Nissan Versa vs Ford Focus

For as red-hot and competitive as the economy-car segment is, success in this corner of the market is based on some pretty mundane variables. It comes down to things like fuel economy, price, number and location of cupholders, ride quality, and other items. It basically has to be economical, reliable transportation for the everyday commute. There are other nuances, such as the ease of use of its controls, but success in this segment requires automotive pragmatism at its best.

It's through this lens that we consider the 2016 Ford Focus. This 4-door, 5-passenger small car has been refreshed for this model year, building off the success of the third-generation car, which debuted in 2011. That was the first car under the “One Ford” plan, under which one car is sold on multiple continents in multiple markets with minimal changes.

The result of the plan was a car that was much more refined than the two generations before it and positioned the Focus for the past several years as the best American Small Car. That accolade is as much about the Focus’ refinement as it is about the deficiencies of American-made competitors, including the Dodge Dart and Chevrolet Cruze. A second-generation Cruze has recently been unveiled, but it’s still too early for us to render a verdict on that car. It is import rivals, such as the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, and Hyundai Elantra, that pose the greatest threat to the new-look Focus.

It’s getting hard to find a basic subcompact sedan, but Nissan is keeping the faith.

The Nissan Versa was introduced for the 2007 model year as the automaker’s entry-level model, slotting below the Sentra in the lineup. It was last redesigned for the 2020 model year, and for 2023 it gets a handful of updates, including freshened styling, more available tech features, and a new S Plus Package for the Versa’s base trim level. In addition to the Versa S, the lineup includes SV and SR models; we tested the latter for this review.

Since the Versa has been on sale, the ranks of subcompact cars have thinned considerably. The Chevrolet Sonic, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, and Toyota Yaris are no longer sold in the United States. That leaves the Kia Rio and Mitsubishi Mirage G4 as the Versa’s main competitors. But, as is always the case in this market segment, shoppers must also consider whether to buy a new car like the Versa or a potentially better equipped used car for similar money.