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2000 Ford Focus (ZTS 4 Door Sedan)
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| Clearly A Winner |
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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 21:20:29 |
| Rating |
 1168 ( -162 -13.86% ) | | Author | Denise Caldwell |
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Description:
The interior of the all-new 2000 Ford Focus is a real tactile treat. There are plenty of wonderful $40,000-plus luxury cars that surround your senses with expensive leather, glossy hardwoods, and thick wool carpeting--that's expected. In typical subcompact sedans, Tupperware practicality is more common than intriguing details. As for fabrics, anything better than shiny vinyl is a bonus.
Ford's new Focus has one of the most splendidly executed interiors I've ever encountered. The more time spent in the Focus, the more great details you'll discover. All materials are very well integrated. They're not different just for the sake of being different. Many differences are subtle, but they delineate one area from another.
The dashboard sweep is bold and asymmetrical in a stylized high-tech way. Interior shapes compliment exterior styling. The Focus is big on both form and function.
Control knobs and levers are very user friendly. Materials are soft with tiny, well-placed bumps so your fingers know where they're supposed to be. Tapered shapes that fit your hands comfortably are plentiful. Ergonomics are excellent. Controls are big and well placed; they're easy to find without being distracted.
Interior room is excellent, especially for such a compact, easy-to-maneuver car. Headroom is limousine-like, front and back. If big hats ever return to style, the Focus is an Easter Parade special. Front legroom is outstanding. Raised rear seats keep passengers faces knee-free. Real adults fit in the back seat of the sedan (there's also a 4-door wagon and a 2-door hatchback), even the middle position.
Transporting young children in the Focus is great. All three rear positions have ISOFIX child-safety seat attachments. The tall doors open nice and wide so you can get to the middle child. The large trunk will hold lots of gear. The ample and versatile rear seat means the Focus is a car that can keep up with growing children.
Front seats are firm, but comfortable. They're very adaptive including a great height- adjustable lower cushion for the driver. A small crank on the lower right corner makes it possible to comfortably accommodate drivers under 5 feet tall and those well over 6 feet tall. Our test car had the optional tilt and telescoping steering wheel, which further enhanced flexibility. Visibility was excellent as was noise insulation, air conditioning, and the stereo/CD player. We'd prefer better rear seat lighting and an armrest that didn't get in the way of the shifter.
The wonderful interior and outstanding passenger/cargo capabilities would be great even if the Focus was propelled by hamsters. Thankfully it has a peppy four-cylinder engine mated to a super smooth 5-speed manual transmission. The Focus is great fun to drive. It's very nimble which makes it a great city car. It fits in almost any parking space.
We were tremendously impressed with the new Ford Focus. It's very well built. The interior is all-around outstanding. Performance and handling are top notch. The Focus is smart looking, economical to operate, and inexpensive to buy.
PROS:
Absolutely wonderful interior, big trunk, excellent safety features, good performance, modern styling, and affordably priced.
CONS:
Needs additional rear cupholders and better back seat auxiliary lighting.
HIS SIDE:
I agree with Denise about the comfortable interior. I fit better in the Focus rear seat than many cars costing twice as much. The abundant driver's legroom is also a major selling point. The crisp demeanor of the engine, transmission, and suspension scored big with me. There are practical cars that offer little more than their practicality, but the Focus wraps functionality in a very well-built, fun-to-drive package. That's the difference between an elective course and a mandatory requirement.
The optional ZTS model reminds us of the Ford Contour SVT (a very under appreciated car). Both sedans have a European heritage, which is evident in their handling and how fun they are to drive. I wasn't as smitten with the styling, but the other attributes more than compensated for that. |
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