[ZX3_2NV]

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

Check out the link to add your vote to the poll Here
When I voted The Focus was leading with 48.7% of the votes

[Scorcher000]

FOCUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[NikiterZTS]

240HP for Focus? Not bad...but need more info.

[Frost__2001]

I have to say focus, I've been doing my reasearch into the New Jetta, and Focus, I've driven the Cruze at my work as there were 2 of them for some GM PR event thing.

My Opinion on the Cruze,
I can say it drives nice, for a 4 banger from GM, the engine is smooth, shifts nicely, I'll admit the quality is improving, and its very now for a Gm Product, but there is the level of cheapness to it you just can't shake. The first production year of them are all built in Korea by Daewoo until they finish upgrading their US factory to produce them, and well... I know the starting price here in Canada is expected to be about $14,000.00. but out of all honestly I wouldn't buy one, more so because GM will eventually turn these things out like no tomorrow, and to clear their invintories come years end it will be the base car in rental companies for their fleets, and if you look at the Cavalier, and Cobolt in general, if you write one off in an accident it would not be very hard to replace it with another one as there are so many of them out there.

as for the Jetta
I admit I really like this new Jetta, and there is the possibility of VW going ahead with plans for the 2 door version again like they did with the MK2 version makes me impressed. However.... as much as I like VW's, I always have issues with going out and buying one, as if you keep a vw long term they are hyper sensitive for maintance needs, and if ignored long term it could be a major repair bill or car replacement on the horizon for you. The thing that really bothers me about VW the most, is the fact they don't stand behind their cars for the long term like almost all of the other car companies do. Not to mention if this Jetta is produced in it's Mexican plant then the quality will be hit or miss, depending on which day it was produced.

Ford Focus
I really can't wait to drive one and I really really like how it's finally going back to its global looks. but so far I love the look of the new sedan, but I would like to know if ford will be bringing out the Wagon, and 3 Hatch along side a performance version of the focus. but realisticly there is not too much info out there on the Next Gen Focus as of yet.

[Gabriel]

(06-18-2010, 04:58 AM)ZX3_2NV Wrote:

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

Check out the link to add your vote to the poll Here
When I voted The Focus was leading with 48.7% of the votes

Jetta TDI all the way ! Or maybe Focus , but Focus with 4o mpg ??? Yeah , right ! GM ? hell no !

[NoiSeeVT]

The 2010 jetta starts at $22175, so im not sure the 16000 questions is fair for Canadians , plus I have a feeling the new focus will move up in price a bit as well, likely starting at about $18k, the fiesta fits in at the lower range. As for the cruze from the reviews in MT this month it does not sound overly impressive. I would take the Focus since it is available as a hatch. I think it is a $20000 question.
David

[Focus man. Focus.]

New VW Maintenance is $$$$$
Chev has always been $#!T
I vote Blue Oval.

[mo_focus]

(06-18-2010, 09:11 AM)NoiSeeVT Wrote: The 2010 jetta starts at $22175, so im not sure the 16000 questions is fair for Canadians , plus I have a feeling the new focus will move up in price a bit as well, likely starting at about $18k, the fiesta fits in at the lower range. As for the cruze from the reviews in MT this month it does not sound overly impressive. I would take the Focus since it is available as a hatch. I think it is a $20000 question.
David

There is going to be the cheap Jetta, but as you said its not the 16$, i dont think any of them will be around 16CDN. As for the Jetta its going to be the City Jetta replacement so it will be the same 2.0L engine from MK4, and no options. Basically they are going after civics and Corolas. Jetta TDi will be very close to Golf TDI and we bought the Golf Highline w DSG for 31$. pricey i know but not many diesels around.

[Jmountney1]

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


if the focus dose get a turbo option it will have world domination lol

[castone]

Out of all three type of cars it would be the Focus for sure.

From working on all three companies vehicles at work I'd say
Every GM that comes in has at least two things wrong with it.
Every VW is just a pain in the @#$ to work on and expensive to fix.
All the Focus' that came in the only thing wrong with them were neglect.

Also I would take the Focus for the reason that since owning my 05 I haven't had one problem with it(knock on wood).

[hardk0re]

Focus looks nicest out of all, decent mpg and performance.

[paolo]

Why not just drive them and see which one performs the best? If you don't then its not a fair comparrison. It may look very good on paper, but people buy cars not cus of what specs and enginge ratings, but they look at price, and they test drive it, thats basically what they do mang

[hardk0re]

Read the post, its a survey on autoblog... go vote.

[sonic_mikey]

Im not a creature comfort type of guy, so all the bells and whistles you add to a car cant take away from the fact that its slow....that being said, a 240 hp focus from factory is nuff said for me lol.

[Drivesthebeast]

Well, maybe the following will help entice your choice a little bit more:

I recently read that Ford has announced that they will be building Ecoboost engines for the Fiesta, Focus, Escape, Edge, and Fusion. They will eventually make a 1.6L Turbo for the Fiesta that will be good for 170hp, and the 2.0L Version will be good for 240+hp, used in a possible Fiesta RS or ST Variant, and as the sole interm Ecoboost model for those other vehicles. Ford's thinking about using boosted 4's as a V6 replacement in the Escape and Edge. They are also entertaining an Ecoboost Fusion (though the 3rd gen Fusion is likely going to be a Falcon XR5 based vehicle), and possibly as an engine choice in the Mustang, and some of the larger trucks/SUV's.

I think that the new Focus and Fiesta will trump vehicles in their segments as far as styling and overal vehicle dynamics go. And that'll be one of Ford's best selling points...that their vehicles will have more style and susbtance, with Toyota and Honda becoming more sedate all the time.

I could be wrong, but I also read that Ford plans to have Ecoboost available in upto 90% of it's product in a few years time.

Those of you that work for Ford, or have an inside perspective can correct me if I'm wrong about this stuff.

Anyways, back on track...I'd vote for the Focus all the way!