Focus ST vs Astra VXR vs Megane RS

It’s been a bumper year for hot hatchbacks. In 2012 we’ve had performance versions of the UK’s most popular family cars sprawled across the front pages of Auto Express – and none is more important than the latest Ford Focus ST.

In this video, our man Mat Watson pits the fast Ford against rivals from Renault and Vauxhall on the road and track.

The new Focus ST packs 247bhp from its 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine, and does 0-62mph in just 6.5 seconds. The Renaultsport Megane takes this up a notch, with 263bhp and a clever sports diff, while the 276bhp Vauxhall Astra VXR sits right at the top of the horsepower tree.

So watch our video to see which of these cars can lay claim the crown of 2012’s finest hot hatch.