2000-2004 Ford Focus: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Named Car of the Year in Europe in 1999, Ford's subcompact premium Focus arrived in North America as a 2000 model. Slightly larger than the fading Escort, the Focus came in three body styles: hatchback coupe in sporty ZX3 trim; four-door sedan in LX, SE, and top-of-the-line ZTS form; and as a 4-door SE station wagon. Compared to the Escort, the new Focus was 3 inches taller and about 4.5 inches longer, in both wheelbase and overall size. A 110-horsepower version of the Escort's single-cam 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine went into LX and SE models. Standard in the ZTS and ZX3, optional for SE, was a 130-hp twincam 2.0-liter four, as used in the Escort-based ZX2 coupe. Both engines teamed with either 5-speed manual shift or a 4-speed automatic transmission. Rear child-seat anchors were installed, and head/chest front side airbags were optional. Antilock brakes were standard on the ZTS, optional on others. Head/chest front side airbags were optional. During the 2000 model year, a special Sony Edition joined the Focus lineup.