New Focus RS Real World MPG

[mat205125]

Hi all,

Any owners care to share what they are experiencing with the new RS.

Tempted to think about one for a daily driver, and do about 12k a year with a daily commute that's 50% motorway / dual carriage, and 50% NSL Country Roads.

I'm hoping that people are going to report that greater than 30mpg is possible, and that 40mpg shouldn't be unrealistic on a normal sensible daily trudge.

[Ron240]

I don't own an RS but know plenty of people who do.
I have owned 2 Mk.3 ST's though.
For the type of journeys you describe +30mpg will be easily achievable, but I would forget about seeing 40mpg under any circumstances.
The latter is barely achievable with an ST, and even then only when driving super disciplined.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with an RS as a daily driver on 12k per year.....go for it.

[farmeryellow]

Hi,

In the first 6,000 miles my RS has averaged 30.1mpg. (never reset the trip from picking it up new) that included running in 1000 miles, only ever run on shell v power

Short journeys are a killer for mpg expect 23 at best

Drive it like it should be driven, on the road 15-22 and the track 10-15

If i drive like a saint you can get 35-37mpg you can forget 40!

The best i ever got was 38 ave on one tank 335 miles and then i lost the will to live......

You dont buy this car for economy...it is a great a-b car nothing quicker for the price

[mat205125]

farmeryellow said:

You dont buy this car for economy

Agree 100%, and appreciate your first hand feedback.

Not concerned on MPG for fun or track (have the latter covered with Mk2 Escort anyway), but good to know that my daily plod shouldn't cost the earth to fund.

Many years ago when I had my Cosworths, I lived much closer to work, but could demolish a tank a week with ease in about 150 miles ....... wouldn't describe my pace as "hanging about" of course!

[oobster]

I've done approx. 4.5K in my MK3 RS and my dash shows an average of 27.1mpg.

[BraceyBoy]

OP - I've done about 4,500 miles in my RS since September 2017. It's my DD. I run it on super-unleaded. I reset my mpg every fill-up. It consistently shows about 21 mpg. I have managed about 29mpg but that was on a 350mile motorway trip. My usage is in line with what you describe yours as being

[mat205125]

Thanks both for this feedback.

My current daily driver is averaging between 27 and 29 mpg on a daily basis, which I'd prefer to be doing better than.

Maybe an RS combined with a new pushbike for summer use

[Thrugglevalve]

Hi,

I've 9k on mine and the trip has never been reset. It currently has the Mountune 375 pack and averages 29.8MPG according to the trip. I recently did a full to full test over a 110 mile journey (90% motorway) and the official result was 34.6mpg, this was cruising between 70-80mph.

Driven hard it will drink fuel (as expected) but with a light foot it's not to bad. It gets better fuel economy than my previous Focus ST 2.5l, that averaged around 27.

My driving is a mixture of motorway, driving with family, town and the odd spirited drive under the right circumstances.

Thanks.

[Mark83]

15k miles and FPM375. Averaging 27mpg.

[Oxide]

17 plate, 5000k, 18.5 mpg

[gt40steve]

Hello Mate

Mines done over 15k miles.
Average economy on my own commute ( obviously every ones commute is different & then that also varies day to day ) is 29mpg.
My journey is 12 miles each way, largely dual carriage way BUT pretty bad traffic, traffic lights & roundabouts etc drag the economy down.
I find town driving or country roads take it down to about 27mpg & motorways take it up to 34mpg, for those periods.
It can do better, but only with extreme discipline, as stated previously.
It certainly is one of those cars where the economy 'window' is pretty wide.

[Curator]

66 plate 6,000 miles FPM375 from new 27.3mpg

[GuitarPlayer63]

Had mine since December, new build in September - 26.5mpg over 3,700 miles. Funnily enough exactly the same as the 911 I had (which had about the same bhp..)

[The_Mullet]

9k in and 26.5 for me. A combination of a fuel drinking commute and then ragging it when I get the chance.

mid 30's at best on a motorway in 6th.

[guyh]

5000 miles and averaging 25-26mpg

[sanf]

Thought I would ask another question on an old thread.

I’m toying with an RS, I love them. I had an ST 180 diesel from 2015-2018. I loved it, despite it being one of the more unreliable cars I’ve driven, having a shocking turning circle and very hard ride.

Is the Focus RS really an car that can be used everyday?

My mileage is down massively since having my last Focus. I do 15,000 miles a year now. My commutes are very similar to the op. I do spend a lot of time on motorways.

The reviews I’ve read say the RS is a very harsh car to drive everyday. Hard ride, high seats, heavy clutch, bland interior.

I love the idea of a something as nice as the RS but am torn with going for a more normal hot hatch. I was surprised watching a review on the I30n that on a run it was achieving 31mpg. Based on the posts here, for motorway driving that is more than achievable in the Focus.

So are they worth having as an everyday workhorse?

[RPJEssex]

If I am careful on the motorway I can just get 30, never had more than that though. I’ve owned since May 18 from new & have average just under 22 mpg, so not bad, but given the small fuel tank you’ll be filling up every 200-300 miles depending on how it’s driven!

You could live with it every day for sure, although I’d recommend changing out the oem suspension for something aftermarket (I have mountune springs on mine) as that will make the ride a lot less crashy!

Happy RSing if you get one!

To add, mine is running stage 1 map with cat back exhaust & ive not noticed any difference in MPG- if anything on motorways because of the extra torque it achieves better mpg.

[Ron240]

RPJEssex said:

If I am careful on the motorway I can just get 30, never had more than that though.
mine is running stage 1 map with cat back exhaust & ive not noticed any difference in MPG- if anything on motorways because of the extra torque it achieves better mpg.

I shudder to think what your mpg on a motorway would be without the remap then.
Seriously....that is a truly shocking figure for open road driving.
I honestly cannot understand how you could possibly be that low, unless your definition of "careful" bears no relation to what the word actually means.

[Podie]

sanf said:

Thought I would ask another question on an old thread.

Is the Focus RS really an car that can be used everyday?

Yep, very easy to live with.

sanf said:

My mileage is down massively since having my last Focus. I do 15,000 miles a year now. My commutes are very similar to the op. I do spend a lot of time on motorways.

The reviews I’ve read say the RS is a very harsh car to drive everyday. Hard ride, high seats, heavy clutch, bland interior.

Resale will take a hit. RS people seem to like garage queens. I find it pretty quiet on the motorway.

The ride is firm, but I don't find it uncomfortable. Optional shell seats are higher than the standard ones. You can buy lower seat rails for the shell seats. Going back to the everyday thing, I wanted the standard seats as they are heated and early starts in winter mean that's important to me.

Clutch is not heavy at all IMO. Typical Ford clutch, pretty easy. Bland interior - that's entirely subjective.

sanf said:

I love the idea of a something as nice as the RS but am torn with going for a more normal hot hatch. I was surprised watching a review on the I30n that on a run it was achieving 31mpg. Based on the posts here, for motorway driving that is more than achievable in the Focus.

i30n is smaller displacement, smaller turbo, 2WD, lighter and 100bhp shy of the RS. I have the FPM375 kit on mine and generally see 25-26mpg, but I concede that mpg is not of a concern given my 7000 mile per annum. I've seen 32mpg on a decent run on cruise, but I don't really pay attention to it.

sanf said:

So are they worth having as an everyday workhorse?

I love it. Really comes alive when pushing it, but perfectly happy to potter around town.It still feels special to drive. I guess a lot depends on what you're coming from and what you're used to. We also have a Mk8 Fiesta ST and that's brilliant too - might be worth considering?

Edited by Podie on Tuesday 23 June 14:26

[oobster]

In normal times I drive 20 miles each way to and from work every week day, i've done approx. 23K miles in my RS in the last 34 months and I don't find it uncomfortable to drive.