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2000 ICOTY Awards - Entry Level
Most Spirited - Ford Focus

ROAD & TRAVEL's 2000 Most Spirited -- Ford FocusStraight 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

Most Respected
Luxury Car of the Year
Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Most Likely to Change the World
ECO- Friendly Car of the Year
Honda Insight

Most Likely to Survive Anything
SUV of the Year
Ford Excursion