2000
ICOTY Awards - Entry Level
Most
Spirited - Ford Focus
Straight
off the boat from Europe, this little import is as lively
as a German oompah band and as sexy as a French model. It
has turned the youth market on its head here, and Ford was
smart to offer it in three models with two engine choices
and a whole slew of wonderful packages designed to meet
the needs of any entry-level purchaser. Like shopping at
the mall, the Focus comes in sedan, coupe, or wagon form,
with either a 110-horsepower 2.0-liter inline four or the
peppier 2.0-liter 130-horsepower Zetec engine.
This
is the car to buy if you want to get personal; so many aftermarket manufacturers
already have oodles of goodies to put in, on, and under to give it your own personality.
The Focus also offers Tailored for You kits, which allow you to choose
from a pet travel kit complete with Fido bed, lint roller, and food dispenser,
or the Mobile Pro Kit, with fold-out clipboard, bins to hold your laptop, and
pockets for your cell phone, MP3 player, or other tools. This is one hip vehicle!
Runner-Up:
Dodge Neon
Third
Place: Toyota Echo
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