2009 Ford Focus Review

This 2009 Ford Focus review reveals the subcompact car's gains and losses. A gain is a new coupe version not offered before. A loss, the elimination of the earlier stubby hatchback version. Another gain is bragging rights for its top 35 mpg fuel economy and a claim as most improved model from J.D. Power and Associates. The Focus gained many new customers last year, said Ford.

2009 Ford Focus Interior

The U.S.-built Focus has benefited from the splashy new SYNC system developed by Microsoft that Ford has exclusive rights to for now. It uses a Bluetooth wireless phone as a control center for phone calls or downloading text messages to be read aloud by the system. SYNC can download address books and other information from a half-dozen Bluetooth wireless phones at one time, so a car full of people can take turns chatting on the phone hands free. If the system senses an emergency, like an crash, it uses a Bluetooth phone to contact emergency services directly without using an intermediary to route the call. For those who like mood settings, interior gauge lighting can change hues.

The coupe, the latest Focus addition, is the sporty entry of the pair, with fog lamps, roofline spoiler and standard 17-inch wheels on the upmodel SES series. The coupe gains a surprising amount of trunk room, thanks to its tire inflation kit that eliminates the space-saver spare on the sedan.

Both coupe and sedan earn a maximum 35 mpg fuel economy rating with five-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic transmission. Two four cylinder engines are available, including one that meets strict California emissions standards. The standard 2.0-liter Duratec 20 generates 143 horsepower (manual) or 140-HP (automatic). The super clean 130-HP Duratec 20E meets Partial Zero Emissions clean air standards and, according to Ford, is cleaner than some gas-electric hybrids.

Base sedan pricing starts at $15,690, including destination charges. Coupes begin at $16,875.