news

All-Wheel Drive Hot Hatch Showdown – Ford Focus RS v Volkswagen Golf R

Genuine game-changers generally come along in broad intervals. With hot hatches, however, the pace of change is thrusting forward like a turbo engine piling on boost. Three years ago the Volkswagen Golf R finally muscled its way past its Golf GTI sibli


Genuine game-changers generally come along in broad intervals. With hot hatches, however, the pace of change is thrusting forward like a turbo engine piling on boost.

Three years ago the Volkswagen Golf R finally muscled its way past its Golf GTI sibling to offer 206kW and deliver 5.0sec 0-100km/h performance for around $50K. Its all-wheel drive system finally sent more power to the rear wheels, and its adaptive suspension could be tepid or tenacious at the press of a button.

It made traditional foes, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X and Subaru WRX STi, seem needlessly harsh with precious little reward. It also made the Renault Megane RS – which three years earlier re-wrote the front-drive handling rulebook – feel like it was superb for $43K, but less so for $50K-plus. This was the big league for small cars.

Enter the Ford Focus RS. It produces 257kW and claims a 4.7sec 0-100km/h for $50,990 (plus on-road costs). It also boasts an all-wheel drive system that can assist the driver to slide the vehicle as though it’s a rear-drive muscle car in a hatch outfit.

And look at the jutted jawline of the Nitrous Blue five-door. Beside its Pure White foe, with its mere licks of matte-silver trim, there hasn’t been a greater contrast between two candidates since the US presidential election. Like that disparate duo, it’s hard to believe these models emerge from the same country – in this instance, Germany.

TESTED

Ford Focus RS ($50,990 plus on-road costs)

  • 257kW/440Nm 2.3-litre turbo petrol 4cyl | six-speed manual
  • Fuel use claimed: 8.1l/100km | tested: 12.3l/100km

Volkswagen Golf R ($55,490 plus on-road costs)

  • 206kW/380Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol 4cyl | six-speed dual-clutch automatic
  • Fuel use claimed: 7.1l/100km | tested: 10.3l/100km

OVERVIEW 

Volkswagen recently added leather trim with front seat heating to its Golf R, which is now priced from $52,990 (plus orc) with a six-speed manual or $55,490 (plus orc) for the more popular six-speed ‘DSG’ dual-clutch automatic as tested here.

Our test car also added a $1500 driver assistance package with adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitor and low-speed automatic emergency braking (AEB), and an $1850 panoramic electric sunroof. Total? A hefty $58,840 (plus orc).

None of the above is available in the Ford, but don’t otherwise look to the standard features list to separate this pair.

Chat with us!







Chat with Agent