Class war

Why the comparison?

The Volkswagen Golf and the Ford Focus (and its Escort predecessors) are perhaps the longest running protagonists in the car world. Responsible for extraordinary sales figures worldwide the importance of these two cars to their respective manufacturers cannot be underestimated. This is why it's a seriously big deal when they are replaced or refreshed. And both have just recently been given a make over, the new Golf and Focus featuring all-new bodies (though glance at each and you might wonder exactly what the designers have changed), improved engines, more equipment and revised model ranges. Both vie for the top spot in the sales charts across Europe and beyond, meaning this really is a clash of titanic proportions.

How are they similar?

Being direct rivals, the Golf and Focus have a great deal in common. Both are offered in three- and five-door guises and offer a huge amount of choice from their model line-ups. Each can boast the availability of twin-clutch automatic transmissions, petrol and diesel engines and low emissions model choices that appeal to green-minded motorists that want to reduce their fuel costs. The two we're pitching together here are both turbodiesels with higher output versions of 2.0-litre capacity that are so close on power, performance and economy that it's clear the two manufacturers' respective engineers use each other's vehicles for benchmarking.

The VW offers 138bhp and the Ford 134bhp, though both share a 0-62mph time of 9.3 seconds and economy on each is almost identical at 52.3mpg for the VW and 51.3 for the Ford. Both have recently been significantly overhauled to offer more equipment, better-finished interiors and revised exterior styling too. Space in either is adequate rather than generous, with the Ford feeling a touch bigger inside.

How do they differ?

The Golf has long been able - rightly or wrongly - to look down its nose at the Ford for badge appeal. People seem to see the Volkswagen as a more upmarket choice than the Ford. That's given a bit of gravitas when you get inside the new Golf, as its interior really is pretty special - in a plain, simple and classy manner. What's surprising is just how quiet it is inside the VW too, the German firm's engineers spending a lot of time and effort to give the Golf a near silent cabin. The Ford simply cannot match the super-hushed VW for interior ambience or refinement, but then it delivers in other ways.

There's not a lot wrong with the way the Golf drives: it's sharp, tidy and well controlled, but Ford really does have some chassis magicians in its employ and their work shines through with the Focus. It's so crisp, so enjoyable to drive that you'll wonder why all cars don't steer so precisely, track so accurately and deliver messages like the Focus can. The Ford will make you smile for the way it drives, the VW for its inherent solidity and classy reputation. You'll pay a little more for the VW, though.

So which one would we have?

Picking between the Golf and the Focus is a very, very tough decision. The Focus appeals for its beautiful poise, balance and grin-inducing ability on the right road, while the VW impresses with its solidity, classy looks and likely better residuals when you come to sell it. The Ford will cost you less new and should be cheaper to run, too. It's a very close contest then, that's perhaps even too tight to call. Indeed, it is likely people's decisions will be swayed by simple things like proximity to their dealer, previous experience of VWs/Fords and badge perceptions. Our head says the Golf, but on the right road we'd be lamenting that decision and wishing for the Focus. The best thing we can recommend is to go and take a test drive for yourself.

Kyle Fortune