Toyota Prius vs Ford Focus

About 10 years ago, if you looked at hybrid sales, they would be closely tied to the price of fuel. As gas prices rose, so did sales of fuel-saving hybrids. As they fell, people were more likely to buy gas-guzzling trucks. But as the years went on, the hybrid market gained traction, and despite still representing a small portion of the total market, the hybrid segment has, in fact, demonstrated staying power.

The standard bearer for this growth has to be none other than the Toyota Prius. The first-generation Prius may have been a slightly anonymous little hybrid. But when the second generation dropped in 2004, that unmistakable Prius profile turned heads and had the fuel-saving capabilities to match. The rest, as they say, is history.

Flash-forward to 2016 and the Prius continues to be the heart and soul of the hybrid market. Since that second-generation version, the Prius has risen to icon status and is now rightfully among the most recognizable. For 2016, the Prius enters its fourth generation, with many of the hallmarks that have made it so popular and a few new tricks as well. Is it enough for the Prius to retain its place as the Hybrid King? Also, does it “shatter expectations,” as Toyota says? Read on to find out.

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.