In the hatchback kingdom, right now there's two stand outs when it comes to high-performance variants. Based on their economy car siblings, the Volkswagen Golf R and Ford Focus RS are no joke when you look at their specifications and respective performance figures.
But, and it's a BIG but, they go about taking care of business in different ways. Of course this means that each provides a different driving experience.
So, which one is better?
While one could say that there is no winner, we beg to differ. As both vehicles cost around $40,000, you should know WHICH one is the king of the castle.
To help you along in this journey, check out Motor Trends' latest Head to Head that pits the VW and Ford against each other.
On this episode of Head 2 Head, presented by Tire Rack (http://www.tirerack.com), Jason Cammisa and Jonny Lieberman set out to find the ultimate hot hatch. These cars feature plenty of power, grip, agility, and, most importantly, fun — and who doesn’t love fun? There’s perhaps no quicker, more enjoyable way to bomb down a winding road than in a turbocharged, all-wheel-drive compact hatchback.
Volkswagen invented the hot-hatch genre in the mid-1970s with the front-wheel-drive GTI. Adding all-wheel drive and more power to the GTI begets the 292-hp Golf R, which makes it the fastest iteration of the car that won Motor Trend’s 2015 Car of the Year award. But it’s got a new competitor, and, looking at the numbers, the Ford Focus RS could be king of the segment. With 350 hp from a 2.3-liter turbocharged I-4 and a fancy torque-vectoring rear differential, it threatens to out-gun the Golf R both in a straight line and in the corners. Plus, it has Drift Mode! Can the Ford’s fancy technology beat the VW? You’re going to have to watch to find out!