2002 Ford Focus ZX5

The ZX5 uses standard Ford switchgear, which means that its controls are large and easy to use and to find. Instruments are mounted on a nicely sculpted dashboard that, like the car's exterior, pleases your eyes with its combination of curves and angles. For 2002 every Focus gets modern looking, bright-aluminum trim rather than wood grain.


The car's front seats have a handy "kangaroo pouch" storage/map pocket at the front of the seat-bottom cushion, and the front door panels have large storage pockets. Another nice feature is what looks like a coin tray or small drawer in the dashboard, but when you pull it out you discover it's large and deep enough to hold your sunglasses or cell phone.


On the other hand, the cupholders in the central floor console are positioned so far forward under the dashboard that tall beverage containers may not fit easily. We also liked the pencil holder built into the center console, but we found that the armrest interfered with manipulating the 5-speed shifter. Fortunately, the armrest pivots out of the way, though such a maneuver pretty much negates its usefulness.


Speaking of the shifter, its throws are short and sure, and it allows the driver to make full use of the engine's 130 horses and 135 lb.-ft. of torque. The little engine is strong enough to induce substantial torque steer if you rev it up as you pull away from an intersection. However, that manual shifter also comes with a shift-up arrow indicator that lights up on the instrument panel to encourage you to make your shifts at very low rpm. This will enhance your fuel mileage (the EPA rates the ZX5 at 25 mpg city and 34 on the highway) but not your driving pleasure. Enthusiast drivers will disdain this glowing arrow. Electrical tape, anyone?

Although some hatchback competitors have more usable cargo space, the ZX5's maximum 55.8 cubic feet of stuff-space is easily accessible through the rear doors and hatch.

The backseat is roomy enough for adult passengers. For maximum cargo capacity, the rear seat-bottom cushions pivot forward and the seatbacks fold flat to create a longer cargo floor, although when pivoted forward, the seat bottoms abbreviate the length of the flat cargo floor. Still, the seats were among the most comfortable we've found in any Ford. The four-door architecture makes the behind-the-backseat and beneath-the-hatchback cargo areas much easier to use.