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Test Drive Ford Focus III and Toyota Corolla: Battle of Bestseller

Despite the impressive difference in age, Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla claim the title of the most popular car in the world. The Kolesa.Ru portal decided to reduce the nose sedans to the nose to determine the best of two. All ratings are objective: We chose the winner with the help of seconds, centimeters and rubles.

Sales statistics Ford Focus III and Toyota Corolla on the Russian market says that ahead is American. Even if you consider together with the Hatchback Auris, the Corolla is bought 2.5 times less than focus. But on the global scale of the winner in the battle for the first line of sales ranking is difficult. Trying to get ahead of each other, each manufacturers reportedly reports that it was his model that became the most sold in the world.

So that our comparison is objective, we first selected cars as close as possible in their characteristics. Moreover, it was necessary to repel from Toyota, because this model has only three modifications in the Russian market, while Ford Focus has eight.

As a result, there were sedans with engines of one volume (1.6 liters), almost equal power (Corolla 124 hp, the focus of 125 hp), with automatic transmissions, similar at cost and even one color. The only noticeable technical difference in gearboxes: Corolla is an old hydromechanical machine with four gears, Ford has the newest six-speed preselective transmission of PowerShift with two clutches.

In general, between the appearance of the new Ford Focus III and Toyota Corolla of the last generation of the interval of five years, which is obvious that in appearance, which is in the cabin that in the list of options, which is in the technical characteristics. But, closing ahead, let's say that this did not greatly affected the results of measurements. And in some disciplines, it is thanks to his age Toyota turned out to be ahead. But first things first.

Test first. Parallel race by 402 meters
Drag racing race arrived in the format showed which of the cars turned out to be faster in Spur. This car has become Toyota Corolla. For the maximum objectivity of the result and minimization of the error, we spent five races, and in each of them, even with a slight advantage, but the Japanese sedan came first to the finish.

The main reason for the victory, Corollas, no matter how paradoxically, was her age. The development of the car was carried out at a time when the wave of obsession with economy and environmentally friendly has not yet covered with the head of world automakers. The engine Toyota Corolla did not have time to suffocate euro-5 standards. Compared to the Fordovsky unit, he is incremented faster, reacting more responsive to pressing the gas pedal.

In addition, the six-speed transmission Ford made more switching at the 400-meter stage. And just at the time of the prishi for the fourth gear, going through the wheel behind Focus, increased the lag from Corolla. Be that as it may, the ancient vehicle of Toyota is not having a sports regime, brought the Japanese victory.


Test second. Acceleration up to 100 km / h
This test had two more tasks. And find out who is quickly gaining a hundred was not the main one. I wanted to see how real measurements differ from those numbers that are spelled out in specifications. And there is registered there: overclocking up to 100 km / h in Ford Focus Sedan 11.8 seconds, at Toyota Corolla 11.9 seconds.

As it turned out, in this competition - almost a complete parity, and, in the same ratio as in passport data. For three attempts, the same driver was able to achieve a better result of 12.4 seconds from Ford Focus, from Toyota Corolla 12.6 seconds. The difference we boldly write off the wet asphalt and ballast in the form of a navigator with a stopwatch. So the data TTX is quite reliable!

Many may wonder as Ford Focus, winning in overclocking up to 100 km / h, lost in the race at 402 meters? The fact is that in parallel arrival Toyota wins immediately at the start. The focus between pressing the damped pedal of gas from place to the floor and the real start of movement occurs a noticeable pause. During this time, Corolla time jumped forward and save his advantage to the finish himself. Although, with a lot of probability, we admit that whether the distance is more, for example, 1,000 meters, Ford would have done not only to play the minimum lagging, but also to break out ahead.


Test third. Braking distances
A similar picture arose and at the measurement difference in the brake path of two sedans - it is practically no. It was decided not to reflect anything from 100 km / h, and not from the 60 km / h permitted in the city, but from average - 80 km / h.

This figure seemed to us the most suitable and because most drivers rarely comply with the high-speed limit in the city, but also until hundreds of the arrow of the speedometer are not often adjusted, although regularly. So, in real conditions, the average-parent speed is just to fluctuate in the area of \u200b\u200b80 km / h.

To minimize the error, the speed was exhibited on a cruise control, the benefit of both cars were equipped with them. However, the moment of impact on the brakes should not be able to coordinate in each of the five attempts the best turned out to be the one, then another car. But in any case, the difference in the brake path did not exceed the meter. Although, of course, in some situation, even the meter can exist the driver at least from a slight road accident. As a result, in this discipline we decided to count the draw.


Test fourth. Time of passage of the Circle
To carry out this test, we used the small circle of Saint-Petersburg autodrome with a length of 1,260 meters. And in order to minimize the risk of errors during the passage of the distance, the steering wheel, we tried to master the international class sports master on the highway-ring auto racing and the head of the driver's skills school Alexander Lvov.

Each of the cars drove three circles, of which the overclocking first in the standings did not go. And from the two remaining, the best time was chosen. So:

Time of the best Circle Ford Focus III Sedan 0.59.36
Toyota Corolla Toyota Corolla Time 1.02.23

With a slight advantage, Ford turned out to be ahead. We managed to rate the Ford Focus III handling last year twice on the serpentines of the Black Sea coast and at no less twisted mountain roads of Serbia.

Thanks to a fully independent and perfectly configured suspension, focusing in the focus on the focus, it was possible to be larger compared to the Corolor speeds. In addition, Ford had a phora in the form of a slightly wider rubber (215 mm against a 205 at Toyota) and, which is especially important a stabilization system, to whom not to establish any money. In many ways, it was due to the lack of an ESP, whipping on the wet asphalt Japanese sedan had to pick up, losing a precious time.

But the settings of the electric powerful Corolla liked more. Toyota steering wheel is more severe and more informative. Artificiality in it is not felt, and so much that we even suspected, and not a hydraulic system?

But the fed FOCUS's more light bulk is just an electro-hydraulic. Its settings are clearly designed for active maneuvering in the conditions of the city. Accuracy, she did not lose from this, but in the conditions of a racing track, I would like to have a more pronounced feedback.


Test fifth. Price and cost of ownership
This, of course, is not quite a test, but it is the price parameter and cost of ownership for the overwhelming majority of potential buyers are the main selection criterion. Moreover, this factor as no other is based on exact numbers.

Both cars were in top performances, and Ford Focus also with additional options. Toyota in the Japanese tradition has fixed configurations.


So, the tested Ford Focus III Sedan 1.6 PowerShift performed by Titanium costs 770,000 rubles. From Options: Heated windshield and washer nozzles, cruise control, advanced Sony radio tape recorder with nine speakers and voice control, metallic color. The total cost of 819,700 rubles.


Toyota Corolla 1.6 AT Prestige is more expensive. With the same optional metallic, its price amounted to 888,000 rubles. That is, the difference is an impressive 68,300 rubles in favor of Ford.

The Japanese has seven airbags against four Ford at its disposal. The rear view chamber, built into the rear view mirror and the system of invincible access to the salon. But loses focus due to the lack of stabilization system (ESP), separate climate control and advanced speaker system with voice control. Otherwise, both cars have approximately equal equipment. Moreover, the interior of a more modern Ford Focus is made of more expensive materials, and the visual display of secondary information is displayed on color displays with animation. But these are nuances.

Another important financial factor is the cost of the CASCO insurance policy. For example, we have chosen three insurance companies in which they calculated the price of the policy on the following parameters:

1) Driver: age 28 years, driving experience 9 years.
2) The policy is written out for the first time and the driver does not have insurance history.
3) Policy is written out for one year with a one-time payment.
4) Policy is written out without the use of franchise.
5) operation of the car on the territory of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region.
6) Full Casco Policy (Hyon + Damage).
7) Cars are equipped with regular anti-theft devices (immobilizer).
 

The first company in which we turned, has become a re-guarantee. Insure Toyota Corolla in it costs 75,276 rubles or 8.47% of the cost. Insurance on Ford Focus will cost a little cheaper than 72,690 rubles, however, the percentage of cost is obtained above 8.86%.

Renaissance Casco Polis at Toyota Corolla will cost 79,120 rubles or 8.9% of the car's cost. But to insure Ford Focus worth 50,921 rubles or 6.21% of the accommodation.

But the price of the insurance policy for the largest Russian insurer Rosgosstrakh turned out to be the transcendental. For the Casco Policy on the Japanese sedan, an approximately 114 907 rubles or 12.93% of the cost were requested. Polis on Ford Focus Family Budget will also not please 92,216 rubles or 11.2% of the cost.

It turns out that the Ford Focus insure is still cheaper. Moreover, depending on the insurer, this difference can reach a round sum. In addition, all insurance companies include both models in the risk zone of the hijacking and require the installation of additional anti-theft systems. But if Ford can often do only with sound alarm, then a mechanical blocker is also asked for a toota, and an additional electronic immobilizer, or even the satellite system at all.

Maintenance. A three-year warranty with a limitation of 100,000 km is distributed on both cars. Only Ford invites you to service every 15,000 km, while Toyota from the service is on 10,000 km of their customers do not let go.

In addition, the Japanese manufacturer insists on the replacement of the hard oil after a month after the purchase, however, you will not have to pay for zero. A distinctive feature of Ford service is the fixed value of all that, as the ignition candle replacement is added as diagnosed. The only price depends on the focus focus Ford (or Castrol) depends on the focus.

The total cost of four visits will be for Ford Focus 34 360 rubles, for Toyota Corolla about 45 000 rubles. Focus to CA4 will have time to run 60,000 km, and Corolla is only 40,000 km. If the mileage is equal, the service of Toyota will almost twice as much as the order of 65,750 rubles.


Total: on the basis of all measurements we spent we assign Ford Focus III victory. True, it is worth noting that the driving characteristics of both cars are so insignificant that by choosing one or another car, the buyer is unlikely to regret his choice.

However, the cost of ownership and price of Toyota Corolla is more expensive. This indicator in our country is one of the determinants when selected, which is confirmed by sales. From January to September 2012, 68,332 Ford Focus and 26,620 Toyota Corolla are sold in Russia. But it is worth notify that in favor of Ford's performance played the presence of three bodies.
 

A source: Magazine "Wheels" [October 2012]