| 2012 Ford Focus vs 2010 Mazda 3 | January 27, 2010 | AUTORIVALS.NET |
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| The next generation Ford Focus has been getting a lot of attention lately, mainly because of its looks. It's a striking design to say the least and outshines the current generation by an infinite amount. When it arrives, it'll be available as a sedan and a 5-door hatchback. The latter will compete in a relatively small field, most notably the Volkswagen GTI and Mazda 3. | ||
| 2012 Ford Focus | vs | 2010 Mazda 3 |
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| The Focus and 3 share a common design theme: oversized grilles. The Focus however, gets an aggressive design that's split into three sections and form a trapezoidal shape. The 3 on other hand, is flipped upside down for a friendly, happy look. Neither grille is going to appeal to everybody but the Focus should get more positive reaction than the 3 has. Overall, the Focus looks more masculine with creases on the hood that flow straight into the grille creating a nice flow to the front fascia. | ||
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| Both cars stand out from the crowd with sculpted sides. The 3 has rounded front fenders inspired by the Mazda RX-8 while the Focus creates a chiseled look unseen on any other current Fords. The Focus' side has a nice symmetrical design with similar bulges in the front and rear. The 3's crease runs from the front fender straight to the rear and is matched with an upswept crease on the lower part of the doors. | ||
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| The longer window shape and concave design on the doors give the Focus a longer look. The roofline also slopes down more in to the rear creating a narrow window profile and minimized D-pillar compared to the 3. The wheel flares are more defined on the Focus giving it a combination of sharp and curved edges. | ||
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| The Focus' taillights have an odd shape to it. They almost resemble a disproportioned arrowhead that's turned sideways. From the rear view, nothing looks out of the ordinary but at an angle, the lights extend into the side. Ford may have gone a little too far with their 'kinetic design' theme trying to create more differentiating shapes than necessary. The sculpted side would have been enough to, as Ford puts it, "capture the feeling of energy in motion." Both get fitted with roof spoilers that help in giving both cars a sportier appearance. | ||
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| The Focus' rear looks better than
the 3 helped mainly by placing the license plate on the liftgate
instead of the bumper. The upside-down trapezoidal shape of the
housing is nice and wide with perfect proportions. The 3's rear window has a different shape with a dip toward the center the way the Mazda logo does. It gives the 3 some character in an otherwise plain liftgate. The clear taillights help out a bit more but overall looks a bit dull next to the Focus. |
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| Ford really has pulled ahead in terms of interior modernization. The dashboard looks so new and chic. It features a host of technology including an upgraded SYNC system that's matched with the new MyFord system. The 8-inch screen is bigger and better than the tiny screen in the 3. It's a touchscreen unlike the 3's and controls a variety of functions. The 3's interior is still one of the best in its class with silky materials and smooth layout. It's lost that sense of freshness though when compared to the Focus. | ||
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PROS +Sculpted side +Better looking rear CONS -Oversized grille -Arrowhead taillights |
PROS +A few creases here and there give it some character CONS -Oversized grille -Tiny screen |
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| Video Source: Inside Line via YouTube | Video Source: Cars.com via YouTube |
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