The Ford Focus was launched to tremendous accolades in 1999 as a 2000 model.  It was an obvious improvement over the Escort/Tracer

Stylish, fully-featured, reliable, safe and affordable, the Focus has a lot to offer the compact buyer. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

that it replaced, and it won North American Car of the Year in 2000.

Jump ahead 9 years, and the Focus is now 2 years into it's 2nd generation.  Although the popular hatchback and wagon models are gone, the Focus remains a quality small car that is built right here in North America.  Our tester was a 4-door SES model in a handsome Sangria Red colour.

The Focus lineup is somewhat convoluted, with the 2-door available in SE and SES trim level and the 4-door in a broader range of variations including S, SE, SES and SEL.  And the standard and optional features on the 2-door SE, for example, are not necessarily the same on the 4-door SE.

All versions do come standard with Ford's new-look horizontal chrome grille, however, replicated on most new Ford vehicles.  Standard on our 4-door SES are anti-lock brakes,

The 2009 Focus has a distinctive design that won't go unnoticed. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

electronic stability control, 17" aluminum rims with 215/45/17 tires, an upgraded performance suspension, heated front seats and a “Driver's Group” that includes a premium leather-wrapped steering-wheel with cruise and audio controls built right into it.  Optional but included with our test vehicle are leather-trimmed seats and a generously sized power moonroof.

Standard or optional on all but the 4-door S model is Ford's Sync, a voice-activated communications and entertainment system.  Developed in conjunction with Microsoft, Sync allows access to mobile phones and personal audio devices, all controlled with voice activation.  It has all kinds of nifty features such as uploading of all contacts from a mobile device, and enabling voice-activated dialing, or audible text messages, where the system will actually read aloud messages that you receive while driving. 

A good looking interior, this SES model featuring leather and aluminum-look trim. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

The system is fluent in English, French and Spanish, and is smart enough to recognize common text acronyms such as LOL and :)

I enjoyed the SES’ performance-enhanced suspension, although probably the base model should be this crisp, and the SES has a slightly higher spring rate.  I also liked how the 5-speed manual transmission shifted crisply through the gears.  The Focus did feel a bit underpowered, however, especially given its relatively low weight of 1,190 kilos (2,623 lbs) and 140hp 2.0L Duratec four-cylinder with 136 lb ft torque.  Yes, this new Focus doesn’t deliver as sporty a feel as the original.  After our initial drive, we suspected that the car has taller gear ratios for increased fuel economy, a higher priority than off-the-line speed for most compact sedan buyers.  This was confirmed when we achieved an impressive 7.5L/100km of

Nice 17" alloy rims! (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

mixed city/highway driving. Ford claims 8.5/5.7 city/highway for the 5-speed manual Focus.

Inside, the optional leather seats were very supportive and comfortable.  The dash has a smart and distinct appearance, with good use of brushed metal-look trim.  The centre console contains well-laid-out audio and cabin environment controls.  Plus I really liked the optional ambient lighting feature, which brightens the footwells and cupholders with your choice of blue, red, yellow, green, aqua, purple or white mood lighting.

If you are seeking a handsome car, the Focus should be high on your list.  Ford has done a good job making the styling bold without being excessive.  The horizontal chrome front grille leads to a well-sculpted shape, highlighted by tasteful use of angles in the sheet metal. 

Tall trunk-lid height makes for decent cargo space. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

The high trunk-lid line is obviously designed to offer generous cargo space, but it doesn’t look out of place and flows nicely with the rest of the car.

Our tester, at $19,199, isn't the most affordable of economical cars.  However, considering the features that are included for this price the SES Focus has decent value.  A more basic Focus is available starting at a tick over $16,000, which positions it squarely against the likes of the Chevy Cobalt, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Nissan Sentra, Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen City Jetta, and others.

For those seeking an economical compact sedan or coupe, the Focus should be on the short list.  The latter model just won a Top Safety Pick for the coupe segment by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), achieving a “good” rating for all three tests, and all Focus models are reliable, having been given good ratings in J.D. Power and Associates’ Vehicle Dependability Study (VDP). The performance might only be adequate, but the fuel mileage is superb and styling distinctive.

Interior

Exterior

Mechanical

Safety

Dimensions

Misc

(41H) Engine Block Heater

(442) Transmission: 4-Speed Automatic

(J004) Standard Black Paint

(J005) Standard Gloss Paint

(63B) Smoker's Package