New Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf?

Words Shane O' Donoghue Published 8 April 2011 Updated 8 April 2011

We got the new Ford Focus together with its arch rival, the Volkswagen Golf for a brief twin test. In summary, the Focus is more daring in terms of styling inside and out and it's marginally better to drive. That latter point really depends on what version you're looking at though, as the Zetec models feature sportier suspension settings than the rest of the line-up.

The Focus' interior has moved on a lot in terms of quality, though it's a little overstyled in my opinion. The Golf's is simpler and some might say boring, but it works better.

Compare the 1.6-litre turbodiesel models and there's not much in it, though Volkswagen has a wider choice of engines.

If pushed, I'd have the Focus, but it's by the most slender of margins.

Photography by Max Earey.

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