Ford Focus
If you have been waiting for that small car you always hoped Ford would build, your wait is officially over.
The all-new (well, almost) Ford Focus is another world car from Ford. It has been on the road in Europe for some months now and has just recently found its way into American showrooms. Other than the steering wheel location, all models are virtually the same regardless of their nationality.
Supplanting Escort in Ford's lineup, Ford Focus is a clean sheet-of-paper vehicle that plucks little beyond its engines from current or past cars. It's a fresh design on a brand-new platform and it may well be the best small car Ford has ever built.
Offered in three body styles (three-door hatchback, sedan and wagon), the Ford Focus has one trim level each for the hatchback and wagon, and three trim levels (LX, SE and ZTS) for the sedan. My first Ford Focus tester was a four-door ZTS.
Taking a tape measure to the Ford Focus and Escort reveals that the Ford Focus sedan is essentially the same length and width as the Escort, but three inches taller. The Ford Focus wheelbase is nearly five inches longer than Escort's. Pushing the wheels farther toward the corners has helped smooth the ride and provided more interior room. Legroom up front has been increased by an inch and by three inches in the rear.
Headroom in the front seat is about the same in both cars, but the Ford Focus has about two extra inches of rear-seat headroom. Both cars have about the same amount of cargo space.
Standard in the LS and SE, the 2-liter four-cylinder engine is an enhanced version of the Escort's four-banger. The Zetec four-cylinder found in the ZTS comes from Ford's Contour. This 130-horse-power engine is fairly sophisticated, keeping noise and vibration to a minimum. A five-speed manual transmission is standard in all Ford Focus models and trim levels with the exception of the wagon. The wagon automatically gets the four-speed automatic found in my test Ford Focus as an $815 option. Working well together the engine and automatic transmission collaborate to give the ZTS a 0-60 time of less than 10 seconds. With the manual transmission, it is about a tick quicker. Even with the four-speed transmission fuel economy is good with a mpg rating of 25 city and 32 highway. Ford Focus rides on a four-wheel independent suspension. The front suspension architecture is composed of MacPherson struts and coil springs, while the rear suspension is a new Control Blade multilink arrangement. In driving, the Ford Focus feels well grounded. It drives like a larger car and with its 103-inch wheelbase, it rides like a larger car as well. The steering is tight and responsive.
Discs up front and drums in the rear provide Ford Focus with its stopping power. An option on the other models and trim levels, anti-lock brakes are standard on the ZTS.
Drivers will be immediately impressed with the high seating position in the Ford Focus. Visibility is outstanding for a small car. The seats are nicely contoured and quite comfortable. Wide door openings provide easy access to the rear seat where passengers will find a surprising amount of legroom. The highly stylized dashboard is a great improvement over that of the Escort. Gauges are large and easy to read. The audio system controls are high up on the dash where they should be. Large knobs control the ventilation system, which pushes out enough cold air to preserve meat. A low lift-over makes convenient work of loading and unloading the trunk.
Ford has put much thought and effort into building and marketing the Ford Focus. Targeting Generation X-ers, Ford has a hip television campaign using live commercials to advertise Ford Focus. You don't have to be a twenty-something, however, to appreciate this little car's qualities, especially the price. The three-door hatchback retails for well under $13,000. The ZTS with its more powerful engine has a base price of $15,165.
Standard features not already mentioned include dual power remote outboard mirrors, 15-inch aluminum wheels, dual air bags, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, center console with cup holders, power door locks, four-speaker AM/FM stereo/CD player, 60/40 split fold-down rear seat, manual front seat height adjustment, leather wrapped tilt/tele-scoping steering wheel, power windows.
The Washington Times
February 4, 2000 Heaps, Russ