2000 Ford Focus: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Ford's new subcompact offers three body styles, all with the company's "new-edge" styling. Focus comes as a 2-door hatchback in sporty ZX3 trim, a 4-door sedan in LX, SE, and top ZTS form, and as a 4-door SE wagon.

A 110-horsepower 4-cylinder engine is standard in LX and SE models. Standard in ZTS and ZX3, optional for SE is a 130-hp twincam four. Both engines team with manual transmission or 4-speed automatic. Antilock brakes are standard on ZTS, optional on other models. Head/chest front side airbags are optional, and all models come with rear child-seat anchors. A Sony option package for SE sedans that includes a 460-watt audio system was added at midyear, as was a ZX3 Kona package with a mountain bike and rack and 16-inch wheels and tires.

COMPETITION

This crowded segment is best represented by two exceptional cars--one a Best Buy and the other a Recommended. Our Best Buy is the Honda Civic, which offers a wide range of bodystyles, engines, and equipment levels. Civic is a solid car that has good performance, a nice ride, and is very civilized.

Topping the Recommended list are the Volkswagen Golf and Jetta. They easily could be Best Buys as they are better than the Civic in many ways. However, they are also the most expensive cars in this segment. Other Recommended choices include the no-frills Chevrolet Cavalier and Dodge Neon, the slightly-upscale Chevy Prizm and clone Toyota Corolla, and the roomy Mazda Protege.

If you are looking for a Budget Buy we recommend you stay away from the Hyundai or Daewoo models and take a look at the Ford Escort.