probably one of the best comparison tests for the compact class. whats missing is the toyota corolla, honda civic, nissan sentra as well as a little more details on the interior feel.
@cemceylani Haha thats the car I bought:)Brand new Hyundai Elantra LIMITED:)Cant say anything bad about the car.Compact car of the yr back2back:)Best on gas mileage.Looks sporty inside&out.Handles great.It isnt the fastest car but hey it aint aSports car..lol.I dont know Y they review these cars like these small sedans R like sports cars..lol.By far Hyundai beats the rest of the competition on all their models4price&what U get in the car.Sonata is aGreat car as well&I only like the Optima4Kia:)
I know a guy who constantly gets 51 mpg on the highway. Mazda hit it low on the 40 average plus the improved the safety. You don't loose anything with the new sky tech it actually got better!
I'm a ford guy 100% but my wife and I bought a cruze It's like a Cadillac and was cheap. Really cheap compared to the focus and it's loaded to the max
Uhm, the so-called 2012 Mazda 3 they used did not even have the new skyactive engine! What the fuck? Using the old engine against fords new is not an accurate comparison. The Mazda 3 with the skyactive engine has more torque and hp than the crappy focus and actually delivers MORE than the 40mpg hwy than promised! The Focus is avg at 35mpg on hwy. The Mazda 3 stomps the shit out of it!
ducman: vw is a much more upscale brand than any other in this review. the current jetta while really nice looking is much cheaper inside than the previous year, at least in the non gli model. i'm surprised they didn't put the new civic and the kia forte in here.
motorcrosser and donwat: i have a 2012 elantra as well but i'm not seeing what you two are. i average 33mpg combined per tank of gas and have been extremely pleased with the car. i agree i havent seen 40mpg and i put 2200 miles a month on it. best highway mpg i've seen on a road trip was 36mpg. the car was for my wife and daughter, and thus far has passed the test.
Jetta last for interior feeling cheap? Compared to what? VW is not a premium brand, Audi is their premium brand, what do you want it to be for this segment & price? There are comprimises in every car in this cat. More is said about base model than what your testing. Sounds like the Cruze doesnt have much to offer but it would have won? Strange test and not very usefull, I still bought the Jetta and love it and I own a 2000 Jetta GLX that I bought for the VR6 & handling.
The Elantra does not get 40MPG highway. Check out that data on the website 'fuelly'. Consumer watchdog has sent a letter to president Obama and to the EPA stating that you car does worse that what the EPA tests reveal, and Chevy Cruze consistently does better than what it's EPA values are. Both the Elantra and Cruze are 33MPG combined).
The Cruze gets an average of 28% better mileage than the Elantra.
Stop lying please. My mother got an Elantra, always in Eco mode, can't get more than 25MPG
@danwat1234 i have the same problem, i average 25-26 when i drive it. it was purchased for the fuel economy and it doesnt do a very good job of that. Hyundai says because 25-26 is still within the EPA ratings there is nothing they can do and blamed it all on my driving and the gas i use. I put the same gas in my 2006 f150 4X4 and can average 20MPG on the highway with cruise control and about 15 in the city. its not my driving.
the cruze is the best, it has the best resale value, better quality interior, better gas MPG, granted that that paralell parking thing is cool, but every driver should know how. also it has a better ride. I rode in one of these, idk where they get the "flat and uncomfortable" seat, they ARE power seats, adjust if you dont like it. ford idiots.
I test drove all of these cars and went with a hatchback MANUAL transmission Focus with the sports package which gives you 4 disc brakes, 16 inch wheels, leather wrapped steering wheel, INCREDIBLE 2 tone cloth seats that look more like they belong in a BMW and a sportier suspension setup. The 160HP has great power, makes the best noise and the clutch and manual transmission are some of the smoothest I've driven. The Focus just KILLS the rest in almost every way especially handling and quality
Stilll feel the Elantra tops the ford on interior quality of fit, finish and materials(soft touch materials), also has 4 disc brakes, leather wheel, 17 inch alloys, fantastic 6 speed auto trans and distinctive wicked looks. I was going to wait for the focus launch in NZ, after seeing one in the flesh I was glad I went ahead with the Hyundai.
@blane237 yea that seems accurate for the Mazda 3, but I've been looking at other 0-60 times for the cruze such as motor trend got 9.0secs and inside line videos got 9.6 stand still and 9.3 roll out. 8 secs from caranddriver seems odd but I know 0-60 times can be affected by different things.
Well here is my two cents, I've been looking and have done test driving of several of these cars. The Mazda 3, Chevy Cruze, Hyundi Elantra, and the VW Jetta and a Golf. At this point I loved the Ford the best. All the cars have the good and the bad things about them. My brother bought an Elantra and loves it, not sure about the 40 mpg, cars not broke in yet. The thing I liked best about the ford is the way it handled, unbelievable. May wait till 2013, see if they can clear up Ford touch?
@razorx3113 I would buy a Focus now. Ford will sent out a flash drive to all MyFord touch owners with the newest touch system. I work for a Ford dealer they sent out a flash drive to us to use in a demo car. Much better faster then the old version!
@razorx3113 my 2012 mazda 3 skyactiv achieved 39.7 MPG average(hand Calculated) with some city driving mixed in on it's first tank. Hopefully your friends elantra starts getting better but maybe he drives with a heavy foot?
I got the chance to test drive a Focus about a month ago, overall very capable car. Almost dare to say it felt like a cheap BMW. The Cruze felt softer for sure, but it was still very confident (didn't drive the Elantra or the Mazda). Meanwhile the VW Jetta and the Honda Civic, both once class leaders, are absolute rubbish now. You'd have to be a moron to buy them at sticker price.
@jacketman22 I love this statement because I think you almost pegged it. "Almost dare to say it felt like a cheap BMW." I've searched for the words and I think you got it fairly well. With that said this no $40,000 plus car. What happened to Honda? I think your if not there your darn close with yore post.
@razorx3113 Even though Honda did some cheapening and detuning, the main problem is the Civic's barely changed while the competition's pulled ahead. Guess they wanted to broaden the car's appeal to include Corolla drivers. The Jetta's problem is that its taken a major step back, they've cut so much out that it just feels cheap and spineless.
@jacketman22 I agree. I had a 2001 Jetta Turbo and the quality and overall feel used to be far superior to others in that class. Now they've really gone for too much cost cutting.
cruze not handling,wtf my cruze with springs will hold with track civics.i love my cruze 22k miles and not a single problem unlike F.ix O.r R.pair D.aily
@gunnernaut I just bought a NEW 2012 Hyundai Elantra Limited model & Im LOVING IT:) The handling of the car drives well because it is light&is the lightest of all 5 of these cars.It won car of the year in 2011 & 2012.The gas mileage is the best out of the 5 cars.I think the Focus hatchback looks good.The inside design/dashboard looks 2nd best.The dashboard/inside of the Mazda looks normal&the same.I dont really like the red lighting.
@gunnernaut Not at all. Form outside the Mazda looks great. But its interior is dull and really low quality. It drives greatly but not as refined or comfortable as the Focus.
Through Motortrend and many others, the Jetta is rated the best. So...? And you niggas would seriously trust a Korean car and some no-soul JDM piece of crap? The Cruze and Focus suck. And why are these fools driving automatic?
Don't buy the recent models of the Mazda cars that came from Japan. These cars are tainted with nuclear radiation from Japan's nuclear disaster. Plutonium-238, 239 and 240 are highly radioactive and was released from the Fukushima nuclear reactors and will lead to higher rates of cancer, infertility and sperm damage.
Mazdacars are tainted with high levels of Japan's nuclear disaster radiation. Think again before buying a Mazda car. This radiation, which includes the highly radioactive Plutonium-238, 239 and 240 will increase your risk of cancer, infertility and sperm damage.
@MingGuoLi It probably would have come between the Jetta and Cruze. I was in the market for a compact, and I drove everything including these 5 as well as the Civic and Scion tC. The jetta drove fine, but the interior really is pretty bad. The civic was better, but It felt just a bit gutless compared to the rest. I got the Mazda 3 2.5 Hatch, because it drives the best, and its got pretty much everything for about 25K sticker.
The only reason the Elantra and the Civic are winning is because they are being displayed as boring commuter cars and not something you want to have fun in your everyday drive, no thanks...
I've driven all these cars except for the VW. I prefer the Cruze because it is the most quiet and handles best. It has the most impressive safety features & that's important for a compact car. The Focus is a close second and has superior acceleration to the Cruze. I don't know why the narrator didn't like seats of the Cruze because I like the seats best of the lot. I guess everyone's butt is different. The Elantra is nice also but just too damn ugly. The Cruze is leading all in sales so far.
Japanese Mazda cars now contain high levels of Plutonium-238, 239 and 240 from Japan's nuclear disaster. This radiation will increase your incidence of cancer, infertility and sperm damage.
i just sold 2010 mazda 3, "THANK GOD" what a pile of crap it was. Great steering is the only good thing i will say for it. Horrible ride. lots of road noise, engine noisy not much punch either, not enough room in the back for my kids, and shit resale value. i will never buy a mazda ever again!!!!!
@bjjxr8 Yes, a guy I work with has one and he says the same about engine noise and lousy gas mileage for a compact. I do however think it's one of the very best looking compacts but that's not much consolation with the other negatives.
@tigeroak The1thing I hate about the looks of the Mazda3is that STUPID SMILEY FACE IN THE FRONT..LOL.Other than that,it looks good..haha.The inside looks ok,but in my opinion the Focus&Elantra look way better.Ijust bought a brand new Elantra limited model&Im loving it.The only thing bad about it,is the performance.But it drives well,cause its light&the gas mileage is thebest out of the5cars.It won car of the yr in2011&2012.I dont really care about performance,but the handling is great
@tigeroak What I meant about the Focus&Elantra looking better was the inside dashboard/interior looking better then the Mazda3.Elantra,Focus interior looks more sportier/more futuristic:) If I were to buy the Focus I would only go for the Hatchback because of its sporty/better look.I dont really like Hatchbacks but the Focus Sedan doesnt look good.Just like the Kia Forte Sedan.The back of that car looks a little funny.But the Hatchback looks good on the Kia Forte.
after owning a focus for the last 4 yrs, and having owned an elantra for the previous 9 yrs.....I'd buy the elantra for long term trouble free driving. Too many stupid problems with the focus.
@JonO387 You like it or not, Automatic is proven to be way more fuel efficient than manual. You will never be more efficient than a CPU when changing gears depending on the driving conditions. Besides that, Automatic Transmissions now are very reliable at the point they practically never fail and last the entire car life, compared to a manual tranny that can have clutch plate problems and things like that.
In addition, driving auto is more comfortable. I drive both, but thats the naked truth.
@wtrdogg20 The top part of your comment is true, no doubt. The bottom part is only opinion. Real cars and real drivers only drive manuals, that's naked truth.
@JonO387 No man, thats your personal opinion. Basically you are saying the F1 drivers or WRC drivers are not real drivers?? I am sure they are more drivers than you and me together, and they dont use a clutch to change gears, because FYI the paddle shift, sport tronic or any variant is automatic with manual shifting, developed from the racing technology, and thats the upcoming standard.
Based on your perception, then I am a really good driver, cuz I drive manual or auto with paddles like pro.
@wtrdogg20 Good for you, anyone who can drive a manual can also drive a fake manual. I wasn't being sarcastic and I did read your comment. Keep the trolling coming, I'm sure it won't stop.
Whats wrong with you, kid?...You talk about trolling and you started with the sarcastic comment, now you want to say I am the troll?...
Whatever... I think the one behaving like troll is you, you can keep the trolling coming, you said so, it wont stop...It is clear you know a lot about it.
@wtrdogg20 Ummm, I already said you were trolling. I asked a fair question, then stated my opinion. You're the only one who is making a big deal out of it. Now you try to pass off my comment as your own. That's a troll if I've ever seen one. I hope your last comment was just that, your last, to me anyway. Thought I'm sure it won't be.
@JonO387 How can you say driving with Automatic tranny is not comfortable....Have you ever been in a infernal traffic Jam changing from first to second gear over and over and over again? Playing with the gas and clutch on a hill road. Dude, I used to do with a Diesel pickup truck, no body is gonna tell me I am not a real driver, you can cover the sun with a hand, at the end of they day, your left leg will start complaining about it.
Auto tranny is comfort, no doubt, Americans made it popular.
@wtrdogg20 Again, it's all opinion. Do you know how those work? I like having full control over the vehicle I'm driving. You won't change my opinion. Why do you care so much anyway?
The Focus grille looks like a damned catfish! And I would disagree that the Ford has "better quality" materials than Mazda or any other Japanese brand for that matter.... sorry but even the very likable "Mr. Dirty Jobs" (Mike Rowe) himself couldn't convince me to buy the Ford.
@MrKurt1962 seriously though, their slogan "drive one" gets to the point. Thats the only way to change perceptions. ive driven most of the hyundai kias from the last 2 years and their good.
El cruze muy pesado , el jetta para los caballeros, el elantra mucho plastico, el ford parece que es armado en Argentina, E mejor Mazda 3 japones 100 por ciento.....
@joshuatree1001 Literally two days ago I tested every car in this comparison except for the Cruze. I walked out of a dealership with the Mazda. It was the best hands-down. Never been a Mazda fan but Mazda really shocked me with the 3. It's so much fun to drive. Funny thing is I didn't see the video until today.
I like the Cruze, Jetta, and Elantra. Of the three I think I would get the Jetta for the TDI, however, I think the Elantra and the Cruze look classy and that is what I want. Not something that stands out in a crowd. I think the Mazda and Focus look too flashy.
@gabeherb345 LOL personally the Elantra is my fave American design, not to everyones taste however. We've had our Elantra Elite (Limited) for two months now and are loving it, gets lots of attention on Auckland roads.
gabeherb345, you don't happen to wear beige cardigans by any chance do you?
@akie64 I used to hate Fords and just bought a Focus hatchback MANUAL transmission (the auto SUCKS, the manual is brilliant). The difference between the quality of the fit and finish of the Focus compared to other competitors wasn't even close. The Focus has soft touch dash materials, incredible 2 tone cloth seats and feels VERY solid. And when it comes to handling, the Elantra doesn't even come close. Nothing does. Ford has blown me away but you MUST get 2 things .Manual and sports package
Too much bias toward sporty feel. Trust me being a passenger in the sportier ones (mazda especially) is very uncomfortable and even as a driver, once you've driven it every day for 2 months, you begin to realise that none of these are sports cars and you start to wish for a more comfort oriented ride. For comfort the order for me goes Jetta, Cruze, Focus, Elantra, 3.
Mazda really knows what they're doing. People say the car looks too happy but I actually like that, and it is the drivers car out of all of them. I think the Elantra looks probably the best, the Cruze is kind of boring, but not as boring as the Jetta, and I don't really like the Focus' styling, but maybe I haven't seen it enough for it too warm up to me. but if I had to choose, i'd go with an Electric Blue Mazda 3. :)
@doddsalfa that's what I was talking about too. My country gets the "euro" Focus but for 2012, Ford has consolidated the US and euro designs into one. So what you see here is what the world has now. Actually this IS the new euro Focus. Ford USA discontinued a pure American version, and adopted the euro models complete with euro engines, suspension tuning, etc, just as they did with the Fiesta, and planning to do with the Fusion (gonna be replaced by the next gen Mondeo).
Don't agree w/all but is a good review nontheless. Econo-boxes have come a long way since the 80's!!! Economy being what it is I may be test driving some of these soon, just don't have the cash to buy what I really want.
I can't help but agree with C&D's testing. The Ford Focus seems to be one of only three cars in the test designed seriously enough to take on the now stale offerings from Japan's Toyota, Nissan and the disappointing Honda Civic. But, I say 1) Focus, 2) Elantra, 3) 3, 4) Cruze, 5) Jetta. The Elantra may not have all the bells and whistles, but the Mazda's smile has gotten old with me, and Hyundai sure is making their cars look beautiful!
why would the mazda3 be up there? its a dated design and has one of the worst interiors ever created. especially at night time , the red lighting glares at you like no other. this review is WAY to biased on driving dynamics; 99% of people who are going to buy these cars are not gonna take them to the track.
I finally test drove a new Focus. Loaded to the gills at $30K. Very nice car BUT to me, the rear seats had very little leg room and the B pillar was way too wide. I literally had to move forward to look around it. Handling package gave it sweet 18's but added a full size spare-which killed the cargo area. It could use a touch more grunt too. Those are just my gripes though.
The Elantra looks so pitiful in this test. It looks like it has to struggle to keep up with the rest. I feel so sorry for it because it is really not a performance car like the rest even though it does have the best looks.
I pick the focus and cruze !!!! i don't know why some Americans hate focus and cruze !!!! i am asian but I LOVE the new focus and cruze !!! i am so glad that the new focus is the winner here !!! i am gonna buy he new focus
Pues sinceramente me quedo con el mazda 3, ya tuve uno y los destrose a 80 km/hrs al chocarlo contra un poste de frente y no me paso absolutamente nada, claro el coche quedo totalmente destrozado en perdida total, pero cumplio con todas mis espectativas incluso las de seguridad. Asi que me comprare nuevamente otro Mazda 3. Por cierto, tambien probe los demas carros personalmente y de todos me gusto mas el manejo del Mazda. Saludos.
I owned the first generation Focus ZX5, it was a good overall vehicle for the price. I'm glad Ford is bringing the European version to North America finally.
arent these cars made for driving people with low budgets or peopel who dont care enough about cars and need something to get them where they have to go safely and cheaply .. not for racing and being pushed to its limits... and of course the winning car is the ugliest of them all
The Ford won, but I'd still take the Mazda3. It's maybe outdated, because it's basically the same car (with new engine) for the past 7-8 years with a little refinement and updated looks, but it's still competitive and near the top of it's class. I'd just wish for a little better fuel economy though.
The Ford, however, was impressive. I like what they're doing with the Fiesta and the Focus!
Just bought the focus! After I test drove all of these cars (plus the civic), it was the best ride quality. Even though the elantra had alot of room and better mpg like many of you said, the ride quality felt like it had a loose screw...steering wasnt very solid imo....
@ivanidread And I just bought the Elantra because of that, can't tolerate the bland exterior of the Focus, whats the use of little more ride quality if every time u open your garage u see a bland looking car?
the chevy cruze should of gotten a better score
kyleminifos 6 days ago
the focus!!
mil161 6 days ago
Cruze should of won.....
ClarksonsinUSA 1 week ago
probably one of the best comparison tests for the compact class. whats missing is the toyota corolla, honda civic, nissan sentra as well as a little more details on the interior feel.
youngb1ood 1 week ago
I choose Hyundai Elantra
cemceylani 3 weeks ago
@cemceylani Haha thats the car I bought:)Brand new Hyundai Elantra LIMITED:)Cant say anything bad about the car.Compact car of the yr back2back:)Best on gas mileage.Looks sporty inside&out.Handles great.It isnt the fastest car but hey it aint aSports car..lol.I dont know Y they review these cars like these small sedans R like sports cars..lol.By far Hyundai beats the rest of the competition on all their models4price&what U get in the car.Sonata is aGreat car as well&I only like the Optima4Kia:)
justthebestgolfer 2 weeks ago
i dont find that ford pretty at'll .
alphisutha1991 3 weeks ago
The Mazda is soo ugly... it looks like its smiling with an orange peel in its mouth lol
mikeygee16 4 weeks ago
Ford reduced weight to get better mpg nothing more an it doesn't seat 5 it seats 4 lol
jamesrobertifyify 1 month ago
I know a guy who constantly gets 51 mpg on the highway. Mazda hit it low on the 40 average plus the improved the safety. You don't loose anything with the new sky tech it actually got better!
jamesrobertifyify 1 month ago
mazda 3 rules with the new skyactiv technology best value
ForteTomek 1 month ago
do you have the turbo in your cruze? how do you like it and what average combined mpg have you seen?
sb632 1 month ago
hyundai best buds~~~~~~~~~
psupccea 1 month ago
I'm a ford guy 100% but my wife and I bought a cruze It's like a Cadillac and was cheap. Really cheap compared to the focus and it's loaded to the max
Laidoutbug 1 month ago
who are first ?
89LOG 1 month ago
Cruze. <3
yootubeloobe 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Xcorgi: the focus has a dual clutch transmission like the dsg in vw's. it has a manual type thing on the shifter, just not like u normally see.
sb632 1 month ago
Xcorgi: the focus has a dual clutch transmission like the dsg in vw's. it has a manual type thing on the shifter, just not like u normally see.
sb632 1 month ago
P.S, plus the new mazda 3 has a new 6-speed auto stick. Ford does not have that option.
Xcorgi 1 month ago
Uhm, the so-called 2012 Mazda 3 they used did not even have the new skyactive engine! What the fuck? Using the old engine against fords new is not an accurate comparison. The Mazda 3 with the skyactive engine has more torque and hp than the crappy focus and actually delivers MORE than the 40mpg hwy than promised! The Focus is avg at 35mpg on hwy. The Mazda 3 stomps the shit out of it!
Xcorgi 1 month ago
ducman: vw is a much more upscale brand than any other in this review. the current jetta while really nice looking is much cheaper inside than the previous year, at least in the non gli model. i'm surprised they didn't put the new civic and the kia forte in here.
sb632 1 month ago
motorcrosser and donwat: i have a 2012 elantra as well but i'm not seeing what you two are. i average 33mpg combined per tank of gas and have been extremely pleased with the car. i agree i havent seen 40mpg and i put 2200 miles a month on it. best highway mpg i've seen on a road trip was 36mpg. the car was for my wife and daughter, and thus far has passed the test.
sb632 1 month ago
Jetta last for interior feeling cheap? Compared to what? VW is not a premium brand, Audi is their premium brand, what do you want it to be for this segment & price? There are comprimises in every car in this cat. More is said about base model than what your testing. Sounds like the Cruze doesnt have much to offer but it would have won? Strange test and not very usefull, I still bought the Jetta and love it and I own a 2000 Jetta GLX that I bought for the VR6 & handling.
ducman748996 1 month ago
eh I still prefer the look of the first gen focus hatch! way more personality then these modern aerodynamic shells lol
Fran1080p 1 month ago
mazda 3 ^^
digox951 1 month ago
The Elantra does not get 40MPG highway. Check out that data on the website 'fuelly'. Consumer watchdog has sent a letter to president Obama and to the EPA stating that you car does worse that what the EPA tests reveal, and Chevy Cruze consistently does better than what it's EPA values are. Both the Elantra and Cruze are 33MPG combined).
The Cruze gets an average of 28% better mileage than the Elantra.
Stop lying please. My mother got an Elantra, always in Eco mode, can't get more than 25MPG
danwat1234 1 month ago
@danwat1234 i have the same problem, i average 25-26 when i drive it. it was purchased for the fuel economy and it doesnt do a very good job of that. Hyundai says because 25-26 is still within the EPA ratings there is nothing they can do and blamed it all on my driving and the gas i use. I put the same gas in my 2006 f150 4X4 and can average 20MPG on the highway with cruise control and about 15 in the city. its not my driving.
thank you for telling the truth about the elantra
motocrosser59 1 month ago
A nice & neat comparisn ;)
frozenprakash 1 month ago
the best resale value is the one who have won the recently north american car of the year
arkitektongmatulis 1 month ago
the cruze is the best, it has the best resale value, better quality interior, better gas MPG, granted that that paralell parking thing is cool, but every driver should know how. also it has a better ride. I rode in one of these, idk where they get the "flat and uncomfortable" seat, they ARE power seats, adjust if you dont like it. ford idiots.
JDYDesigns 1 month ago
i don't think the focus is stylish, i think they tried to make it look like an evo but failed.
forkliftninjaz 1 month ago
I test drove all of these cars and went with a hatchback MANUAL transmission Focus with the sports package which gives you 4 disc brakes, 16 inch wheels, leather wrapped steering wheel, INCREDIBLE 2 tone cloth seats that look more like they belong in a BMW and a sportier suspension setup. The 160HP has great power, makes the best noise and the clutch and manual transmission are some of the smoothest I've driven. The Focus just KILLS the rest in almost every way especially handling and quality
Astralwurksdk 2 months ago
@Astralwurksdk
Stilll feel the Elantra tops the ford on interior quality of fit, finish and materials(soft touch materials), also has 4 disc brakes, leather wheel, 17 inch alloys, fantastic 6 speed auto trans and distinctive wicked looks. I was going to wait for the focus launch in NZ, after seeing one in the flesh I was glad I went ahead with the Hyundai.
akie64 2 months ago
hheyhey fuck where is the corolla, civic and lancer? shit
xxxmoranchoskyxxx 2 months ago
Where are they getting their 0-60 times? 8 secs for the Cruze when everyone else is getting 9 or higher. All their numbers seem made up.
IMAWARRIOR89 2 months ago
@IMAWARRIOR89 I dont think so because 7.4ish sounds right for the Mazda 3 2.5
blane237 2 months ago
@blane237 yea that seems accurate for the Mazda 3, but I've been looking at other 0-60 times for the cruze such as motor trend got 9.0secs and inside line videos got 9.6 stand still and 9.3 roll out. 8 secs from caranddriver seems odd but I know 0-60 times can be affected by different things.
IMAWARRIOR89 1 month ago
Well here is my two cents, I've been looking and have done test driving of several of these cars. The Mazda 3, Chevy Cruze, Hyundi Elantra, and the VW Jetta and a Golf. At this point I loved the Ford the best. All the cars have the good and the bad things about them. My brother bought an Elantra and loves it, not sure about the 40 mpg, cars not broke in yet. The thing I liked best about the ford is the way it handled, unbelievable. May wait till 2013, see if they can clear up Ford touch?
razorx3113 2 months ago
@razorx3113 I would buy a Focus now. Ford will sent out a flash drive to all MyFord touch owners with the newest touch system. I work for a Ford dealer they sent out a flash drive to us to use in a demo car. Much better faster then the old version!
imallfor6900 2 months ago
@razorx3113 my 2012 mazda 3 skyactiv achieved 39.7 MPG average(hand Calculated) with some city driving mixed in on it's first tank. Hopefully your friends elantra starts getting better but maybe he drives with a heavy foot?
Beastcummins 2 weeks ago
I got the chance to test drive a Focus about a month ago, overall very capable car. Almost dare to say it felt like a cheap BMW. The Cruze felt softer for sure, but it was still very confident (didn't drive the Elantra or the Mazda). Meanwhile the VW Jetta and the Honda Civic, both once class leaders, are absolute rubbish now. You'd have to be a moron to buy them at sticker price.
jacketman22 2 months ago
@jacketman22 I love this statement because I think you almost pegged it. "Almost dare to say it felt like a cheap BMW." I've searched for the words and I think you got it fairly well. With that said this no $40,000 plus car. What happened to Honda? I think your if not there your darn close with yore post.
razorx3113 2 months ago
@razorx3113 Even though Honda did some cheapening and detuning, the main problem is the Civic's barely changed while the competition's pulled ahead. Guess they wanted to broaden the car's appeal to include Corolla drivers. The Jetta's problem is that its taken a major step back, they've cut so much out that it just feels cheap and spineless.
jacketman22 2 months ago
@jacketman22 I agree. I had a 2001 Jetta Turbo and the quality and overall feel used to be far superior to others in that class. Now they've really gone for too much cost cutting.
Astralwurksdk 2 months ago
WTF JETTA?? Its 2011 and your making cars with NO cd players?? FAIL LOL
knarfedaw127 2 months ago
cruze not handling,wtf my cruze with springs will hold with track civics.i love my cruze 22k miles and not a single problem unlike F.ix O.r R.pair D.aily
jakkaroo1 2 months ago
Élantra owners were angry that there cars weren't getting close to the 40 mpg that Hyundai rated it at
metalmachine467 2 months ago
My opinion -- the Focus looks and feels cheap compared to the 3, inside and out.
gunnernaut 2 months ago 3
@gunnernaut I just bought a NEW 2012 Hyundai Elantra Limited model & Im LOVING IT:) The handling of the car drives well because it is light&is the lightest of all 5 of these cars.It won car of the year in 2011 & 2012.The gas mileage is the best out of the 5 cars.I think the Focus hatchback looks good.The inside design/dashboard looks 2nd best.The dashboard/inside of the Mazda looks normal&the same.I dont really like the red lighting.
justthebestgolfer 1 month ago
@gunnernaut Not at all. Form outside the Mazda looks great. But its interior is dull and really low quality. It drives greatly but not as refined or comfortable as the Focus.
2741718 1 month ago
@gunnernaut Really? hahahahahahahah
stopscrewingaround11 4 weeks ago
the ford focus is so ugly
Elantra is the best looking of the all
BRiSeries 2 months ago
Through Motortrend and many others, the Jetta is rated the best. So...? And you niggas would seriously trust a Korean car and some no-soul JDM piece of crap? The Cruze and Focus suck. And why are these fools driving automatic?
PatKasprik 3 months ago
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Don't buy the recent models of the Mazda cars that came from Japan. These cars are tainted with nuclear radiation from Japan's nuclear disaster. Plutonium-238, 239 and 240 are highly radioactive and was released from the Fukushima nuclear reactors and will lead to higher rates of cancer, infertility and sperm damage.
NukedJapaneseToyota 3 months ago
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Mazdacars are tainted with high levels of Japan's nuclear disaster radiation. Think again before buying a Mazda car. This radiation, which includes the highly radioactive Plutonium-238, 239 and 240 will increase your risk of cancer, infertility and sperm damage.
NukedJapaneseToyota 3 months ago
No Honda, eh?
MingGuoLi 3 months ago
@MingGuoLi It probably would have come between the Jetta and Cruze. I was in the market for a compact, and I drove everything including these 5 as well as the Civic and Scion tC. The jetta drove fine, but the interior really is pretty bad. The civic was better, but It felt just a bit gutless compared to the rest. I got the Mazda 3 2.5 Hatch, because it drives the best, and its got pretty much everything for about 25K sticker.
techdude6693 3 months ago
The Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra have the best build quality and interior materials. So, I'd take either one of those.
giannial1985 3 months ago
mazda 3 the best
suhailsaeed 4 months ago 6
The only reason the Elantra and the Civic are winning is because they are being displayed as boring commuter cars and not something you want to have fun in your everyday drive, no thanks...
joshuatree1001 4 months ago
jetta fpr ever
met3abe 4 months ago
The Cruze looks awesome coming around that curb
heroheroic 4 months ago
Mazda 3 all the way baby!! the new 2012 mazda 3 has 40mpg and is a quiet, yet stylish ride :DDD
italiankilla58 4 months ago
I've driven all these cars except for the VW. I prefer the Cruze because it is the most quiet and handles best. It has the most impressive safety features & that's important for a compact car. The Focus is a close second and has superior acceleration to the Cruze. I don't know why the narrator didn't like seats of the Cruze because I like the seats best of the lot. I guess everyone's butt is different. The Elantra is nice also but just too damn ugly. The Cruze is leading all in sales so far.
juscurious 4 months ago
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Japanese Mazda cars now contain high levels of Plutonium-238, 239 and 240 from Japan's nuclear disaster. This radiation will increase your incidence of cancer, infertility and sperm damage.
NukedJapaneseToyota 4 months ago
Cruze great design Mazda too but vw has design, performance and quality believe me I have 4vws
RadianceNorth 4 months ago
i just sold 2010 mazda 3, "THANK GOD" what a pile of crap it was. Great steering is the only good thing i will say for it. Horrible ride. lots of road noise, engine noisy not much punch either, not enough room in the back for my kids, and shit resale value. i will never buy a mazda ever again!!!!!
bjjxr8 4 months ago
@bjjxr8 Yes, a guy I work with has one and he says the same about engine noise and lousy gas mileage for a compact. I do however think it's one of the very best looking compacts but that's not much consolation with the other negatives.
juscurious 4 months ago
@bjjxr8 I love my mazda 3 best,great power,smooth quiet ride and great looks!!
tigeroak 4 months ago 19
@tigeroak The1thing I hate about the looks of the Mazda3is that STUPID SMILEY FACE IN THE FRONT..LOL.Other than that,it looks good..haha.The inside looks ok,but in my opinion the Focus&Elantra look way better.Ijust bought a brand new Elantra limited model&Im loving it.The only thing bad about it,is the performance.But it drives well,cause its light&the gas mileage is thebest out of the5cars.It won car of the yr in2011&2012.I dont really care about performance,but the handling is great
justthebestgolfer 1 month ago
@tigeroak What I meant about the Focus&Elantra looking better was the inside dashboard/interior looking better then the Mazda3.Elantra,Focus interior looks more sportier/more futuristic:) If I were to buy the Focus I would only go for the Hatchback because of its sporty/better look.I dont really like Hatchbacks but the Focus Sedan doesnt look good.Just like the Kia Forte Sedan.The back of that car looks a little funny.But the Hatchback looks good on the Kia Forte.
justthebestgolfer 1 month ago
@tigeroak The Mazda3 looks god-awful IMO, even though it is fun to drive.
chevycrazykid 1 month ago
after owning a focus for the last 4 yrs, and having owned an elantra for the previous 9 yrs.....I'd buy the elantra for long term trouble free driving. Too many stupid problems with the focus.
4320hooizzit 5 months ago
its kinda sad when a ford has better interior quality than a volkswagen!
gadgetguy4000 5 months ago
jezzz the new jetta is no gti thats for sure..
boovoo66 5 months ago
The cruze and jetta take reliability to the max. You can rely on those to cars.
OneManArmy4Life 5 months ago
Elantra looks great!
bcumyns 5 months ago
Why do they drive automatics? What the hell is going on?
JonO387 5 months ago
@JonO387 You like it or not, Automatic is proven to be way more fuel efficient than manual. You will never be more efficient than a CPU when changing gears depending on the driving conditions. Besides that, Automatic Transmissions now are very reliable at the point they practically never fail and last the entire car life, compared to a manual tranny that can have clutch plate problems and things like that.
In addition, driving auto is more comfortable. I drive both, but thats the naked truth.
wtrdogg20 4 months ago
@wtrdogg20 The top part of your comment is true, no doubt. The bottom part is only opinion. Real cars and real drivers only drive manuals, that's naked truth.
JonO387 4 months ago
@JonO387 No man, thats your personal opinion. Basically you are saying the F1 drivers or WRC drivers are not real drivers?? I am sure they are more drivers than you and me together, and they dont use a clutch to change gears, because FYI the paddle shift, sport tronic or any variant is automatic with manual shifting, developed from the racing technology, and thats the upcoming standard.
Based on your perception, then I am a really good driver, cuz I drive manual or auto with paddles like pro.
wtrdogg20 4 months ago
@wtrdogg20 That's exactly what I said. It's my opinion. Anyone could drive auto with paddles "like a pro".
JonO387 4 months ago
@JonO387 Dont forget I said MANUAL too... So in case you wanted to be sarcastic, sorry raining on your parade, I do drive manual like pro as well.
wtrdogg20 4 months ago
@wtrdogg20 Good for you, anyone who can drive a manual can also drive a fake manual. I wasn't being sarcastic and I did read your comment. Keep the trolling coming, I'm sure it won't stop.
JonO387 4 months ago
@JonO387 Trolling? Who is trolling?
Whats wrong with you, kid?...You talk about trolling and you started with the sarcastic comment, now you want to say I am the troll?...
Whatever... I think the one behaving like troll is you, you can keep the trolling coming, you said so, it wont stop...It is clear you know a lot about it.
LOL, I wont waste my time, Dismissed!
wtrdogg20 4 months ago
@wtrdogg20 Ummm, I already said you were trolling. I asked a fair question, then stated my opinion. You're the only one who is making a big deal out of it. Now you try to pass off my comment as your own. That's a troll if I've ever seen one. I hope your last comment was just that, your last, to me anyway. Thought I'm sure it won't be.
JonO387 4 months ago
@JonO387 How can you say driving with Automatic tranny is not comfortable....Have you ever been in a infernal traffic Jam changing from first to second gear over and over and over again? Playing with the gas and clutch on a hill road. Dude, I used to do with a Diesel pickup truck, no body is gonna tell me I am not a real driver, you can cover the sun with a hand, at the end of they day, your left leg will start complaining about it.
Auto tranny is comfort, no doubt, Americans made it popular.
wtrdogg20 4 months ago
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@wtrdogg20 Again, it's all opinion. Do you know how those work? I like having full control over the vehicle I'm driving. You won't change my opinion. Why do you care so much anyway?
JonO387 4 months ago
Ford focus and mazda 3
launchini100 5 months ago
The Focus grille looks like a damned catfish! And I would disagree that the Ford has "better quality" materials than Mazda or any other Japanese brand for that matter.... sorry but even the very likable "Mr. Dirty Jobs" (Mike Rowe) himself couldn't convince me to buy the Ford.
MrKurt1962 5 months ago
@MrKurt1962 seriously though, their slogan "drive one" gets to the point. Thats the only way to change perceptions. ive driven most of the hyundai kias from the last 2 years and their good.
imogen6 4 months ago
focus its a perfect car for women, not for all but it can help some ladys out there than really will appreciate it.
dnaniell 5 months ago
gettin a mazda 3 today =)
gabeherb345 5 months ago
jetta and cruze
xploc19681 5 months ago
@xploc19681 If you drive a Jetta you would't say that
blane237 5 months ago
El cruze muy pesado , el jetta para los caballeros, el elantra mucho plastico, el ford parece que es armado en Argentina, E mejor Mazda 3 japones 100 por ciento.....
pajaro2979 5 months ago
Mucho plastico por todos lados
pajaro2979 5 months ago
Elantra and Focus.
TheBoogie24seven 5 months ago
i like the cruze
AGreedyTree 6 months ago
Ford all day, any given day!
KINGCU3N 6 months ago
What, Mazda is the champ. Its on the verge of outselling the Civic and Corolla. It is taking over with its super fun to drive attitude.
joshuatree1001 6 months ago 2
@joshuatree1001 Literally two days ago I tested every car in this comparison except for the Cruze. I walked out of a dealership with the Mazda. It was the best hands-down. Never been a Mazda fan but Mazda really shocked me with the 3. It's so much fun to drive. Funny thing is I didn't see the video until today.
PIchillin456 6 months ago
You can use SYNC in the Focus for the Majority of functions, even if you do have MyFord Touch. It's really easy.
SKsquashbass12 6 months ago
Cruze
oneRussia 6 months ago
I like the Cruze, Jetta, and Elantra. Of the three I think I would get the Jetta for the TDI, however, I think the Elantra and the Cruze look classy and that is what I want. Not something that stands out in a crowd. I think the Mazda and Focus look too flashy.
NattDogg01 6 months ago
elantra and 3 are the best
JugulatoR0666 6 months ago
Elantra by far, love the bold styling.
akie64 6 months ago 13
@akie64 that shit is ugly
gabeherb345 4 months ago
@gabeherb345 LOL personally the Elantra is my fave American design, not to everyones taste however. We've had our Elantra Elite (Limited) for two months now and are loving it, gets lots of attention on Auckland roads.
gabeherb345, you don't happen to wear beige cardigans by any chance do you?
akie64 4 months ago
@akie64 cool beans bro
gabeherb345 4 months ago
@akie64 I used to hate Fords and just bought a Focus hatchback MANUAL transmission (the auto SUCKS, the manual is brilliant). The difference between the quality of the fit and finish of the Focus compared to other competitors wasn't even close. The Focus has soft touch dash materials, incredible 2 tone cloth seats and feels VERY solid. And when it comes to handling, the Elantra doesn't even come close. Nothing does. Ford has blown me away but you MUST get 2 things .Manual and sports package
Astralwurksdk 2 months ago
Too much bias toward sporty feel. Trust me being a passenger in the sportier ones (mazda especially) is very uncomfortable and even as a driver, once you've driven it every day for 2 months, you begin to realise that none of these are sports cars and you start to wish for a more comfort oriented ride. For comfort the order for me goes Jetta, Cruze, Focus, Elantra, 3.
terantekify 6 months ago
Chevy Cruze !!!
AntraxCer666 6 months ago
I prefer the chevy cruze
microfsx 6 months ago
Ford's design and Mazda's one are cool !
tec5088 6 months ago
Goodness the front end of the Ford looks hideous!
veetour 6 months ago
Say what you wanna say about the chevy cruze but i prefer it other than the ugly ass focus and mazda3
Hanfordkillacali 6 months ago
Corolla and Civic aren't even here! I guess that's how bad they are!
luckykkzz 6 months ago
@luckykkzz yeah the corolla this year is terrible. only good thing is the price
MegaCokamo 6 months ago
The Jetta is last because of hard plastic? What the @*U#?
Limbsy 7 months ago
@Limbsy dude you cant say the jetta sucks this year.
MegaCokamo 6 months ago
@MegaCokamo i like the jetta.. but i wouldn't buy one... out of these i'd get a focus probably...
Limbsy 6 months ago
Mazda really knows what they're doing. People say the car looks too happy but I actually like that, and it is the drivers car out of all of them. I think the Elantra looks probably the best, the Cruze is kind of boring, but not as boring as the Jetta, and I don't really like the Focus' styling, but maybe I haven't seen it enough for it too warm up to me. but if I had to choose, i'd go with an Electric Blue Mazda 3. :)
Friendly0Dan 7 months ago
@Friendly0Dan Just bought a 3. The thing is fun as hell. I love it..
PIchillin456 6 months ago
omg the focus looks so ugly.. especially the front face.
junmeng126 7 months ago
Wow Ford and Chevy now make the best compacts?
Greendude33 7 months ago
Why is the American Focus so ugly?
doddsalfa 7 months ago
@doddsalfa they all look like that now... its a 'world' design. Btw I don't find it ugly... it aint pretty, but it aint ugly either
damieg82 7 months ago
@damieg82 i'm comparing it with the euro version,which is great looker.
doddsalfa 7 months ago
@doddsalfa that's what I was talking about too. My country gets the "euro" Focus but for 2012, Ford has consolidated the US and euro designs into one. So what you see here is what the world has now. Actually this IS the new euro Focus. Ford USA discontinued a pure American version, and adopted the euro models complete with euro engines, suspension tuning, etc, just as they did with the Fiesta, and planning to do with the Fusion (gonna be replaced by the next gen Mondeo).
damieg82 7 months ago
jetta cruze elantra mazda 3 focus
yes
focus is the best car!!
narutouzumaki1550 7 months ago
Don't agree w/all but is a good review nontheless. Econo-boxes have come a long way since the 80's!!! Economy being what it is I may be test driving some of these soon, just don't have the cash to buy what I really want.
BerettaM9USAF 7 months ago
cruze is the best car
DannyKing2006 7 months ago
The most expensive, 2 seat car won?... How about a car that you can actually use the back seats? I'm sure the Focus is comfortable for amputees.
bouncer257 7 months ago
go the ford focus and the hyundai elantra!
adrianbrienautomotiv 7 months ago
I can't help but agree with C&D's testing. The Ford Focus seems to be one of only three cars in the test designed seriously enough to take on the now stale offerings from Japan's Toyota, Nissan and the disappointing Honda Civic. But, I say 1) Focus, 2) Elantra, 3) 3, 4) Cruze, 5) Jetta. The Elantra may not have all the bells and whistles, but the Mazda's smile has gotten old with me, and Hyundai sure is making their cars look beautiful!
TheFIRSTFatJohn 7 months ago
FUEL ECONOMY + STYLE EXTERIOR/INTERIOR + PERFORMANCE = ELANTRA
uhoger 7 months ago 4
Nissan SE-R can ran catch up Cruze..
d1gps15 7 months ago
Love the Focus, but the Star Wars grill makes me think there's no bumper there. I'd like to keep my feet in case of a frontal crash.
TheBoogie24seven 7 months ago
the is jetta best!
TheBob0416 7 months ago
@TheBob0416 apparently not!!
akie64 7 months ago
why would the mazda3 be up there? its a dated design and has one of the worst interiors ever created. especially at night time , the red lighting glares at you like no other. this review is WAY to biased on driving dynamics; 99% of people who are going to buy these cars are not gonna take them to the track.
Elantra and Focus pwns all.
republicfalcon 7 months ago
Yeah in ur opinion focus #1 but resell value n reliability will go to mazda 3 ultimately! Japanese cars still own this segment!
tepeke88 7 months ago
a volkswagen has a cheap feel compared to a chevrolet? wth
cardude1992 8 months ago
a volkswagen that has a cheap feel? wow the new jetta is a fail
cardude1992 8 months ago
The new calibration solves the Transmission issue, it was like night and day!
JordieG8 8 months ago
The Focus drives so well and I love the hatchback! I cant wait to get mine soon.
MrCoaster112 8 months ago
very nice!
adrianbrienautomotiv 8 months ago
I finally test drove a new Focus. Loaded to the gills at $30K. Very nice car BUT to me, the rear seats had very little leg room and the B pillar was way too wide. I literally had to move forward to look around it. Handling package gave it sweet 18's but added a full size spare-which killed the cargo area. It could use a touch more grunt too. Those are just my gripes though.
MrD50boy 8 months ago
The Elantra looks so pitiful in this test. It looks like it has to struggle to keep up with the rest. I feel so sorry for it because it is really not a performance car like the rest even though it does have the best looks.
heroheroic 8 months ago
That's not Mazda. That's American Wall Street Company.
heartlessvietboy 8 months ago
The Elantra is the best.
jxtsful 8 months ago
I pick the focus and cruze !!!! i don't know why some Americans hate focus and cruze !!!! i am asian but I LOVE the new focus and cruze !!! i am so glad that the new focus is the winner here !!! i am gonna buy he new focus
ldrago1310 8 months ago
Hyundai Elantra: " ... packs an impressive list of equipment" (minus a spare tire!).
Ford Focus: Should not have a dashboard that looks like the cockpit of a Airbus 320.
Jetta: Cheapness and overpriced.
Cruze: ... meh.
Mazda 3: only one that interests me.
GIRlovesWaffles 8 months ago
Pues sinceramente me quedo con el mazda 3, ya tuve uno y los destrose a 80 km/hrs al chocarlo contra un poste de frente y no me paso absolutamente nada, claro el coche quedo totalmente destrozado en perdida total, pero cumplio con todas mis espectativas incluso las de seguridad. Asi que me comprare nuevamente otro Mazda 3. Por cierto, tambien probe los demas carros personalmente y de todos me gusto mas el manejo del Mazda. Saludos.
Docdanny 8 months ago
I owned the first generation Focus ZX5, it was a good overall vehicle for the price. I'm glad Ford is bringing the European version to North America finally.
davidhalifax 8 months ago
The focus is ugly as the narrator grand-ma
sledforpeace 8 months ago
Hard hallow black casket! LOL
stringfellowhawke247 8 months ago
Comment removed
stringfellowhawke247 8 months ago
focus's front looks fucking ugly what is this guy talking about. with those cheesy bumper
Shuffle3956 8 months ago
arent these cars made for driving people with low budgets or peopel who dont care enough about cars and need something to get them where they have to go safely and cheaply .. not for racing and being pushed to its limits... and of course the winning car is the ugliest of them all
cAdillac718bx 8 months ago 2
Anyone else notice how heavy these cars are?
pedalsnkeys1313 8 months ago
The Ford won, but I'd still take the Mazda3. It's maybe outdated, because it's basically the same car (with new engine) for the past 7-8 years with a little refinement and updated looks, but it's still competitive and near the top of it's class. I'd just wish for a little better fuel economy though.
The Ford, however, was impressive. I like what they're doing with the Fiesta and the Focus!
rotarydrifterx7 8 months ago
The Focus looks like Darth Vader, ewwww
chonaV 9 months ago
Just bought the focus! After I test drove all of these cars (plus the civic), it was the best ride quality. Even though the elantra had alot of room and better mpg like many of you said, the ride quality felt like it had a loose screw...steering wasnt very solid imo....
yourbangness 9 months ago
@ivanidread And I just bought the Elantra because of that, can't tolerate the bland exterior of the Focus, whats the use of little more ride quality if every time u open your garage u see a bland looking car?
Johndoe9278 9 months ago
@Johndoe9278 yeah but u have no spare tire or power seat
heroheroic 8 months ago
Y U NO TEST CIVIC?
adhishb 9 months ago
@adhishb i dont think it was out yet when they did the test
af1820 9 months ago
mazda for fun
ford for a new wedded man
Hyundai Elentra for granny
Cruze for granpas
VW for the house mom
rsa8665 9 months ago