|
The Focus is one of the
larger vehicles in this group, but also one of the least expensive. With an
excellent ride/handling balance and well-shaped seats, it blends comfort and
driving enjoyment extremely well. It also has more power than most of the
others here. Without doubt, it offers the most car for the money in this
group. However, that amount of car and the relatively large engine cut into
gas mileage, which, while acceptable, is lower than most of the others here.
Toss in somewhat high noise levels and unfortunate interior quality, and it
isn’t the best all-around subcompact.
The Focus has a firm and
controlled but very comfortable ride. It absorbs bumps well and recovers
quickly. It is also the most fun to drive car in this group, with the
quickest, sharpest, best-feeling steering and an agile feel. It is also
quicker than all of the others in the group except for the gas-guzzling VW
Rabbit, and is rare in this group in being able to summon extra power at
highway speeds. The engine can get noisy under acceleration though, and wind
and road noise could be better-suppressed. As noted, gas mileage doesn’t
impress by the standards of this group.
Inside, the Focus has
large, high, well-shaped, and well-padded front seats with excellent leg and
head space and impressive lateral support. The rear seat doesn’t have as much
legroom even as some of the smaller cars in this group, but the high seat
cushion and the abundant foot space beneath the front seats contribute to
making it one of the group’s most comfortable.
 Interior quality is
lacking even at this price point; too many trim pieces feel cheap, and they
are indifferently assembled and often oddly matched. Drivers are treated to a
tilt/telescope steering wheel, which helps them find a very comfortable
driving position. Rearward visibility could be better, however. Entry/exit is
very easy to the front, and simple enough to the rear. There is more usable
cargo space behind the rear seat than in most of the others here, but the rear
seat can only fold to an angle or be tumbled forward in a two-step process.
The Focus reviewed here
came in at $14,785, less expensive than any of the others but the Rio and
Aveo. It doesn’t offer curtain-style side airbags, but includes the other
expected features in this group, and was one of only three with traction
control.
Overall, the Focus ZX5
is practical, comfortable, fun to drive, and very inexpensive. Also for about
$1,000 more (still well within the range of this group) you can get the larger
ZXW wagon version, which offers much more cargo space and a roomier rear seat
without deficit. But without better gas mileage, the Focus can’t be considered
the best subcompact, and interior improvements and additional noise
suppression would also be welcome.
NEXT PAGE
|
