Fashion Factor: 8
Personality: 8
After straddling us with two decades of the milquetoastish Escort,
Ford is making amends with the Focus, a zippy, personable little
buggy that'll warm your heart and wallet.
The Focus comes in three flavors: a grocery-getting wagon, a sporty
sedan, and the ZX3, a cheeky, three-door hatchback that comes
standard with 15-inch aluminum wheels and a CD player. Mated to a
five-speed manual transmission, the ZX3's 16-valve, 130-horsepower
inline four cylinder will cover 33 miles of highway on a gallon of
gas, and meets Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) standards, meaning it
emits approximately 50 percent fewer smog-forming hydrocarbons than
required by U.S. regulations.
Thanks to its available AdvanceTrac Integrated Vehicle Dynamics and
a well-designed, rigid chassis, the Focus has smooth, tight
European flair on twisty roads that belies its bargain basement
price tag.
ALT-FUEL TECH
Until this year, the future of alternative-fuel vehicles seemed
somewhat uncertain. Consumers have been unreceptive to electric
cars, which have thus far been high on cost and short on run time,
power, and space.
But the recent release of
Honda's Insight and
Toyota's
Prius have brought convenience and practicality to the market.
By utilizing both gas and electric motors, the
Insight and Prius
offer adequate - if not overwhelming - power, and never need
recharging. The Insight is a two-seater, best reserved for single
commuters, but the Prius offers seating for five. Best of all, the
Insight delivers close to 70 mpg, while the heavier and more
spacious Prius runs in the low 50s.