Facts and figures
| Volkswagen Golf GTI DSG | Ford Focus ST-3 | Renaultsport Megane 265 | |
| On the road price/total as tested | £27,915/£31,020 | £25,495/£25,495 | £26,455/£29,505 |
| Residual value (after 3yrs/36,000) | £14,488/51.9% | £9,688/38.0% | £11,217/42.4% |
| Depreciation | £13,427 | £15,807 | £15,238 |
| Annual tax liability std/higher rate | £1,164/£2,328 | £1,258/£2,516 | £1,358/£2,716 |
| Annual fuel cost (12k/20k miles) | £2,748/£4,580 | £2,800/£4,667 | £2,198/£3,664 |
| Ins. group/quote/road tax band/cost | 29/£395/F/£140 | 36/£431/H/£200 | 36/£422/H/£200 |
| Service costs | £359 (3yrs/30k miles) | £570 (3yrs) | Free (4yrs 4+) |
| Length/wheelbase | 4,268/2,631mm | 4,362/2,648mm | 4,312/2,640mm |
| Height/width | 1,442/1,799mm | 1,484/1,858mm | 1,423/1,804mm |
| Engine | 4cyl in-line/1,984cc | 4cyl in-line/1,999cc | 4cyl in-line/1,998cc |
| Peak power/revs | 217/4,500 bhp/rpm | 247/5,500 bhp/rpm | 261/5,500 bhp/rpm |
| Peak torque/revs | 350/1,500 Nm/rpm | 360/1,750 Nm/rpm | 360/3,000 Nm/rpm |
| Transmission | 6-spd DSG/fwd | 6-spd man/fwd | 6-spd man/fwd |
| Fuel tank capacity/spare wheel | 50 litres/space-saver | 62 litres/space-saver | 60 litres/sealant |
| Boot capacity (seats up/down) | 380/1,270 litres | 316/1,101 litres | 344/1,129 litres |
| Kerbweight/payload/towing weight | 1,370/545/1,600kg | 1,437/588kg/N/A | 1,394/441kg/N/A |
| Turning circle/drag coefficient | 10.9 metres/0.28Cd | 12.0 metres/0.29Cd | 11.0 metres/0.31Cd |
| Basic warranty (miles)/recovery | 3yrs (60,000)/3yrs | 3yrs (60,000)/1yr | 4yrs (100,000)/4yrs |
| Service intervals/UK dealers | Variable/223 | 12,500 (1yr)/781 | 18,000 (1yr)/330 |
| Driver Power manufacturer/dealer pos. | 16th/25th^ | 23rd/26th^ | 21st/23rd^ |
| Euro NCAP: Adult/child/ped./stars | 94/89/65/5 | 92/82/72/5 | N/A |
| 0-60/30-70mph | 6.3/5.2 secs | 6.3/5.3 secs | 6.5/5.1 secs |
| 30-50mph in 3rd/4th | 2.8/4.3 secs | 2.9/3.7 secs | 2.8//3.9 secs |
| 50-70mph in 5th/6th | 5.7/7.7 secs | 5.1/6.4 secs | 4.7/6.5 secs |
| Top speed/rpm at 70mph | 151mph/2,000rpm | 154mph/2,300rpm | 158mph/2,600rpm |
| Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph | 48.8/35.5/9.0m | 44.6/32.6/8.5m | 46.2/36.5/9.2m |
| Noise outside/idle/30/70mph | 61/41/61/71dB | 60/50/59/57dB | 68/50/65/72dB |
| Auto Express econ (mpg/mpl)/range | 26.8/6.0/295 miles | 26.3/5.8/359 miles | 33.5/7.4/442 miles |
| Govt urban/extra-urban/combined | 34.9/53.3/44.1mpg | 28.5/50.4/39.2mpg | 28.8/45.6/37.7mpg |
| Govt urban/extra-urban/combined | 7.8/11.8/9.8mpl | 6.3/11.1/8.6mpl | 6.4/10.1/8.4mpl |
| Actual/claimed CO2/tax bracket | 243/148g/km/21% | 248/169g/km/25% | 195/174g/km/26% |
| Airbags/Isofix/rear parking sensors | Seven/yes/yes | Six/yes/yes | Six/yes/yes |
| Automatic box/stability/cruise control | Yes/yes/yes | No/yes/£250 | No/yes/yes |
| Climate control/leather/heated seats | Yes/£1,695/£355* | Yes/yes/yes | Yes/yes/yes |
| Metallic paint/xenon lights/keyless go | £525/yes/£355 | £525/yes/yes | £495/£750/yes |
| Sat-nav/USB connection/Bluetooth | £735/yes/yes | £750/yes/yes | £500/yes/yes |
