At ActualidadMotor we have discussed at length about the search for a car that fills our automotive needs. Everyone has their tastes and preferences, but we all want to keep our feet on the ground and limit ourselves to one budget more or less affordable. We only agree that it must have a gasoline engine, be quite fast and transmit a minimum of sporting sensations. This has led to this small GTI comparison.
In this first delivery there are four guests: Volkswagen Polo R WRC, Ford Fiesta ST, Skoda Fabia RS and Mini Countryman JCW. More or less there is something for everyone: from a fast, light, not very expensive and relatively practical car to enjoy youth (such as the Fiesta ST) to a bigger one, almost as fast and that can serve us even within a few years with our kids in the back seats (like the Mini Countryman JCW). Besides we have the radical option of the Polo R WRC or the more decaffeinated but much more economical and practical Skoda Fabia RS.
He had been restless for several days, waiting for the start of the test. It's not every day you get the chance to drive the sportier version of each manufacturer... but I must not get carried away by emotion, it is time to analyze them and look for the option that best suits the profile of each driver, according to their needs, tastes and, by the way, the size of your pocket.
The appointment began in the surroundings of Torre de Cristal, from where we headed towards the mountains of Madrid to test in twisty road the effectiveness and fun that each of our vehicles could offer. It is evident that few people buy a car of this type to limit themselves to going from home to the supermarket, so squeezing them a bit on winding mountain roads was something necessary to be able to write this text.
Roads (and drivers) have their limits, so the next step was to get closer to the Angel Burgueño karting circuit to be able to force the cars without risks. As it is not a very large circuit, the speeds reached are low, but it helped us to get an idea of the balance and set-up of each car.
Finally, it was time to make "daily" use of the car and put a kilometer on highways and national road links. It is true that we are all “cool” to think that we have the car to enjoy driving it, but the sad reality is that throughout our lives we will have to swallow many trips on the highway, first-rate national and city.
Tras two days of driving and 200 liters of gasoline we begin to draw our conclusions... And incidentally, a video to see them in action.
MINI Countryman JCW, the rarest of the group
With a size and weight much higher than the rest of the opponents, this kind of MINI is presented crossoverized halfway between a SUV and a Mini lifelong. Five-door body, quite capable trunk and a spacious interior... what does this car look like here? He has been invited by Iñigo Ochoa due to his engine 1.6 turbo 218 hp and a 0-100 km/h in 7 seconds, which is not bad for a car that weighs around a ton and a half. It also reaches 226 km/h, a good figure for a bulky car equipped with the All4 all-wheel drive by Mini.
Okay, the Countryman JCW is fast (at least in a straight line), it has a brutal aesthetic, very differentiating, and it's also spacious, but... does a Mini with these characteristics make sense? The same sense that a Porsche Cayenne has, which at first glance seems sacrilege and then turns out to be the best selling version Of the brand. The Countryman was born with the intention of reaching all those customers who identify with the brand but need a bigger and more practical car. The Countryman JCW is designed for those who also do not want to lose the sporty character when you leave the family at home... or simply for those who want to treat themselves.
On this car the sticker John Cooper Works It is not a simple marketing claim. The engine is forceful, the exhaust delights us with backfires when we lift the accelerator pedal and the hard suspension "works" our back to remind us what we are driving.
Too bad the front seats have a poor side support and they are located very high, since they prevent us from merging with the car to squeeze it in curved areas. On the other hand, the direction, although it is very heavy (perhaps too much) and direct, does not transmit very well the grip that is available between the wheels and the asphalt. Incidentally, grip is high and the car is very balanced, with noble reactions which are also filtered and cushioned by the all-wheel drive.
It's funny how fast you can go in this car without feeling much of what's happening between you and the road. The bad thing is that the rear goes practically welded to the ground and it does not invite at all to look for the tickles to the car. Is it fast? Yes a lot. Is it sporty? The touch that it has is not true sporty, but we give it our thumbs up.
As an option. the most burnt should opt for the optional Recaro front seats, at least it would not be so necessary to lean on the left foot and hold on to the wheel in the cornering areas.
It's time to reach for the bag. With a starting price of 37.800 Euros The Mini Countryman JCW is not within the reach of all those who are looking for their first new car with a minimum of sensations. On the contrary, thanks to its relatively familiar size and appearance, the Mini can be your and your family's car for many years, which can compensate part of the initial disbursement. If you want a fast, flashy, customizable, exclusive and relatively practical car, the Mini is an interesting option. If what interests you most is the driving feel or the sporty sensations, keep looking at the other 3 cars that we bring today to ActualidadMotor.
Volkswagen Polo R WRC, the brute force
The honor of having the largest and most powerful engine in this comparison goes to the VW Polo R WRC with the acquaintance 2.0 TSI 220CV which mounts, among others, the Golf GTI. As my colleague Domingo Maestre said, "once upon a time there was a Polo attached to an engine...". Not surprisingly, it is the most powerful Polo ever made.
The Polo R WRC was born with the sole intention of complying with the FIA regulations which requires putting up for sale at least 2.500 units of the model that competes in the World Rally Championship. All of them are "made in Spain", specifically in the factory in Navarra, and have the numbers engraved clearly visible on the rear spoiler. This exclusivity, together with Sebastién Ogier having won in his debut at the wheel in the WRC World Championship, are two good assets for this Polo don't depreciate too much over time.
Outwardly it looks a lot like the competition model. All units are painted in white and decorated with vinyls that evoke the authentic WRC. The aesthetic is sporty but without falling into exaggeration. Perhaps the vinyls may seem a bit "badass" to you, but if you don't like them, their remedy is as simple as removing them and enjoying a much more discreet model, despite the fact that the inch wheels 18 that house large 16” brakes, the spoiler and exhaust do not go unnoticed.
Inside, the attention is drawn to the suede-trimmed steering wheel, with an exquisite touch and thickness, showing off the zero position at the top. The front seats are sports court, although we miss some backpacks that they combine with their surname R. The rest is practically identical to the rest of the Polo models... I can attest to this, since I got out of a Polo R Line a quarter of an hour before getting into the Polo R WRC.
Let's put aside the aesthetics and let's get it going. The first thing that stands out is that the sound is very contained. There are no backfires, there are hardly any serious tones... it is sporty but too discreet for my taste. Only if we raise the engine over 5.000 turns new symphonies of this engine begin to emerge, still very muffled. I think that the potential customer of the Polo R WRC will miss some brutality in this section.
The engine is definitely a joy. A bomb in bass and mids that can easily stretch up to 6.000 RPM without any hesitation, although it is not necessary to go up that high to move at devilish rhythms. The best, between 2.000 and 5.000 RPM, which means that the engine is very usable. The six-speed transmission has a long development Very much in keeping with the character of the engine.
The propellant has so much force that it is easy for the front wheels lose traction in second and third gear, despite the XDS electronic differential. Without a doubt, this is one of the most negative points of the set, the loss of traction. Besides, the steering is very throttle sensitive, being necessary to grip the steering wheel with force to contain the return of the steering wheel in accelerations and strong support changes. Using a higher gear than usual and pressing the accelerator tactfully, the car can be driven at a very high pace without major shocks. the brake system doesn't seem to end and it is capable of stopping over and over again the high speeds that the Polo can reach, no matter how small the straight.
As a good sports car, the Polo WRC has a pretty stiff suspension although it is not uncomfortable, a point in favor of Polo. All movements are very contained, the seat holds firmly and the touch of the rest of the controls accompanies driving. He falls in love with his push, he can drive fast without much effort while seeking the limits results very fast and somewhat critical.
Okay, we like it, it's sporty and has a brutal touch. How much? Your base price of 34.860 Euros It is exorbitant for a car of these characteristics. The interior is of quality but does not reach the level of the Mini. Its equipment is very extensive and without extras to pay separately (even the directional Xenon headlights are standard), and being a limited series exclusive it is logical that it is more expensive... but something more than 34.000 euros is a lot of money, we could almost buy a Golf GTI.
Ford Fiesta ST, the applied student
I have to admit that I have a weakness for him. Fiesta ST. I have always liked the feel of Ford sports cars and I also love the aesthetics of the latest Fiesta. For more "inri", it is painted on top in this electric blue That I'm passionate.
Let's stop sentimentalizing and let's analyze the car. Aesthetically it goes unnoticed thanks, in part, to the fact that the aerodynamic kit it is perfectly integrated into the car. the precious 17” anthracite wheels They are not exaggerated and the black details instead of the chrome that adorn the bodywork help to accentuate the car's muscles without being garish. I personally like it…I think I've said it before, right? But I also think that the typical customer of this car may miss some exhibitionism instead of going so unnoticed.
Inside it is very similar to the rest of the Fiesta models in the range, except in the key points, that is, everything that is part of driving: seat, steering wheel, pedals and gear lever. Honestly, I don't need anything else, I've never been a snob on interior materials.
It should be noted that the Recaro seats They are the best that I have tried in recent years as they gather the body in a spectacular way, they are comfortable, they seem resistant to the passage of time and they also have a nice design, without unnecessarily invading the rear seats. The steering wheel also has very good touch, with a small circumference and sufficient thickness. It is also quite round, far from the flattened shapes that are so fashionable today. The pedals and gear lever are finished in aluminum.
The true spirit of this car emerges as soon as its engine is started. When idling and without much pressure on the accelerator, it emits a very muffled sound and nothing exhilarating…but things change as soon as you step on the throttle from mid-stroke onwards as the bass tones they start to invade the cabin, becoming more and more acute until quickly, without realizing it, we reach the injection cut-off. The sound is really addictive and soon I find myself downshifting to double clutch even in town just to delight in its sound.
On paper the Ford Fiesta ST is a fast car as it completes the 0-100km/h in 6,9 seconds and it can reach 220 km/h, but best of all, on mountain roads it proves to be a very efficient machine. I'm talking about a car that is capable of tackling corners at an incredible pace. without the slightest sense of loss of control. Hitting the limits the car remains almost as easy to drive as it would at normal pace, with predictable and progressive slippage.
In addition, its driving is manual. If we enter by lifting our foot off the accelerator we will have oversteer, if we enter accelerating slightly we will understeer the output and if we enter by keeping the gas it will slide on its four wheels almost equally. I'm lovin 'it! Of course, the issue of oversteer is better left to the experts, so we will take the ESP in Sport mode, who will be in charge of putting the rear on track if we take too many "liberties" when drawing curves. This car can be carried with chalk lines and very precisely or happily swiping, you decide… also the ESP has two positions to choose from.
This magnificent chassis is complemented by a very direct address (just over two turns of the steering wheel between locks) and brakes that withstand hard treatment without problems. All the mechanics seem very robust: for example, the gearbox is capable of swallowing the use you want to give it without scratching or missing a gear, with a hard-touch clutch.
For day to day the suspension of the car is quite stiff, which can be uncomfortable at times. It is not as heavy as the Mini or as comfortable as the Polo, but in any case it seems to me that it has a very successful balance.
The Fiesta ST is part of the 21.000 Euros, a fairly affordable figure for what it offers. Of course, it does not reach the equipment of the Polo or the qualities of the Mini (which is not badly served with equipment either), but we are talking about very important amounts of euros.
Honestly, I don't need more than what the Fiesta offers me... When I'm driving I don't care how the dashboard feels or if the multimedia system sounds spectacular. What I need is that the car convey sensations and always go where I want, and the Fiesta ST has a lot to say about that.
Skoda Fabia RS, the logical choice
When one seeks to buy a car that is more than just a means of transportation, it seems that the word "logic" is out of the buying arguments. The decision for a GTI is made with the heart, not with logic. Well, it's not always like that and the skoda fabia rs comes to prove it.
With a platform and mechanics practically identical to the rest of the utility vehicles of the VAG group (VW Polo GTI and Seat Ibiza Cupra), the Fabia RS turns out to be a very versatile car. On the one hand it can bring us a lot of smiles on our favorite road and on the other it is perfectly useful in everyday life even with family on board... And all this with a net lower selling price to that of the rest of the competitors.
It is true that there is little "RS" in this car if we talk about driving feel and sensations, but if we look at the time we realize that it is also a very fast car. Their engine-gearbox assembly fully convinces, both in sports use and in quiet city use. You just have to "get the hang of it" in the maneuvers, since it can be abrupt when starting from a standstill, a real nuisance to park, for example. Once accustomed to simply releasing the brake instead of accelerating, the car can be maneuvered with no problem.
Once the change is underway, it obeys our orders docilely if we take it in manual mode. In automatic mode seems to read our minds and always keeps the engine at its optimum operating point. It may take a little longer than necessary when downshifting when we go hard on curved roads, but we can always "suggest" remove an iron with a left cam touch (optional) or gear lever. In general, it can be seen that the VAG group has worked on this box, each time resulting in a smoother and more efficient element.
On the highway and in the city, the car is comfortable, something that inevitably penalizes its sporty use. On conventional roads and motorways it seems to me that it looks like a excellent balance between comfort and body control. On the other hand, on winding roads, the chassis is too soft for how fast this engine can take the car. The direction is precise but it does not transmit very well and the brakes, although powerful, are not easy to dose because at the beginning the pedal is spongy to the point of seeming that we suffer fading (overheating). But no, actually the car is still braking, it's just that the pedal has become quite a bit harder.
This dynamic setup makes the car behave much better in wide and medium roads, with curves not very closed and, if possible, a good surface, since the forks choke with a marked understeer and the bumpy surfaces make the wheels bounce with small losses of trajectory.
Be careful, don't get me wrong... the Skoda Fabia RS is a fast and safe car. His behavior is very noble and by forcing quickly it comes out to reduce its understeer character. It warns soon of the limits, and when they arrive, it slides progressively, smoothly and easily controllable. This car is like your sensible friend in curved areas: it can take you very fast and it does, but as soon as you start to go over the line, it gives you a couple of slaps to recover your manners. If you don't pay attention to him, he holds out his hand and prevents you from falling... a true colleague. Of course, do not expect large doses of adrenaline at its controls since everything arrives very filtered.
From the driving position there are few differences with a normal Skoda Fabia at an aesthetic level. Almost all the controls and details are the same as in other versions of the brand. The seats have a successful design and they gather the body well although they look very conventional. They are not exactly a "backet" in sports driving but they amply comply in most possible conditions, also being comfortable. One detail I don't like is the excessive steering wheel tilt, as if it were focused on a raised driving position type minivan. This characteristic is common with the rest of the Fabia, and although it is easy to get used to and go unnoticed, it seems out of place in an “RS” car.
Otherwise the Skoda Fabia RS is a very logical car within the illogical of a GTI. Wide body with good visibility, five comfortable doors with wide opening angles, a large 315-litre trunk... and we haven't talked about its price yet: 18.000 Euros as a starting price, which is very good considering what it offers. We agree that it is not a true sports car, but to be honest I think it could dazzle a large percentage of gasoline-hungry drivers. Of course, it doesn't sport the cool aesthetics of the Ibiza Cupra nor does it have the Volkswagen symbol on its radiator grille, but it offers almost the same for a few thousand euros less. Why do you already look at it with another face?
Trying to find a conclusion
Assuming that it is difficult to choose one car or another when we have such different approaches and budgets, what do we value more? The pure benefits? In that case, I'll stick with the Polo R WRC, a true missile with plenty of power. Do you prefer driving feel and sensations behind the wheel? Give me a Fiesta ST, without a doubt I'm going to have a great time An exclusive and timeless car? I reach into my pocket and buy a Mini Countryman JCW. Without complexes and very practical? The Fabia RS would be my car thanks to its versatility.
Putting myself in the shoes of the average buyer of this type of car and abusing clichés (person around 24 years old, generally male, average purchasing power), the candidate to win is the Ford Fiesta ST. The reasons are clear: relatively affordable purchase price, interesting aesthetics, fun and sports feel in abundance, consumption and maintenance not very high.
I would rule out the Volkswagen Polo R WRC for a very high tariff price, despite the exclusivity of the model, aggressive aesthetics and the pump under the hood. I do not keep the Mini Countryman JCW also due to its sale price and a somewhat distant image what a young guy looking for a sports car can expect. But this is where the standard MINI JCW comes in.
The Fabia RS is a very interesting car, but to be honest we are in a country where the bonnet badge and aesthetics matter as much or more than the rest of the car's features. With a five-door body and the Czech emblem is not linked, despite the fact that it is mechanically very good and has a unbeatable sale price.
We will continue testing mini-GTI
So far today's comparison. You can read on our website the full individual tests of each car. Meanwhile we are already thinking about the following guests: Volkswagen Polo GTI, Seat Ibiza Cupra, Peugeot 208 GTI, Renault Clio RS...
Thanks to Karting Angel Burgueño for giving us their facilities for the test and photo shoot.
Well, I have it clear, I must be something weird but I would stay with the MINI Countryman.
Congratulations on the comparison, it's really great.
Regards,
No way!! The head pole!! but without those stickers...
The Polo R WRC is just an appetizer. I think the Polo R will really be the one they present in the coming months with all-wheel drive.
The Fiesta has taken forever to arrive but it has done so with a well-finished job.
Some with self-locking? Well, that one, for me.
How to like the Polo, but to the demerit of the others, although the Fiesta makes me morbid. The Mini in a "lifelong" version, please.
Good hard work you have hit guys.
Hello, I have a Fabia RS and, after what I have read, it is the one that stands out the least from a distance and is absent most of the time. I can assure you (after 107.000km) that nothing is missing from RS and thanks to the change it is successful. If it is true that the suspension is too soft, perhaps, for what it is. But the truth is that I solved that problem a long time ago by putting some Bilstein B8 shock absorbers with Eibach and all those problems disappeared. Since then he hasn't lacked any RS and I enjoy him in all aspects and every day.
For the rest, a very good report for the Sierra Norte (Venturada and Horcajuelo among others).