it has character that'll age better.
For me is the best looking N. And the best for the $.
Only shortfall is that it doesn't not have a softer ride.
@@jmmch3358 In eco and normal it's absolutely fine for me and I live in the UK
I agree, but I bought the Kona N for a fun car, so it fits my needs perfectly.
Love my 17 RS in frozen white. Never driven such a fantastic hatchback in my life.
The Kona was not designed as a low-riding hatch. Albert Biermann himself said it. If you want a low-slung N car, choose the Elantra N or the i30N Hatch (not available in the US). To be honest with you, out of the box, the Elantra N can achieve a better lap time than the GR Corolla (confirmed by Throttle House here: watch?v=C_BAr5B6Tc4) and this is considering the Elantra N is 'only' FWD. It's a true testament to the chassis setup on the Elantra N that it can trump an AWD hatch such as the GR Corolla. And the Elantra N has less power than the GR Corolla, too...not to mention the Elantra N is cheaper.
the thing is no one really cares about Hyundai.
@@interceptingfist5682 well thats their loss mate, 100%. Ignorance is bliss for some
That's funny. Brings back car magazine memories.
Back in like 2009, Car and Driver's "Lighting Lap" event -
The Chevy Cobalt SS out-lapped the Evo X. With only FWD, less power, and from a brand you'd least expect to accomplish it.
And the Kona N achieved a better lap time then the Elantra N this year, so there’s that.
@@oraclemiata845 and be under no illusion - that's because of a tire discrepancy, and with the Kona shifting _for_ them instead of normal human gear shifting.
I have been waiting for an episode like this!!