This Hot Hatch Completely Creams Its Supposed Competitor In A Drag Race

8 years ago - 29 October 2016, Carbuzz

The two cars are similar on paper, so why such a large discrepancy?

The US is one of the few countries in the world that doesn’t use the metric system, and while this causes headaches when attempting to convert between kilometers and miles or inches and centimeters, using miles instead of kilometers is more practical when measuring longer distances.

But when the distances and displacements get smaller, kilometers become the more sane choice, which is why Auto Express chose the standing kilometer as the competition to differentiate the Ford Focus RS and Volkswagen Golf R. To enthusiasts, the two hot hatches are some of the most desirable machines on the more affordable end of the spectrum. But which one is the better value proposition?

To start, it’s worth noting that at first glance, both cars are similar on paper. Both send power to all four wheels through a six-speed manual, and though the Ford makes nearly 50 horsepower more than its German counterpart, the power is offset by 270 pounds of extra weight. So which of the cars is the fastest off the line? It’s tough to say given that the positives and negatives practically outweigh each other, but the Ford does have launch control while the Volkswagen requires old school skill and practice to get off the line. Regardless, it's safe to say that the winner of the race is far from overhyped.