Hatchbacks have always operated in the sweet grey area between practicality and fun. The lack of excess overhangs makes its manoeuvrable in the city which when combined with a potent engine variant can give a mix of the right amount of fun. Two of the most successful models that dominate this segment in the UAE is undoubtedly the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf. Both the models have proven to be the best players in the company's lineup and this is not restricted just to the UAE. Hence we juxtapose the two cars to find out how they rank against each other.
Design
Volkswagen seems to have preserved the Golf's design in amber. Since its inception, the German company has preferred to keep its design pretty much untouched. For 2019, Volkswagen employed a few minute tweaks such as a newly designed headlight, bumpers along with the dynamic radiator grille.
Ford, on the other hand, has been constantly evolving the design of the Focus. It has managed to pass on the sporty, sleek design throughout its range. Its styling has been sharpened considerably with the focus on sportiness and features coupled with a 53mm longer wheelbase.
Performance
The Volkswagen Golf has been a charmer in the hatchback segment. Its base variant, as well as the potent performance variants, have often outlined an ideal hatchback, setting a benchmark for other manufacturers. The base variant comes with a 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine that puts out 110hp and 175Nm of torque, helping the car reach 100kph in 9.9 seconds with a top speed of 196kph. However, a step-up the rung calls for a 1.4-litre engine that puts out the same power output as the Focus at 150hp and 250Nm of torque. This will, however, set you back by a considerable margin when compared to the Focus' pricing.
Meanwhile, the Ford Focus comes with a 1.5-litre and the same number of cylinders as the standard. It produces close to 40hp more than the base variant of the Golf at 150hp along with 230Nm of torque. With a top speed of 212kph, the Focus lunges to 100kph in a whole second less than the standard Golf in 8.9 seconds.
Safety
Standard in the Volkswagen Golf are six airbags, Electronic stability control with driver steering recommendations, tyre pressure monitoring system, electromechanical parking brake with Auto Hold Function, park assist with park distance control.
The Ford Focus, on the other hand, comes with 4 airbags, brake assist, Dynamic Stability Control, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Hills Assist, tyre pressure monitoring system, seatbelt pretensioner in the front and ISO Fix Child Seat Anchors.
Infotainment
The infotainment package on the Volkswagen Golf comes with four speakers and a connectivity package that includes USB and Bluetooth and SD card and App-connect including Mirrorlink, Android, IOS.
2018 Ford Focus interior
The Ford Focus comes with Ford SYNC 3 with Voice Control and an 8-inch touchscreen with AUX, CD player, Bluetooth and USB.
Pricing
One can take home the base variant (SE) of the Volkswagen Golf at AED 96,100. However, the closest competition for the Focus that comes with a 1.4-litre engine will cost you AED 116,490.
Check out the Volkswagen Golf Cars prices and specification in the UAE.
Ford has cut down on its infotainment and other wow features to make a perfect car for penny-pinchers. The standard variant of the Focus will cost you AED 82,550.
Check out the Ford Focus Cars prices and specification in the UAE.
Verdict
While the Ford lacks plenty in terms of infotainment and other fancy features, it sports a potent engine capable of a good 150hp with 235Nm of torque. Meanwhile, the base model that ranks closest to this in Volkswagen's bag can be availed for AED 10,000 more.
If these fancy features please you, Volkswagen is your mate. However, if a car which scores less in terms of features but compensates with its low cost and good performance is what you're looking for, the Ford Focus is your next car.
