Skip advert
Advertisement

Ford Focus RS vs Volkswagen Golf R - which is fastest?

Two four-wheel drive hot hatches battle it out

The Ford Focus RS is perhaps the mega hatch of the moment. With 345bhp sent to all four wheels and launch control, it promises to be very quick off the mark. But then the Volkswagen Golf R is no slouch either. It might be down on power at 297bhp, but the car is still absolutely rapid in a straight line. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Both cars tested here use a six-speed manual gearbox and both are all-wheel drive. So which is going to be quickest?

>Read our Volkswagen Golf R review

>Read our Ford Focus RS review

evo's Drag Battles were all conducted at Alconbury's Cambridgeshire runway on a dry surface. All cars were supplied from manufacturers' press fleets on standard OEM tyres with the manufacturers were not aware of the tests being conducted. 

If you'd like to learn more about Certina watches, our new Drag Battles timing sponsor, then click here. You could be in with the chance of winning Certina watch of your own.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Porsche ‘Mission S’ supercar central in plan to tackle Ferrari head-on
What the new Porsche supercar could look like, edited with AI
News

New Porsche ‘Mission S’ supercar central in plan to tackle Ferrari head-on

Porsche’s plan to recover its profits involves pushing upmarket to widen margins, with more customisability and a new supercar
7 Oct 2026
​Best hot hatchbacks 2026 – fast, fun and family friendly cars
Best hot hatchbacks 2026
Best cars

​Best hot hatchbacks 2026 – fast, fun and family friendly cars

The new Peugeot 208 GTi and Vauxhall Corsa GSE join a great variety of current hot hatchbacks that we've ranked
6 Oct 2026
Ferrari Enzo v LaFerrari – analogue hypercar meets its digital successor
Ferrari Enzo v Ferrari LaFerrari
Features

Ferrari Enzo v LaFerrari – analogue hypercar meets its digital successor

When Ferrari launched its first hybrid hypercar, the LaFerrari, Henry Catchpole pitted it against the Enzo, its iconic analogue predecessor
4 Oct 2026