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2006 Ford Focus
Date Published: 5/03/08

2006 Ford Focus
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MSRP:
$13,450 - 17,495

Invoice:
$12,710 - 16,256

Class:
Compact Car

CG Award: (What's This?)
2006 Ford Focus
Expert Rating Summary
Category ZX3 SES, auto. Rating (See All
Ratings)
Compact Car Average Rating
Acceleration 3 4.4
Fuel Economy 6 6.7
Ride Quality 6 4.9
Steering/Handling/Braking 6 5.6
Quietness 4 4.2
Controls 6 5.9
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front) 5 5.5
Room/Comfort (rear) 3 3.9
Cargo Room 7 4.7
Value within Class 8 6.2
Total Score: 54 52
Ratings: Maximum 10 points per category
2006 FORD FOCUS BUYING RESOURCES
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2006 Ford Focus Review
Ford's smallest car comes as a 2-dr hatchback called the ZX3, and with four doors as the ZX4 sedan, ZX5 hatchback, and ZXW wagon. Price levels ascend through S, SE, SES, and ST designations. All have 4-cyl engines. The ST has 151 hp, the others have 136 hp. The sporty ZX3 S and ZX4 ST sedan are manual transmission only. Other models offer manual or automatic. The ST has a sport suspension and 4-wheel disc brakes. It also includes ABS, which is optional on other models. Traction control is available for SE, SES, and ST versions. All Focuses include a height-adjustable driver seat and split folding rear seatbacks. Head- and torso-protecting front side airbags are available linewide. Other options include sunroof, leather upholstery, and heated front seats. New for 2006 is a Street Appearance Package for SE, SES, and ST models. It includes a rear spoiler and modified lower-body appearance, all in body color, plus fog lights and chrome exhaust tip.
Competition
Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 17 classes based on size, price, and market position. Compact Cars comprise the smallest passengers cars. These vehicles range from tiny economy models to slightly larger, popularly priced sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons.

Our Best Buys include Chrysler PT Cruiser, Honda Civic, Mazda 3, and Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix twins. Our Recommended picks include Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Spectra, and Toyota Corolla.

New or significantly redesigned models include Chevrolet HHR, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, and Volkswagen Golf and Jetta.
News
Focus reportedly gets a restyle and perhaps some new engineering for 2008, but on the aging U.S. platform that dates back to 2000. Ford's current cash crunch permits nothing more. Those same factors have also delayed a smaller "B-class" car to at least the 2009 model year. Japanese affiliate Mazda is heading the project, which is also expected to spawn a subcompact Ford crossover wagon. The sub-Focus cars had been targeted for '07, but have now gone back to the drawing board because executives thought the planned styling dull and thus a sales drawback.
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