Ford Focus vs Audi A7
What's the difference?

Ford Focus

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2021 price

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Audi A7

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2019 price

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes-Benz A35

Mercedes-Benz A45

Mercedes-Benz CLA

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Summary

2021 Ford Focus

2019 Audi A7

By Peter Anderson

By Matt Campbell

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 3, 1.5L

Turbo V6, 3.0L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Premium Unleaded/Electric

Fuel Efficiency

6.4L/100km (combined)

7.3L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Great chassis
Well-equipped
Surprising engine

Glorious to behold
Surprising value
Great safety kit

Dislikes

Optional advanced safety
Better tyres would be nice
Too many optional colours

Launching with top-spec petrol only
Still some options to pick
Some tech quibbles on launch

2021 Ford Focus Summary

Ford's small hatch, the Focus, is criminally under-bought in Australia. The latest model is one of the best hatchbacks on the road and when you chuck in the decent price, impressive equipment and absurdly powerful engine for its size, it's a winner.

But you lot? You don't buy it in nearly the kinds of numbers it deserves. Partly because there isn't a bait-and-upsell boggo model to lure you in, partly because it's got a badge that is not exciting Australians any more and partly because it's not a compact SUV.

Or is(n't) it? Because alongside the ST-Line warm hatch is the identically priced and therefore technically a co-entry level model; the Focus Active. Slightly higher, with plastic cladding, drive modes and a conspicuous L on the transmission shifter, it's a little bit SUV, right?

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2019 Audi A7 Summary

Audi is known as a design-led brand, and arguably no model in the line-up embodies that ethos more than the Audi A7 Sportback.

This all-new version of Audi's largest swoopy five-door hatchback takes the concept of the original first-generation version and, rather than reinventing the idea, reimagines it with a more modern and even more style-focused look, inside and out.

And it's a very convincing execution, indeed.

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Deep dive comparison

2021 Ford Focus 2019 Audi A7

Verdict

Ten years ago, the idea that the higher-riding version of a hatchback would be a good city car would have been laughable. The Focus Active is pitched as a kind of SUV with its different low-grip driving modes, which you'll never touch if you stick to the city.

The Ford Focus is genuinely a brilliant car, no matter where you take it. The Active takes a terrific chassis, tweaks it for comfort but, ironically, doesn't lose much of the speed.

Verdict

The Audi A7 is a really likeable car, one that is heavily focused on style but also emanates substance. The 55 TFSI model will appeal to many, but my initial impression is that the best buy in the range could well be the entry-level 45 TFSI. I can't wait to sample it sometime in 2019.

Ford Focus vs Audi A7 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Ford Focus vs Audi A7
What's the difference?