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Ford Escape vs Volkswagen Golf

What's the difference?

VS
Ford Escape
Ford Escape

$29,990 - $55,555

2022 price

Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen Golf

$35,898 - $97,990

2023 price

Summary

2022 Ford Escape
2023 Volkswagen Golf
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 2.5L

Turbo 4, 2.0L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded/Electric

-
Fuel Efficiency
1.5L/100km (combined)

7.0L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • Why ST-Line spec?
  • Make sure your use case fits the limitations
  • A lot more expensive than petrol-only ST-Line

  • Too much road noise
  • Annoying touchscreen
  • Pricey
2022 Ford Escape Summary

We might have been excited to see the new generation Ford Ranger and Ford Everest models in 2022, but the real star of the show for the Blue Oval brand could well be this - its first electrified model to make it to Australia, the new Ford Escape PHEV.

If you’ve seen the letters PHEV before and not understood what it meant, don’t stress - you’re not alone. It stands for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle. And what that means is that this car comes with a battery bank and electric motor, a port to plug it in and recharge it to drive on EV power only, and it also has a petrol engine to make sure you’re not stuck when you run out of charge.

I’ll run through all the details on the drivetrain below, but think of it this way - if you want a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid but want the possibility to drive on dedicated electric power for up to (and in excess of) 50 kilometres on a charge, this could be the right car for you…

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2023 Volkswagen Golf Summary

In a world where hatchbacks are being cancelled left, right and centre, it was super refreshing to get into the Volkswagen Golf GTI hot-hatch recently.

I’d driven other Mk 8 Golf models including the R flagship wagon, but this was my go in the car I’d long considered to be the best Golf for the money.

But with prices continuously cruising north - this car is now a $54,990 prospect before on-road costs - does it still make dollars and sense? And what’s it like to live with in the daily grind?

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Deep dive comparison

2022 Ford Escape 2023 Volkswagen Golf

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