Is The Ford Focus RS Better Than A VW Golf R?

Both are powerful four-wheel drive hatchbacks, but which is the better car? The guys at Motor Trend decided to find out

16 Sep 2016

Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.

Comments

Would still prefer this hottie

Ah, the outdated slow thing? Thats nice. triggers

It only looks good in the hatchback form. The sedan is repulsive.

TRIGGERED

I find it silly to compare Focus RS with Golf R
These are cars designed to do slightly different things

For ultimate daily driver, a comfortable pocket-rocket? Golf R all the way
For something less comfortable, but way more fun to drive and faster? Focus RS, of course

So it’s almost like comparing a 600bhp Bentley GT to 600bhp Huracan. Both are similarly priced and have similar outputs, but are designed to do different things.

Also, Golf R in the US is not as good as the one in Europe. So I’d say Focus RS for US customers might be a better idea in most cases. But in the EU for something to enjoy day-to-day Golf R is a better car to live with (but for driving fun, the RS still wins).

Exactly
insert thank you gif/cookie here

Good point

I kind of feel that they should compare Focus RS to Subaru STI, because they are both fun to drive and quite uncomfortable and Focus’s AWD system is more of the match of Subaru’s DCCD. Either way Golf R is still the daily champ. I also don’t get why you say US-spec Golf R is not as good as Euro-spec Golf R. I mean they are both made in Wolfsburg and for 16 model year US-spec come with DCC as standard.

if they’re in the same class they can be compared

Thank you! That’s why I bought a Golf R

Idk :/Maybe…. FORD FTW

Iv got an unpopular opinion, but i would take the golf.

I much prefer the golf, I think it looks a lot better than the rs

Taking the better car is not an unpopular opinion :P I think its way more beautiful and fun

Both are awesome but rs3 for me!

We wouldn’t have expected otherwise haha

Hey kid you want to buy some understeer?

I test drove both the Focus and the Golf, ended up buying Subaru WRX STI.

All three are very similar performance, all three are very different attitudes. Which is the better car is a personal choice of what your going to use it for.

In my opinion, got a growing family, want to drive quietly and sensibly but occasionally go turbo on the track the Subaru is the one. But I can understand why the others appeal (the Focus appeals to my inner hoon, the Golf to my more grown up self)