Hyundai Elantra vs. Ford Focus: Cost and Value

2011 Hyundai Elantra:
The Elantra starts at a base price of just under $15,000 and completely tops out, fully loaded, at about $22,000. Every version of Elantra — regardless of package — returns the same exceptional mileage. At $22,000 you get a huge 7-inch touch screen, a navigation system, a back-up camera, a 360-Watt audio system, and push button start with a proximity key transmitter. You also get heated front AND rear seats. For $22,000 that’s an amazing list of equipment.

2012 Ford Focus:
While the Focus starts at just over $16,000, it tops out at a rather high-end price a bit north of $28,000 for a fully loaded hatchback. But for $28,000 you get an 8-inch touch screen, navigation system, back-up camera, automatic parallel parking system, moonroof, rain-sensing wipers, heated front seats, heated mirrors, sport suspension, 18" wheels, push button start, torque vectoring corner control, and a 355-watt audio system with 10 speakers including a subwoofer.

And the winner is: Hyundai Elantra
If customizability is your game, then the Focus has a great list of standard features and an amazing array of options at good prices. But in the end, the fully loaded Elantra, at $22,000, represents just about the best value you can hope for.

Related: The Best Used Cars Under $10,000