10 Great Vehicles That Cost Less Than a Ford Focus RS

The 2016 Ford Focus RS might seem to have great bang for the buck, but you might be surprised about some of the vehicles that actually cost less.

Last week, pricing for the 2016 Ford Focus RS leaked online and the hot hatch will start from $36,605 including destination. That might not sound like a bad deal for a hot hatch with 345 hp, 18-inch wheels, 10-speaker Sony audio system and Recaro seats, but it demands a $10,000 premium over the already fun Focus ST.

SEE ALSO: 10 Cars the Ford Focus RS Has More Power Than

AutoGuide.com has compiled a list of 10 great vehicles that actually cost less than the 2016 Ford Focus RS and while they might not compete within the same category, or offer the same amount of performance, you might be shocked to see what the competition is actually like.

As the primary competitor to the Chevrolet Camaro, you might be surprised to hear that a 2015 Ford Mustang GT actually costs less than the upcoming Focus RS. And that’s not just for some basic, entry-level Mustang; this is for a sports car packing a 5.0-liter V8 under the hood with 435 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. Then again, shoppers might be intrigued by the high-tech drivetrain the Focus RS is packing with its torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, something the Mustang doesn’t get.

If going green is your thing, then it’s likely you’re not cross-shopping the Focus RS with a Chevrolet Volt. But hey, there’s this common belief that any electrified vehicle boasts a high price tag. The current Chevrolet Volt has an all-electric range of 38 miles, but rumor has it that the 2016 Chevrolet Volt won’t be priced higher than the outgoing model. In fact, it might actually cost less and you’ll get 53 miles of emissions-free driving.

Sure, a luxury SUV doesn’t quite compare to a hot hatch like the Ford Focus RS, but the 2016 Acura RDX is no slouch either. Aside from all the luxury amenities and cargo space the SUV has to offer, the RDX features a 3.5-liter V6 with 279 hp and 252 lb-ft of torque. You won’t get the same spirited driving experience the Focus RS has to offer, but aren’t you a bit surprised to hear that the hatch costs more?

Maybe the rear-wheel-drive Hyundai Genesis coupe didn’t quite catch on with the sports car enthusiast crowd as much as the Korean automaker would have liked, but you could grab one with a 3.8-liter V6 engine churning 348 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque for less than the Focus RS. And that’s the top-of-the-line Ultimate model paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Spring for the six-speed manual and you’re paying $1,200 less.

It might arguably be the most popular luxury sedan around and the entry-level BMW 320i is actually cheaper than Ford’s hot hatch. We even tacked on the xDrive all-wheel drive option to make the comparison a bit more fair, although the 320i is severely underpowered with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 180 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque. Yeah, the Focus RS almost makes double that, but it’s the price to pay if you want luxury.

For a while, the Nissan 350Z and 370Z were the quintessential sports cars, but it has become quite outdated in recent years. Still, the Nissan 370Z Sport offers plenty of value for the price with a 3.7-liter V6 engine providing 332 hp. The Sport model comes with a limited-slip differential, 19-inch RAYS forged wheels, Nissan sport brakes and SynchroRev Match, but if none of those things appeal to you, the standard 370Z is actually $3,580 less.

The 2015 Cadillac ATS 2.0T model might not have the same amount of power as the Focus RS, coming in at 272 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque from its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, but it does pack a lot more luxury than you’d ever get out of a Focus. It’s hard to argue that the new ATS isn’t attractive inside and out and we won’t blame you if you’re starting to think the 2016 Ford Focus RS might be a bit overpriced.