2000 Ford Focus ZTS Review

The Fun is Just Beginning
By B.J. Killeen

The staff at ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine is getting younger. Not in age, but in attitude. We just took delivery of our new Ford Focus ZTS sedan, and already we have an overwhelming desire to get out the mountain bikes, jet skis, and snowboards. The Focus is one of the best small sedans to hit the market, and it has won virtually every major automotive award in the world.

Let’s start with fun to drive. The ZTS 4-door is the sportiest of the Focus lineup (hatchback, wagon, sedan), and features the 2.0-liter Zetec engine with 130 horsepower and 135 pound-feet of torque. Our long-term tester also sports the 4-speed automatic transmission option for $815, front and rear floormats for $55; side impact airbags at $350, and leather seats for another $695. With the $15,260 base price and $465 destination charge, our ZTS out the door hit $17,640. This is beyond reasonable for all the features included, such as dual power mirrors, 15-inch aluminum alloy wheels, solar-tint glass, AM/FM/CD stereo, rear window defroster, 60/40 split fold rear seats, dual visors with mirrors, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power door locks, SecuriLock anti theft, and engine immobilizer system, and air conditioning.

Interior comfort is surprising, with tons of head room even for tall drivers, and an instrument panel and center console that’s laid out in a contemporary format that’s easy to utilize. If it’s versatility you’re looking for, this is the place. The 5-passenger Focus is actually comfortable with five, but remove three, and it offers plenty of cargo carrying capabilities when you fold down the rear seat;

What we like best about our new family addition is its Euro-like ride and handling characteristics. This small (103-inch wheelbase, 174.9-inch overall length) subcompact thinks it’s a supercar, and charges around tight turns as if it had a prancing horse on the nose instead of a blue oval. The steering is responsive and crisp, and not overboosted at speed. Even with all this hard driving, fuel economy numbers will stay close to the 25 city/31 highway estimated EPA figures.

Safety continues to play a major role in vehicle purchase, and the Focus will not disappoint in this area as well. Our long-termer is equipped with driver and passenger front airbags, as well as the optional side bags, anti-lock brakes, crumple zones, collapsible steering column, fuel inertia shutoff system, and all the other under-the-skin goodies that you can’t see, but will help keep you alive in a crash (provided, of course, that you’re wearing your seatbelt).

We plan to drive the heck out of the Focus, and will keep you posted as we rack up miles around town in the Detroit, Mich., area, and on the interstate.