Almost everyone knows the Subaru WRX STI, the all-wheel drive rally race drifter. Fewer are hip to the Ford Focus RS, which was inspired by the STI and designed for similar work — and arguably does it better.

This vehicle is the stronger, much quicker all-wheel-drive-equipped enhancement of the Focus ST. There are almost 100 more horsepower, and it takes just 4.7 seconds to go from zero to 60 mph.

There is drift mode and torque vectoring all-wheel drive, and there are Recaro race seats. This car is manual transmission only . Yeah, it's serious.

The base price is $36,995, versus $36,015 for the Subaru WRX STI. You might cross-shop the Volkswagen Golf R for a similarly performing hot hatch in a less visually obvious wrapper.

The 2017 RS received no major changes for 2017.

What's Good

It's stronger and quicker than the WRX STI, and not as notorious.

It's an all-out track day car that you can still drive to work every day.

What's Not So Good

The starting price is almost $1,000 higher than the Subaru WRX STI.

The Volkswagen Golf R is quicker and still manages to be a more agreeable everyday driver.

The small gas tank (12.8 gallons) runs dry fast with big-power engine up front.

Under the Hood

How much power can they pull out of a 2.3-liter engine? In this case, 350 horsepower — almost 100 horsepower more than the same 2.3-liter engine in the Focus ST and 30 more horsepower than the Mustang, which uses the same (more or less) 2.3-liter turbo four-cylinder.

Ford says the RS can nail 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, which is nearly 2 seconds quicker than the Focus ST and 0.3 seconds quicker than the Subaru WRX STI. But the VW Golf R is quicker still, getting to 60 mph in about 4.4 seconds, which is nearly as quick as a V-8 Mustang GT.

To no huge surprise, the RS gas mileage is V-8-esque: 19 city, 25 highway. The physical displacement of the 2.3-liter engine may be small, but when the turbo spools up, the effective displacement is twice that — as measured by how much air is moving through the thing.

On the Road

The turbo 2.3-liter engine isn't a peaky engine, as turbocharged high-performance engines sometimes are. You don't have to rev it to keep it from falling flat on its face. The torque available from idle onward is more than most V-6s make.

It is very good for grocery getting, and it's viable as a commuter car. In fact, it drives as easily as the ST and better than the standard-issue Focus, which has the disadvantage of not much power anywhere.

The only areas where the RS is deficient as an everyday car is ride quality, which is as firm as a California surfer's six-pack and made to feel even firmer via the laterally supportive but not-so-giving Recaro sport buckets and the 1-inch sidewall 35-series Michelin Pilot Super Sport track day tires.

At the Curb

In keeping with trends — the trend away from sedans — the RS is built on the hatchback version of the Focus, the reason being that sedans are just not very practical, especially not compact ones. The Focus sedan has a compact trunk with just 13.2 cubic feet of space versus 19.9 cubic feet behind the second seats in the hatchback, whether standard-issue or ST or RS. Fold the seats down and the total cargo space available opens up to more than twice that.

This is a hot rod that can haul.

Interestingly, and in the Ford's favor, the current Subaru WRX STI only comes as a sedan, and it has a small sedan's tiny trunk (just 12 cubic feet).

The Golf R is roomier than both — in part because of its taller roofline and boxier profile. It has 22.8 cubic feet of space behind its second row.

Back seat legroom is a little tight in the RS: 33.2 inches versus 35.4 inches in the Subaru and 35.6 in the Golf R.

The R excels at maintaining a lower profile, especially compared with the gaudy WRX STI, with its anodized/contrast-colored mag wheels, gaping hood scoop and 1970 Plymouth Superbird-style airfoil bolted to its trunk. It calls attention to itself like Borat running naked through the Vatican.

Even the exhaust is pretty quiet, notwithstanding the humungous duals out back.

The Rest

The RS comes standard with the latest version of Ford's Sync3 LCD touchscreen interface, and it's easier to use than the Subaru's system, which has a neat look but is clunky to operate.

The Ford also has a larger (8-inch) screen than either the Subaru or the VW Golf R.

The bottom line: Chuck Wepner never actually knocked out Muhammad Ali. The RS has the punching power to do just that to the Subaru STI.

Eric's new book, "Don't Get Taken for a Ride!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.