| Back in 2000, the year that the Ford Focus was | | | | seating passengers, but not so for the Focus. |
| introduced, Ford Motor Company was hoping that the | | | | Compare the Focus' seating to the Cobalt and the |
| model would be well received and exceed the sales | | | | Focus is the clear winner. |
| totals of its previous small car, the Escort. | | | | 4. An Assortment of Body Styles. Most cars built |
| Unfortunately, the new Focus was plagued by various | | | | today come in only one or two body styles, however |
| minor quality problems and the car soon became the | | | | the Focus features four: a three-door ZX3 hatchback, |
| joke of the industry. Step forward to 2006, and the | | | | a five-door ZX5 hatchback, a ZX4 sedan and the |
| current Focus is vastly improved on earlier models. | | | | ZXW wagon. It is the ZX3 that retails for as low as |
| Let's explore what is helping the Focus become a | | | | US$13,990. |
| proven challenger in the crowded small vehicle sector: | | | | 5. Respectable Fuel Economy. With EPA figures of 26 |
| 1. Aggressive Price. Yes, the number of cars available | | | | city / 34 highway, the Focus achieves a fuel mileage |
| under US$15,000 continues to drop each year. | | | | level that few small cars can boast of. |
| However, the Focus takes it one step further as it | | | | Competition in the small car group remains tight with |
| retails just below $14,000. Comparably equipped | | | | the Toyota Corolla, Chevrolet Cobalt, Hyundai Elantra, |
| Chevys, Kias and Hyundais sell for nearly the same | | | | and Saturn ION all competitively priced. The Corolla |
| amount, so the consumer has a good choice when | | | | remains the favorite amongst industry specialists, but |
| buying the Ford Focus. | | | | the Focus has certainly shed its "low quality" status |
| 2. Sufficient Power. The 2.0L I4 engine paired to a five | | | | with the current model. Check out special financing |
| speed manual transmission gives the car enough | | | | deals through Ford Credit to save even more money |
| power to get it moving and keep it moving at a nice | | | | on your Focus. |
| clip on the freeway. Competing models offer smaller | | | | In conclusion, the Focus has improved with age, but it is |
| engines as small as 1.6L as found in the Kia Rio. | | | | in need of updating now that it is in its seventh model |
| 3. Spacious Interior. Up to five people can be carried in | | | | year. With Ford fortunes sagging, the company cannot |
| the Focus and the interior room is large for a car in its | | | | afford additional dips in sales. |
| segment. Most small cars are intolerable for big rear | | | | |