While the Ford Aspire was offered as low as $8,895, it wasn't low enough to provide value over superior alternatives. For example, the Dodge Neon was available for $9,475 and was considerably more powerful with 132 horsepower. The Aspire performs 0-60 mph in 13.8 seconds, whereas the more robust Neon can do it in under 8 seconds. The extra horses under the hood of the Dodge make daily commuting requirements like merging onto the highway easier.

The Ford Escort had already been around for years by the time Aspire entered the scene and is considered one of the most successful models in Ford history. You could get the Escort in a sedan, hatchback, or wagon variation with prices starting at $10,510 in 1994. There was also a GT trim which generated 127 horsepower. The Aspire couldn't match the Escort in terms of performance, and it didn't offer any interior advantages either. The Escort sedan with both rear seats folded down provided 35.2 cubic feet of space. The Aspire offers around 37.7 cubic feet of cargo room, which is only marginally larger than the Escort.