2016 head-to-head · Compact Car

2016 Ford Focus vs Volkswagen Jetta

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

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✓ Cheaper to run
$1,368/ year to fuel
34 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,409/ year to fuel
33 MPG

On fuel costs these two are nearly tied. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, the most efficient 2016 Ford Focus (34 MPG) costs about $1,368 a year to fuel and the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta (33 MPG) about $1,409.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • Ford Focus
  • Volkswagen Jetta

Side by side

Ford FocusVolkswagen Jetta
$1,368 Your annual fuel cost $1,409
34 MPG Combined efficiency 33 MPG
30 MPG City 28 MPG
41 MPG Highway 40 MPG
90 cu ft Passenger volume 94 cu ft
23 cu ft Cargo volume 16 cu ft
260 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 276 g/mi
8/10 EPA fuel economy score 8/10
8/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 8/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Regular gasoline Fuel Regular gasoline
1.0L 3-cyl turbo Engine / motor 1.4L 4-cyl turbo
6-speed manual Transmission 5-speed manual
FWD Drivetrain FWD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

Ford Focus vs Volkswagen Jetta across model years

  • Ford Focus
  • Volkswagen Jetta

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

Per EPA interior volume figures, the Volkswagen Jetta has more passenger space (94 vs. 90 cu ft); the Ford Focus has more cargo space (23 vs. 16 cu ft).

Among 51 2016 compact cars, the Ford Focus ranks 10th and the Volkswagen Jetta 12th for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2016 Ford Focus or the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta?

Measured by cost to drive, the Ford Focus. The Ford Focus is rated 34 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Jetta 33 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2016 Ford Focus vs. the Volkswagen Jetta per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,368 for the Ford Focus and $1,409 for the Volkswagen Jetta.

Which has more cargo space?

The Ford Focus, with 23 cu ft of luggage volume versus 16 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

Ford Focus vs Volkswagen Jetta in other years

More 2016 comparisons

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