2019 Ford Focus ST Vs. 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI: Which Is Better?
The Ford Focus ST and the Volkswagen Golf GTI are both fantastic values in modern performance cars. The VW is available with a manual or automatic transmission, while the Ford is manual-only. If you're looking for a practical compact hatchback that's also a blast to drive, then what you're looking for is a hot hatch. Hot hatchbacks are great for the driving enthusiast who wants a true performance car that's exciting enough for spirited driving and practical enough for everyday commuting and errand-running. Two popular hot hatches that strike this balance beautifully are the Ford Focus ST and the Volkswagen Golf GTI. Let's take a look at what's similar, what's different and which is better between the Focus ST and the GTI. The Focus ST is slightly longer and wider than the GTI, but they are virtually the same size, both fitting nicely in the compact hatchback segment. They're both big enough to have plenty of real-world practicality and small enough to offer a nimble driving experience.
The EPA rates the Audi R8 with fuel economy of 13 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway, subjecting it to a gas guzzler tax. While we saw the mileage go up to 16 mpg during freeway driving, we also saw it drop down to 6 mpg in heavy traffic. Overall, we came in at 10.6 mpg for our combined city and freeway driving. It should be noted that we did most of our driving with the revs up about 4,500. For emissions, it earns the minimal LEV II rating from California's Air Resources Board. White LEDs line the lower part of the headlight enclosure, giving the R8 a distinct appearance. A couple of other notable features of the R8 are the LED parking and tail lights and the adaptive spoiler. You can raise the spoiler by pushing a button, or just drive faster than 75 mph and watch it rise automatically. The LED parking lights are a unique feature, outlining the bottom of the head light casings. 109,000, which we think is a better place to start. For our ratings, we give the R8 a near perfect score for performance, only docking it a point for its poor mileage and the low speed behavior of the R tronic transmission. It earns a top score for design because it is such an overwhelmingly head-turning car. As its cabin gadgets are generally above average, we give it a moderate score, with a few points docked for the mediocre navigation system and the minimal digital options on the stereo.
At first glance, the Dark Shine looks up to par with the vast majority of professional show car builds currently making the rounds. The exterior could have used some custom body panels, but the maintenance of the stock lines (probably a mandate from VW) highlights just how much the two-tone paint design enhances the factory body. It looks aggressive and sporty without throwing on 10 grand of carbon-fiber aero, and that鈥檚 impressive by itself. The interior is also well executed, with quality materials, cohesion with the exterior colors, and one badass mother of a stereo. It鈥檚 street performance without the usual over-the-top fiberglass extras, enhancing what鈥檚 already there without getting tacky. Finally, the performance upgrades are very much appreciated. This GTI actually got a substantial wallop of power, matching the car鈥檚 go to all that extra show. Not bad for a team of 鈥渁pprentices.鈥?In fact, it makes you wonder why VW doesn鈥檛 just hand the reins over to the young blood immediately. The group included two paint technicians, four vehicle interior fitters, four automotive mechatronics technicians, one media designer, and two process technicians specializing in plastics and rubber engineering. You can bet there鈥檒l be another GTI delivered to a fresh group of recruits this fall for the 2016 event. I can鈥檛 wait to see what they come up with.
What is the cargo capacity of the 2005 Volkswagen GTI with all seats in place? The 2005 Volkswagen GTI has 18 cu.ft. How long is the 2005 VW GTI? The 2005 Volkswagen GTI is 13 ft. 8.9 in. (164.9 in.) long. What is the cam type of the 2005 VW GTI? The 2005 Volkswagen GTI has double overhead cam (DOHC). How tall is the 2005 VW GTI? The height of the 2005 Volkswagen GTI is 4 ft. 8.7 in. (56.7 in.). What is the city and highway range of the 2005 Volkswagen GTI in miles? The EPA range estimate for the 2005 Volkswagen GTI is 304.5 mi. 420.5 mi. on the highway. What kind of fuel does the 2005 VW GTI use? The 2005 Volkswagen GTI runs on premium unleaded (recommended). What is the EPA city and highway mileage estimate for the 2005 Volkswagen GTI? The EPA mileage estimate for the 2005 Volkswagen GTI is 21 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway. What is the front track of the 2005 VW GTI? The front track of the 2005 Volkswagen GTI is 4 ft. 11.6 in. (59.6 in.). What is the rear track of the 2005 VW GTI? The rear track of the 2005 Volkswagen GTI is 4 ft. 10.8 in. (58.8 in.). What ground clearance does the 2005 VW GTI have? The ground clearance of the 2005 Volkswagen GTI is 0 ft. 5.1 in. (5.1 in.).
Volkswagen is digging back into its archives for a special-edition Golf GTI. The brand hasn't released pricing or fuel economy estimates for the Golf GTI Rabbit Edition and note the vehicle pictured above is the 2018 Golf GTI. However, we do have some basic information on what to expect. Outside, VW will mark the Rabbit Edition with 18-inch gloss-black aluminum-alloy wheels, a black spoiler, and black mirror caps. Buyers will have the choice of four exterior colors, too: Cornflower Blue, Urano Grey, Pure White, or Deep Black. For a few added features, the Golf GTI Rabbit Edition will bundle VW's keyless access system and LED headlights with adaptive headlights that point into the direction of turns. Unique floor mats and seat tags run the Rabbit theme into the cabin. We can assume the special-edition Golf GTI will stick with the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine making 220 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque as VW didn't note any performance improvements over the standard GTI model. VW and Golf fans will recall the Rabbit name dates back to the first-generation hatchback in the United States and Canada. The automaker also resurrected the name for the fifth-generation car before reverting back to "Golf" for the sixth- and (current) seventh-generation models. Production will be mighty limited for the Rabbit Edition. VW plans to build 3,000 examples. After that, rabbit hunting season will be left to pre-owned inventories.
