A car anyone can love
It's been a while since I've driven a Focus, and I'd forgotten how much fun they are to drive. Not just "fun" in a way that only car enthusiasts can appreciate, either; unless you totally dread driving, you're sure to enjoy the Focus. It's got a tall seating position that makes you feel in command of the road. With a height adjustable seat and a steering wheel that moves in and out as well as up and down, the Focus invites every driver to find a comfortable position. The windows are big and visibility is excellent. The dashboard (link goes to picture) is simplicity itself, making it easy to concentrate on driving.
I test-drove two versions of the Focus, a ZX3 3-door hatchback followed by a ZX4 sedan. (The Focus is also available as a 5-door hatch (ZX5) and wagon (ZXW).) Around the same time, I also had a 2006 Honda Civic coupe here for review. The Civic is a more stylish, more refined, and more spacious than the Focus. It is a more modern car in every way. And yet I preferred driving the Focus. The Civic is a faithful servant; the Focus is more like a pet. If the Focus had a tail, it would wag when it saw you coming. "You want to go driving?" it seems to say. "Great! So do I!"
Love the road manners
Part of the Focus' secret is that it was designed in conjunction with Ford's European division, which means it's well suited to twisty roads. The steering feel is fantastic on both curves and straights. The ride is bouncy but the handling is well controlled. Even if you're not the type who grins whenever you see a squiggly-road-ahead sign, you'll appreciate the Focus' responsiveness if you ever have to swerve to avoid an accident.
If the Focus has anything approaching a weak point, it's the 2-liter four-cylinder engine. It has more than enough power, but it's noisy and slow to rev. Still, it keeps up the pace and that's what's important. Besides, my test cars were California versions (also sold in New York, Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine). The California Focus gives up 6 horsepower the version sold in the other 45 states, but it meets PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle) emissions standards, so it's significantly more environmentally friendly than many of its competitors. A worthwhile trade-off, if you ask me. EPA mileage estimates aren't as high as some other subcompacts, but real-world mileage is decent enough.
Love the transmission, love the space
The ZX3 I drove had a delightful 5-speed manual. Stick-shifts like this one are the reason I say I'll take a good manual over an automatic any day, even in traffic. That said, the automatic-equipped ZX4 had plenty of get-up-and-go and wasn't far behind the stick-shift in its fun-to-drive factor.
I'm particularly fond of the ZX3 and ZX5 hatchback versions of the Focus. Their shape is both stylish and practical. The hatchbacks' cargo area has lots of room, and the rear seatbacks split and fold down to expand cargo space. And with a large back window in place of the ZX4 sedan's high trunk, the hatchbacks are easier to park.
The Focus' back seat is unusually roomy and supportive for such a small car. It has shoulder belts at all three positions, but lacks headrests, which means a serious risk of whiplash for back-seat passengers if the car is rear-ended. That said, the Focus has LATCH child-seat anchors in all three positions, so a baby seat can be secured in the center position which is statistically the safest location. Many cars only have LATCH anchors at the outer positions.
Build quality is always a concern with domestic cars; though the Ford-suplied cars I drove no doubt get lots of TLC, they felt solid and rattle-free.
Love the price
The Ford Focus ZX3 starts just under $14,000 for the S model, though at that price the Focus gets power steering, a CD/MP3 player and little else. Air conditioning is a $910 option and an automatic isn't available. The $15,260 SE, with power windows, mirrors, locks, A/C, and optional ($815) automatic, is a bit more palatable.
The ZX3 I drove was a top-of-the line SES. Its sticker price was $19,470 with options, including leather seats (heated in front), antilock brakes, traction control, side airbags, cruise control, high-end stereo with 6-disc MP3/CD changer and steering-column controls, and "street appearance package" (modified front bumper and rear spoiler). The ZX4 SES sedan was similarly equipped; it lacked the street appearance package but had an automatic transmission and stickered for $19,290.
The Ford Focus will not see any significant changes until the 2008 model year. Still, the Focus' cheeky styling, practical shape and high fun-to-drive factor make it competitive with the latest-and-greatest from Korea and Japan. If you're shopping for basic transportation and considering a Civic, Corolla, Rio or Accent, be sure to stop by your Ford dealer and give the Focus a look.
