All this fun comes at a price
Life is full of choices. There is no other compact car currently on the market that offers as many trims and body styles as the Ford Focus. As a 3-door or 5-door hatchback, a 4-door sedan or a station wagon, there is a model for everyone. Depending on the body style, you can choose from four different trim levels and a bunch of options.
The ZX5 hatchback, however, is only available in SES trim. Why? I'll have to ask Ford, and they probably already told me but I forgot. You can still get stripped-down versions of the 3-door and sedan, so I guess that's alright.
I'll get this off my shoulders right off the bat: there are no less than 13 recalls for the Focus since its introduction in 2000. However, only one affects models from 2003 and up. So, we can conclude that Ford has cured its compact offering's teething problems, and is now better built than the first ones that rolled off the assembly line.
Now that we've cleared that up, let's pursue with the evaluation of this Focus ZX5.
Styling
There are so many Focuses on the road today, that the car's looks will probably no longer impress anyone. After a mild front restyling in 2005 (the sedan also got a restyled rear end), the ZX5 still looks reasonably modern. The new headlights look better than the old ones, and the overall shape is still clean and aerodynamic.
A worthy addition on this test car is the $695 GFX appearance package. This includes unique colour-keyed front and rear fascias and high-mounted rear spoiler. The GFX package deletes the chrome surrounding the grille and has different side-marker lamps. There is also a chrome exhaust tip, but it would look much nicer if we wouldn't see that exposed bolt which holds it in place. Overall, this package is worth the seven hundred bucks, since it improves the look of the Focus and distinguishes it from the gazillion other Focuses that will cross your path.
On the road
Since the Focus made its debut in 2000, it has been touted as one of the most fun-to-drive compacts. That still stands true today, because this ZX5 is a blast to drive. It's light and nimble, and the 136-horsepower, 2.0-litre powerplant is eager to please. The clutch pedal is light and the shift lever is ultra-precise. I wonder why Ford doesn't offer the Focus ZX4 ST sedan's more powerful 2.3L engine in the ZX5. Then again, 15 more horsepower wouldn't make that much of a difference anyway.
The Focus' steering is quick and direct, like if it was lifted straight off a go-kart. In the city, you'll squirt through traffic and adopt a bad habit of driving like if you were always in a hurry. This is the main reason why my overall [link artid="3845"]fuel consumption[/link] average is 10.4 L/100 km (27 mpg) over a week's bat-out-of-hell driving. If you don't ride like a raging lunatic (read:
me), and we shouldn't, you should have no trouble averaging under 9 litres for every 100 km of real estate traveled, which I was getting during relaxed weekend cruising with the family on board.
Handling is right up there at the top of its category, along with the Mazda3. The 205/50R16 tires do a good job of keeping the car in the desired direction. Rear disc brakes would be nice, but the ZX5 would just end up being more expensive. Besides, the disc/drum setup works just fine.
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| 2006 Ford Focus ZX5 SES (Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com) |
The ZX5 hatchback, however, is only available in SES trim. Why? I'll have to ask Ford, and they probably already told me but I forgot. You can still get stripped-down versions of the 3-door and sedan, so I guess that's alright.
I'll get this off my shoulders right off the bat: there are no less than 13 recalls for the Focus since its introduction in 2000. However, only one affects models from 2003 and up. So, we can conclude that Ford has cured its compact offering's teething problems, and is now better built than the first ones that rolled off the assembly line.
Now that we've cleared that up, let's pursue with the evaluation of this Focus ZX5.
Styling
 |
| 2006 Ford Focus ZX5 SES (Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com) |
A worthy addition on this test car is the $695 GFX appearance package. This includes unique colour-keyed front and rear fascias and high-mounted rear spoiler. The GFX package deletes the chrome surrounding the grille and has different side-marker lamps. There is also a chrome exhaust tip, but it would look much nicer if we wouldn't see that exposed bolt which holds it in place. Overall, this package is worth the seven hundred bucks, since it improves the look of the Focus and distinguishes it from the gazillion other Focuses that will cross your path.
On the road
 |
| 2006 Ford Focus ZX5 SES (Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com) |
The Focus' steering is quick and direct, like if it was lifted straight off a go-kart. In the city, you'll squirt through traffic and adopt a bad habit of driving like if you were always in a hurry. This is the main reason why my overall [link artid="3845"]fuel consumption[/link] average is 10.4 L/100 km (27 mpg) over a week's bat-out-of-hell driving. If you don't ride like a raging lunatic (read:
 |
| 2006 Ford Focus ZX5 SES (Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com) |
Handling is right up there at the top of its category, along with the Mazda3. The 205/50R16 tires do a good job of keeping the car in the desired direction. Rear disc brakes would be nice, but the ZX5 would just end up being more expensive. Besides, the disc/drum setup works just fine.