Model 0-62mph (sec) Combined EU MPG CO2 g/km Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi, Manual 9.3 51.3 144 Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi, Powershift 9.6 48.6 154 Model 0-60mph (sec) Combined EU MPG CO2 g/km Volkswagen Golf GTI, Manual 7.2 35.3 189 Volkswagen Golf GTI, DSG 6.9 35.8 188
While Volkswagen’s DSG manages to significantly improve acceleration and slightly reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions over the manual gearbox, the Ford Powershift makes all of these crucial figures noticeably worse. The C02 figures are particularly bad, as the Powershift option pushes the car into the next road tax band from 2009 onwards, meaning you’ll be paying a premium every year when you renew your road tax.