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More money then cents
Guest
Toyota products have a lot going for them: reliability, value, quality. The company's current line of small cars includes successes such as the tiny Yaris and the familiar Corolla. The latter is a more direct competitor to the Focus, so we'll consider it here.
Looking at their specifications, the Focus and Corolla square off pretty evenly. Most dimensions measure out within less than an inch of each other in every category. The Focus does hold a slight advantage inside, offering three more cubic feet of interior volume. The new 140-horsepower Focus also has a significant power advantage over the Corolla's122 horsepower. However, high horsepower figures usually cost in terms of fuel economy, and expectedly, the Toyota's EPA mileage figures beat the Focus (28/37 to 24/35) for models equipped with a manual gearbox.
Proving that it's necessary to physically compare vehicles before you make a commitment, the Focus and Corolla feel dramatically different on the road. The Focus is quieter and more responsive -- certainly more of a driver's car. The Corolla rides more softly. We prefered the Ford Focus due to its nicer ride, fresh interior and advanced SYNC option. To our hands, the 2008 Focus made the Corolla feel like a tired rental car. To be fair though, the Corolla has been around since model year 2003 in this guise, so it is a bit old. On the horizon is an all-new version set to debut early next year. We'll have to see how it stacks up to the Focus then, too.
Looking at their specifications, the Focus and Corolla square off pretty evenly. Most dimensions measure out within less than an inch of each other in every category. The Focus does hold a slight advantage inside, offering three more cubic feet of interior volume. The new 140-horsepower Focus also has a significant power advantage over the Corolla's122 horsepower. However, high horsepower figures usually cost in terms of fuel economy, and expectedly, the Toyota's EPA mileage figures beat the Focus (28/37 to 24/35) for models equipped with a manual gearbox.
Proving that it's necessary to physically compare vehicles before you make a commitment, the Focus and Corolla feel dramatically different on the road. The Focus is quieter and more responsive -- certainly more of a driver's car. The Corolla rides more softly. We prefered the Ford Focus due to its nicer ride, fresh interior and advanced SYNC option. To our hands, the 2008 Focus made the Corolla feel like a tired rental car. To be fair though, the Corolla has been around since model year 2003 in this guise, so it is a bit old. On the horizon is an all-new version set to debut early next year. We'll have to see how it stacks up to the Focus then, too.