2005 Ford Focus Review

The revamped subcompact Focus is Ford's first 2005 model out of the box, adding a new top-line model, more power and revised styling -- inside and out.

Too bad Americans don't get Europe's all-new 2005 Focus. The American version has the more subdued styling of the new, large, flagship Ford Five Hundred sedan instead of its old, rather odd "new edge'' styling. The new look is supposed to be more "upscale'' and "aspirational.'' The quirkiness is gone.

The restyled nose gives the Focus a cleaner, more substantial appearance, although the car won't stand out in parking lots. There's a new hood and slightly larger grille -- and recontoured front fenders merge into more conventional-looking headlights. The rear end features new taillights and has been reshaped -- partly to better accommodate U.S. license plates. The old trunk lid had a European design to accommodate longer, narrower European plates, leaving U.S. plates hanging awkwardly.

The most dramatic design departure is the redone interior: The all-new instrument panel is symmetrical; the driver and front passenger areas are divided by two rectangular climate control registers, hazard switch and a shallow center stack for the audio and climate control systems. Improved materials are used, but the interior needs more flair.

Ford has dropped the hot-rod 170-horsepower Focus SVT model and replaced it with the new 151-horsepower top-line ZX4 ST sedan, which I tested. That $17,705 model has performance that's almost comparable to that of the higher-strung SVT Focus, although it seems strange that the only high-performance 2005 Focus is a sedan. (The SVT also was offered as a two-door hatchback.) However, the ZX4 ST is more refined and costs about $1,400 less than the SVT.

Ford mainly dropped the SVT because it has replaced the Zetec four-cylinder engine used in the Focus since its debut here in 1990 with a four-cylinder "Duratec'' engine developed by Japan's Mazda, in which Ford has a controlling interest.

A new 2-liter four-cylinder engine with 136 horsepower replaces the old base 2-liter four-cylinder, which produced 110 and 130 horsepower.

The ZX4 ST gets a 2.3-liter four-cylinder with 151 horsepower. It whisks the new Focus to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds with its five-speed manual gearbox, which is the only one offered for this model. The engine drones a bit during highway cruising, and a downshift is needed to fourth gear for the fastest 65-75 mph passing time.

Other Focus models can be had with the manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. The manual gearbox shifts easily and works with a nice clutch that isn't a pain in stop-and-go traffic, although the extra torque of the SX4 ST engine makes lots of shifting unnecessary. The smaller new Focus engine calls for additional shifting. The $815 automatic transmission saps some power but shifts crisply.

The Focus comes as a two-door hatchback (ZX3), four-door hatchback (ZX5) four-door sedan (ZX4) and as a station wagon (ZXW). The entry trim series is S -- followed by SE, SES and ST, which have more standard equipment and options. Options and option packages have been simplified to make ordering easier.

The base S Focus has a fair number of standard items, including a manually height-adjustable driver's seat, console, split-folding rear seat, AM/FM/CD sound system, intermittent wipers, rear defogger and rear wiper-washer for the hatchback.

The SE adds quite a bit more, including air conditioning, MP3 player and power windows, mirrors and door locks with remote entry. The SES adds a tachometer, tilt-telescoping wheel with radio controls, cruise control, in-dash CD/MP3 player and wider (50 series vs. 60 series) tires on wider, (16-inch vs. 15-inch) aluminum wheels.

Besides the more potent engine, the ST adds a sport suspension, traction control, anti-lock all-disc brakes and heated mirrors.

Among safety options are $400 anti-lock brakes for models other than the ST and $350 head-and-torso front side air bags for all versions.

A power sunroof is a $625 option for the SE, SES and ST.

The front-drive Focus has a nicely developed chassis with an all-independent suspension for good ride and handling. The ZX4 ST has the stiffer shock absorbers of the SVT but softer spring rates for a more comfortable ride -- although the springs increase body sway a bit.

My test car was fun to drive, with quick, communicative steering, sharp handling, compliant ride and good braking, with nice pedal feel. Other Focus models won't be quite as much fun because they lack the sport suspension, wider tires and more powerful engine of the ZX4 ST.

The interior has noticeable wind noise at highway speeds, but also easily reached controls and gauges that can be read at a glance. There's a good number of storage areas, with front door pockets that contain areas for beverage holders.

Three tall adults and a shorter one fit comfortably. Front seats are supportive, and there's outstanding front-rear head room -- although leg room is tight behind a driver who moves his seat back halfway, and the rear doors should open wider. Entry and exit to the rear is more difficult with two-door versions.

All Focus models have large cargo areas with low openings. The sedan's trunk lid has strut-type hinges that don't eat into cargo room. The entire split-folding rear seat easily folds forward to significantly increase the cargo area.

The hood also raises on struts to reveal easily reached fluid-filler areas, but the short manual hood prop is short and awkward to use.

The Focus isn't as refined as, say, a Honda Civic, or as sporty as, for example, a Mazda 3. But it's more grown up and one of the best-developed small cars.

2005 FORD FOCUS

Prices
$13,005-$17,705

Likes
Nifty new ZX4 ST model. Revised styling. More power. Roomy. Fun to drive.

Dislikes
Styling still ordinary. Not as refined or sporty as some rivals.