The $16,000 Question: Jetta, Cruze or Focus?

[mikeyb]

Just after we flip our calendars to the year 2011, we'll have three new sedans on the street, all poised to compete against one another and priced from around the $16,000 mark – the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta, 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and 2012 Ford Focus. Each car has a lot of positives and we're sure the automotive media will be lining up comparison tests as soon as each are ready. But right now, we want to know what you, the reader, thinks has the makings of the best $16,000 sedan. Read the details and vote for your pick below.

2011 Volkswagen Jetta

• Dimensions (inches): length: 182.7, width: 70.1, height: 57.1
• Engines: 2.5-liter inline-five with 170 horsepower, 177 pound-feet of torque; 2.0-liter turbo-diesel four with 140 hp, 236 lb-ft; 2.0-liter turbocharged four with 200 hp, 207 lb-ft; six-speed automatic, dual-clutch and manual transmissions will be available
• Fuel economy: Over 40 mpg for TDI diesel models
• Available features: Navigation, Bluetooth, 60/40 split rear seat

2011 Chevrolet Cruze

• Dimensions (inches): length: 181.0, width: 70.7, height: 58.1, wheelbase: 105.7
• Engines: 1.8-liter naturally aspirated inline-four with 138 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque; 1.4-liter turbocharged four with 138 hp and 148 lb-ft; six-speed manual and automatic transmissions available
• Fuel economy: 40 mpg for Eco models
• Available features: Bluetooth, USB connectivity, OnStar support

2012 Ford Focus

• Dimensions (inches): length: 179, width: 72, height: 58, wheelbase: 104
• Engines: 2.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-four with 155 horsepower, 145 pound-feet of torque, mated to a five-speed manual or six-speed dual-clutch automatic; 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four reportedly in the works with 240-plus hp and a six-speed manual
• Fuel economy: 40 mpg highway targeted for base 2.0-liter model
• Available features: SYNC, active park assist, navigation

 

[LASERBLUE135]

This is your worst thread ever. $16,000 and then talk turbocharged engines????(hand)

 

[Hughes412]

I'd say Ford, just looks better.

 

[Dermen]

Autoblog is stupid apparently as none of these cars start at $16k, and then they list specs of $23k trim levels. I also have doubt that the Focus' base 2.0 engine will get 40mpg, I'm guessing that will come from a smaller ecoboost engine.

 

[Kymerik]

Focus...hands down.

 

[Newf]

neither for me. The focus is a "ford" = no thanks - although I must admit they are getting better, but I'd still buy something else first.

The "chevy" can go f#$%^ itself its so hideous

The Jetta isn't too bad but VW doesn't exactly have the greatest rep for reliability either.

 

[ucMP3]

neither for me. The focus is a "ford" = no thanks - although I must admit they are getting better, but I'd still buy something else first.

The "chevy" can go f#$%^ itself its so hideous

The Jetta isn't too bad but VW doesn't exactly have the greatest rep for reliability either.

You think a chevy is a better quality car than a ford? haha, gtfo. (crazy)

The focus is the most reliable car in that group. Ford is the only American car company that's worth the s*** they roll in.

 

[fateexceeds]

This is your worst thread ever. $16,000 and then talk turbocharged engines????(hand)

This is the wave of the future - it's a relatively easy way for automakers to provide more powerful engines while still meeting fuel efficieny mandates. This is the basis of Ford's Ecoboost technology (i.e. direct injected, turbocharged engines), and apparently other automakers will be doing the same thing.

 

[fateexceeds]

I'm no fan of Ford, but they are improving in quality. And from what I understand, the Euro Focus is a very well-respected car and is very different from the crap version they've been selling here.

 

[speedracr79]

You think a chevy is a better quality car than a ford? haha, gtfo. (crazy)

The focus is the most reliable car in that group. Ford is the only American car company that's worth the s*** they roll in.

I agree Ford is the only one worth a damm and for the Ford haters they make lincoln, mercury, and Mazda too id pick a Ford over a Chevy any day. Next time you drive look around and count how many fords are there compared to any other maker.

 

[naji]

yea i thought mazda was joint with ford?

 

[fateexceeds]

I agree Ford is the only one worth a damm and for the Ford haters they make lincoln, mercury, and Mazda too id pick a Ford over a Chevy any day. Next time you drive look around and count how many fords are there compared to any other maker.

yea i thought mazda was joint with ford?

no, Ford doesn't make Mazda! Ford used to own something like 41% of Mazda, which gave it controlling interest under Japanese laws, but while Ford and Mazda share parts and even production plants, Ford by no means makes Mazda. Ford sold back most of its share of Mazda during the financial crisis and supposedly owns only 13% now. Mazda has gotten access to Ford's chassis tech, such as the C1 platform currently being used for the Mazda3 and the Euro Focus and some Volvo model, while Ford has gotten access to Mazda's engine tech and manufacturing techniques. for instance, you'll find Mazda's 2.5L I4 MZR engine in some Ford models, such as the Escape, and I hear the Mustang rolls off the same assembly line as the Mazda6 (and from what I understand, Ford's new Ecoboost technology they've been marketing is simply Mazda's direct-injected/turbocharged engine tech from the speed3 & 6).

and Mercury is hardly an example worth citing! Ford is supposedly thinking about killing off the Mercury brand since it apparently poaches sales from Ford and Lincoln and isn't different enough or selling enough to warrant its continued existence.

however, I do agree with you about picking Ford over Chevy! at least Ford didn't take/spend/waste any public money and has shown marked improvement over the last few years.

 

[fateexceeds]

also, I'd go w/ the Jetta over the Focus & Cruze, since I'm willing to bet it will handle far better than the other two.

 

[speedracr79]

no, Ford doesn't make Mazda! Ford used to own something like 41% of Mazda, which gave it controlling interest under Japanese laws, but while Ford and Mazda share parts and even production plants, Ford by no means makes Mazda. Ford sold back most of its share of Mazda during the financial crisis and supposedly owns only 13% now. Mazda has gotten access to Ford's chassis tech, such as the C1 platform currently being used for the Mazda3 and the Euro Focus and some Volvo model, while Ford has gotten access to Mazda's engine tech and manufacturing techniques. for instance, you'll find Mazda's 2.5L I4 MZR engine in some Ford models, such as the Escape, and I hear the Mustang rolls off the same assembly line as the Mazda6 (and from what I understand, Ford's new Ecoboost technology they've been marketing is simply Mazda's direct-injected/turbocharged engine tech from the speed3 & 6).

and Mercury is hardly an example worth citing! Ford is supposedly thinking about killing off the Mercury brand since it apparently poaches sales from Ford and Lincoln and isn't different enough or selling enough to warrant its continued existence.

however, I do agree with you about picking Ford over Chevy! at least Ford didn't take/spend/waste any public money and has shown marked improvement over the last few years.

(attention)^ yeah your right thats what I meant to say lol,... it wasent so much a citing , it was more ....of an example(rockon), but still they share parts none the less, as for mercury they should have killed them off years ago

 

[tunersteve]

For the record, the DISI and the EcoBoost are NOT related. That was made clear during the introduction of the EcoBoost motors. The technology is the same, but the approach was different. EB motors were made to basically retrofit an existing EFI N/A motor, and convert it into a turbo/TT direct injected motor.

I'd take a Focus of the three. I drove the Cruze, and while it's a HUGE step up from a Crapalier/Slowbalt, it's still got the same GM "funk" that their cars have had for 20+ years. The Jetta is just ugly IMO.

 

[Rockin03mp5]

i think we would have to wait for all of these cars to actually come out.

plus, they need to show the differences in prices and such with the more direct compairables.

jetta tdi vs focus vs cruze eco. i think the price is going to be more like $25K, not $16k.