For Ford, 2005, the year the companyclaimed it would get back to selling honest-to-gawd cars, started inthe spring of 2004 with the launch of the 2005 Focus lineup. Because ofnew Ford Five Hundreds, Freestyles, and Mustangs popping up in Fordshowrooms, it's easy to overlook the refreshed Focus.
Since the Focus was launched in North America as a 2000 model,in-the-know car zealots have consistently turned to it for cheapthrills. Ride and handling that belied its price, modern design and aroomy cabin were all Focus attributes in a price class where suchexpectations were admittedly low. A certain model that had "SVT" on itsflanks certainly pushed the right buttons with enthusiasts too.
Originally, the only caveat to Focus ownership was a recall list in itsfirst two years that would have early Focus owners racking up moremiles riding in their dealer's courtesy shuttles than on the cars theyhad just purchased. Today, to Ford's credit, the Focus ranks as a toppick with various consumer mags and folks who research such things.Folks like JD Power & Associates who rank the Focus well above theindustry average in its Initial Quality Survey--equal to the illustriousHonda Civic.
These improvements in quality are small consolations for car zealotswho are looking for a 2005 SVT Focus. Don't bother. The SVT hot hatchis gone, supplanted with the less powerful ZX4 ST sedan. It's the only2005 Focus that receives the Mazda-derived 150 horsepower 2.3 litredual overhead cam straight-four engine. And the ST package is onlyavailable on the four-door sedan, not exactly a sports compactenthusiast's choice. It also doesn't receive the carefully craftedsuspension pieces that the 2002-2004 SVT Focus benefited so much from,and well ... it's just not an SVT!
To simplify the 2005 model lineup, every Ford Focus gets a "ZX"nameplate. The usual suspects (except the SVT!) are here: three-doorhatchback ZX3 ($17,555); four-door sedan ZX4 ($16,795), five-door hatchZX5 ($21,755) and the wagon ZXW ($19,565).
At $26,145 our test Focus ZXW (with its SES level of trim plusautomatic transmission, moonroof, perimeter alarm, and 6-disc in-dashMP3 player as options), is approaching Volkswagen Jetta GLS money($27,320, base with auto). Beyond the demise of the SVT (Get over it! -Ed.), you will find the most noticeable changes to the Focus are on theinside.
Gone are the cheap and ill-fitting plastic swooshes and ellipses fromthe original model. They have been replaced with a dash and instrumentlayout that is close to said Jetta in quality and execution. It's notas dramatic as the previous Focus, but it is certainly better puttogether using higher quality plastics. Our car being an SES came witha two-tone interior scheme with the lower portions of the instrumentpanel and door trim panels finished in a lighter shade.
Ergonomically, there's little to fault with the Focus. Because of thetall body, you sit fairly upright and the steering wheel/pedals/shifterrelationship is good. The one down side is that I could not find asweet spot with the front seats. Your body shape however may. Alsochallenging the Jetta was our ZXW SES's luxury accoutrements.
Heated leather seats, one-touch power windows, and a thick,leather-clad steering wheel with proper thumb indents, and redundantaudio and cruise controls, are all unique in this price class. Asimilarly equipped Jetta would be thousands more.
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Originally, the only caveat to Focus ownership was a recall list in itsfirst two years that would have early Focus owners racking up moremiles riding in their dealer's courtesy shuttles than on the cars theyhad just purchased. Today, to Ford's credit, the Focus ranks as a toppick with various consumer mags and folks who research such things.Folks like JD Power & Associates who rank the Focus well above theindustry average in its Initial Quality Survey--equal to the illustriousHonda Civic.
These improvements in quality are small consolations for car zealotswho are looking for a 2005 SVT Focus. Don't bother. The SVT hot hatchis gone, supplanted with the less powerful ZX4 ST sedan. It's the only2005 Focus that receives the Mazda-derived 150 horsepower 2.3 litredual overhead cam straight-four engine. And the ST package is onlyavailable on the four-door sedan, not exactly a sports compactenthusiast's choice. It also doesn't receive the carefully craftedsuspension pieces that the 2002-2004 SVT Focus benefited so much from,and well ... it's just not an SVT!
To simplify the 2005 model lineup, every Ford Focus gets a "ZX"nameplate. The usual suspects (except the SVT!) are here: three-doorhatchback ZX3 ($17,555); four-door sedan ZX4 ($16,795), five-door hatchZX5 ($21,755) and the wagon ZXW ($19,565).
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Gone are the cheap and ill-fitting plastic swooshes and ellipses fromthe original model. They have been replaced with a dash and instrumentlayout that is close to said Jetta in quality and execution. It's notas dramatic as the previous Focus, but it is certainly better puttogether using higher quality plastics. Our car being an SES came witha two-tone interior scheme with the lower portions of the instrumentpanel and door trim panels finished in a lighter shade.
Ergonomically, there's little to fault with the Focus. Because of thetall body, you sit fairly upright and the steering wheel/pedals/shifterrelationship is good. The one down side is that I could not find asweet spot with the front seats. Your body shape however may. Alsochallenging the Jetta was our ZXW SES's luxury accoutrements.
Heated leather seats, one-touch power windows, and a thick,leather-clad steering wheel with proper thumb indents, and redundantaudio and cruise controls, are all unique in this price class. Asimilarly equipped Jetta would be thousands more.