2004 Ford Focus ZX5

Base out-the-door price for the ZX5 is $15,035, very competitive in the entry-level hatchback class. Other hatchback competitors in this price range are the Volkswagen Golf, Pontiac Vibe, Toyota Matrix and BMW Mini, which means the Focus ZX5 faces very substantial competition. So how does the ZX5 stack up? Driving the ZX5 is addicting. Shifter throws are short and sure, and the ZX5 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.


Ford's ZX3 has been popular with young buyers who want to customize and even hot-rod their vehicles. If you can afford it, you could do the same things to the ZX5, plus have the utility of a four-door body style.

Ford's 2.0L Zetech four puts out 130 hp. The ZX5's standard 5-speed helps the engine achieve its full potential.

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. The car's front seats still 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.


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-back-seat and beneath-the-hatchback cargo areas much easier to use. The cabin is also two decibels quieter this year thanks to sound-deadener sprayed under the unibody and carpet underlay.


The Focus ZX5 moves swiftly and handles smoothly. Its engine is perky, the manual gearbox allowed us to fully explore the drivetrain's potential, and the suspension provides a taut but comfortable ride. The ZX5 has received significant awards and praise since its introduction-and we expect that to continue. (www.fordvehicles.com)