Editor's Note: in all the photo gallery to the right part of the story, the Ford Focus TCDi is always on top of each two photo panel except when indicated. We also took the opportunity to "blank" out the Impreza's plate as that's part of motioncars.com's Long-Term Test Fleet.

The new Ford Focus has sparked some life back to the compact car class.  It comes at a time when the entire segment is under threat from everything ranging from sub-compacts offering luxury trimmings to compact sport utility vehicles having more metal for the buck.  Like the majority in its class, the Focus touts its spirited dynamics, practical creature features and life-saving safety equipment.  However, there’s something uniquely attributable to the Focus: its world-rally heritage.  Most of its rivals never ripped through the Scandinavian countryside or tackled Monte Carlo’s steep mountain roads.  This rally pedigree has earned it respect and admiration, where time behind the Focus’s driver’s seat automatically connects you to those racing them.

This connection or ‘x-factor’, if you will, is equally strong in just one other compact car: the Subaru Impreza.  The sheer imagery of a Sonic Blue Subaru caked in mud, power sliding into a tight 180-degree corner is enough to make even the most hardcore car enthusiast weep tears of joy.  Before, owning the road-going version of the Impreza also meant an enthusiasm for hard labor: a close to two million peso price tag and you still had to do all the shifting yourself.  But that’s not the case anymore.  Subaru has finally entered the mainstream with the mildest Impreza there is: a normally-aspirated five-door hatchback with softy sprung suspension and an automatic gearbox!  Despite the watered down kit, this Subaru still promises the same rally-bred heritage that’s still present in its turbocharged brethren.

It’s clear at this point that neither car truly offers a full-blown WRC experience.  Both are simplified versions of their racing counterparts.  And yet, both quote their rally racing experience as their inspiration on subjects ranging from design, engineering and even to marketing.  On one side is the Focus TDCi which has a torquey turbo-diesel engine and a dual clutch gearbox.  On the other, is the Impreza with its horizontally-opposed engine layout and symmetrical all-wheel drive.  And get this, both of these cars are priced just P 10,000 apart.  This fight has been brewing for some time now, and now, there will be blood.

Exterior

With the exception of the sweeping roofline provided by its hatchback body, the Ford Focus isn’t really known for its cutting-edge design.  In fact, the pre-facelift Focus is often criticized as something pretty much evolutionary of the first-generation model.  And even when Ford grafted a new nose on, it still looks pedestrian next to the Impreza.  Don’t let the ‘kinetic’ design lingo fool you: this isn’t the same Focus you see roaming European roads.  While they are enjoying a Focus with almost all its exterior body panels changed, the one here simply has the new face grafted to the old body.  This is noticeable if you look at them side-by-side: the European Focus has a hard crease running through the side of the body, the one here has a softer crease seen in the pre-facelift model.  However, by being much more bland and ordinary, the Focus has a lesser tendency to draw design flack especially from the fairer sex who simply find the Impreza’s design just plain weird.

Weird as it maybe to some, people who do get the Subaru design language will actually like the Impreza’s lines.  And even if didn’t like it the first time around, the looks grow on you.  The nose looks as if it’s tampering inward creating a chiseled front end.  The lines widen up from the wheel arches backward culminating in the rear section.  This creates an illusion of width and a muscular appearance that’s missing in the Focus.  The design works from most angles except from the front, where the Impreza resembles a pug.  Subaru then goes a step further and kits the Impreza like a boy-racer’s dream; and ultimately, this is the turn-off for women (and maybe the 40-somethings).  However, for the manly men out there, the wrap-around body kit and the 17-inch alloys are dead on and do justice in improving the car’s stance.  However, like any car with a front airdam and side skirts, it’s important to be wary of steep driveways, which can scrape the Impreza’s kit.

With both of these cars having almost no discernable difference when it comes to exterior fit and finish (they both offer excellent paintwork and the panel gaps are equally consistent), the winner here is based solely on design execution.  It’s not necessarily beautiful, but at least the Impreza fully embraces the sporty motif much better than the Focus.  This gives the Subaru more character and actually makes it more expensive-looking.

Exterior Winner: Subaru Impreza
Score: Ford Focus (0) / Subaru Impreza (1)

Interior

Stepping into their respective cabins, it’s immediately apparent which one you’d like to spend more time in: the Impreza.  Both have a purely black cabin execution with just trimmings of silver to liven it up, but the sweeping dash design of the Subaru is much more modern than the Ford’s.  It’s more driver-centric with all the buttons and controls canted to or located near the driver.  The choice of materials is equally good and consistent throughout with the use of soft-touch buttons (audio and steering wheel controls) and tactile switchgear (stalks, ventilation controls and windows).  Plus the dash is bettered screwed together with no visible panel inconsistencies and exposed screws.  Despite the sporty design, the Impreza has the cubby hole advantage too.  It’s capped off with a lit glove box—something that’s often times a victim in cost-cutting measures.

If there’s one thing that’s in dire need of improvement in the Focus, it’s the interior.  Though on the whole, it’s solidly designed and executed, there are just too many quirks that deters from having a delightful experience.  Apparently, Ford spent too much time window dressing the cabin rather than improving minute fit and finish.  For one, there are too many silver-finished buttons on the center console.  It’s alright if you find it in a Chinese branded stereo, but not in a ‘European inspired’ car.  And then there’s the faux carbon fiber weave that surround these buttons: it looks too fake!  More attention should have been focused to improve things like the center console lid, cup holders and coin/ashtray all of which are flimsy.  And then there are small details like two interior clocks (on the stereo and the instrumentation) that don’t synchronize together.  On a positive note, the stylized instrumentation does look better and is easier to read.  The move from green to red lighting is good.

Interior Winner: Subaru Impreza
Score: Ford Focus (0) / Subaru Impreza (2)

The Ford Focus looks more staid even with new look face. The Impreza, though polarizing, has more character. Its standard body kit and 17-inch alloys are attune to the sporty motif.

The 16-inch alloys looks to pedestrian. Ford should have used this chance to give the Focus 17-inch alloys. Notice the ones in the Impreza, they fill the wheel arches quite well.

It's almost immediately clear that the Impreza has longer overhangs than the Focus. This gives the Subaru a wedge-like profile.

Like any car with a sports body kit, the Impreza has the tendency to scrape it at low lying car park bumps.