2017 head-to-head · Compact Car
2017 Ford Focus vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
FWD · Electric motor (100 kW) · Single-speed · 119 MPGe · 125 mi
The 2017 Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, it costs about $767 a year to fuel (119 MPGe), versus $1,368 for the 2017 Ford Focus (34 MPG). That's roughly $601 a year, or about $3,004 over five years.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- Ford Focus
- Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV
Side by side
| Ford Focus | Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,368 | Your annual fuel cost | $767 |
| 34 MPG | Combined efficiency | 119 MPGe |
| 30 MPG | City | 126 MPGe |
| 40 MPG | Highway | 111 MPGe |
| — | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 28.4 kWh |
| — | Driving range | 125 mi |
| 90 cu ft | Passenger volume | 91 cu ft |
| 23 cu ft | Cargo volume | 17 cu ft |
| 264 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 0 g/mi |
| 8/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 10/10 |
| 8/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 10/10 |
| — | Charge time at 240V | 5.3 hrs |
| Gas | Powertrain | Electric |
| Regular gasoline | Fuel | Electricity |
| 1.0L 3-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | Electric motor (100 kW) |
| 6-speed manual | Transmission | Single-speed |
| FWD | Drivetrain | FWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
Ford Focus vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV across model years
- Ford Focus
- Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
Per EPA interior volume figures, the Ford Focus has more cargo space (23 vs. 17 cu ft).
Among 50 2017 compact cars, the Ford Focus ranks 10th and the Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV 1st for lowest fuel cost.
Because the Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV is fully electric, it has no tailpipe emissions and its running cost depends almost entirely on your electricity rate. Cheap overnight home charging widens its advantage over the Ford Focus; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2017 Ford Focus or the 2017 Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV?
Measured by cost to drive, the Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV. The Ford Focus is rated 34 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV 119 MPGe (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2017 Ford Focus vs. the Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, about $1,368 for the Ford Focus and $767 for the Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV.
Which has more cargo space?
The Ford Focus, with 23 cu ft of luggage volume versus 17 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Ford Focus vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV in other years
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