2016 Ford Focus Electric vs. Its Competition

John Voelcker

The 2016 Ford Focus Electric is a perfectly competent battery-electric compact hatchback, but it is sold only in limited numbers in certain states, and its range is now lower than that of most competitors.

Its main competitor is the Leaf, by far the world's highest-volume electric car, which will offer 2016 models with more than 100 miles of range—though its styling is polarizing, whereas the Focus is entirely invisible, as is the Volkswagen e-Golf, also a converted gasoline model.

The Chevy Spark EV minicar is much smaller, though it will hold four adults comfortably, and it has even livelier performance.

(The electric Spark also points the way toward the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, a 200-mile electric hatchback that is likely to be a game changer.) With its 53 miles of electric range and a gasoline engine for backup, the all-new Chevy Volt gives four-fifths the electric range of the Focus, eliminates range anxiety entirely, and adds a dash of sporty new styling to boot.

Finally, Ford's own plug-in hybrid C-Max Energi offers 19 miles of electric range and gasoline backup as well, although its load bay is severely compromised by the battery underneath.