Ford makes two of the leading sedans on the market right now, the Focus and the Fiesta. Picking between the two has always been tricky, but the Fiesta just got a redesign that makes it look even more like the Focus. They’re both great compact cars, but since they’re more similar than ever, picking one is tricky.
Price
Compact cars are great because they don’t cost an arm and a leg to purchase. The monthly payments are usually low, depending on the manufacturer. On top of that, Ford cars tend to be affordable, which is evident with the Focus and the Fiesta.
If you want the absolute cheapest choice between these two, the Fiesta is your best bet. The price of this car is one of the lowest on the market with a starting MSRP of $13,660 for the S Sedan trim. Still, the larger Focus isn’t much more expensive, with Ford listing the S trim as $16,775. For the extra money you get a slightly larger vehicle and more in terms of entertainment and safety features. Both of these cars come with more elaborate trims and options, of course. The Fiesta ST, at $21,140, is one of the best bang-for-your-buck deals in terms of performance, but it’s also a lot more than the regular old S Sedan.
Features
Whether you’re driving for fun or commuting, it’s nice to have some creature comforts around you. The Ford Focus is packed with fun features, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Sync technology, Bluetooth connections, USB ports, speed-sensitive volume control, and four total speakers.
Since both vehicles are relatively similar in price and made by the same manufacturer, it isn’t too much of a surprise that they’re fairly equal in this respect. However, there are a few things that the Fiesta lacks when compared to the Focus. While the Fiesta comes with Sync technology, it doesn’t have Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, USB ports, or speed-sensitive volume control.
Fuel Economy
A big benefit of a compact car is that you can get great fuel economy and spend as little as humanly possible on gas. Both of these vehicles get high mileage, which is great for any driver. The Ford Fiesta gets the best gas mileage out of the two with 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway with the standard 1.6L engine. However, the Focus isn’t far behind with 25 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway.
Safety
Will you be safe? This is a question that should always be on your mind while searching for a new vehicle. Compact cars can make you feel tiny and unprotected while driving down the road, just due to the sheer size of other vehicles. The Ford Fiesta comes with a lot of the standard safety features you’d expect from a sedan including seven standard airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system, and an SOS post-crash alert system.
The Ford Focus might be a better option for one reason: it has a standard rearview camera. It’s great to see what’s going on behind you before you back up. It also comes with first- and second-row side curtain airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system, and dual-stage front airbags. One notable drawback – the Focus lacks the post-crash alert system that comes standard on the Fiesta.
