A third engine is the 151-horsepower 2.3-liter four-cylinder that goes only in the ZX4 ST. It gets an EPA-rated 23/32 mpg. It is paired only with a five-speed manual transmission. The shifter is a new one and is more precise in locking into gear than the one it replaces.
The higher horsepower engine was the one in the tested Focus ZX4 ST. Indeed, it delivers strong acceleration from a dead stop and easily cruised to passing speeds on the highway. The only complaint with the engine was noise. Despite efforts by Ford engineers to quiet the cabin, the ZX4 ST was excessively loud with engine noise even cruising at highway speeds.
Ford borrowed pieces of the suspension from the European-sold Focus and the 2004 Focus SVT to make the ZX4 ST more performance oriented than the other models. It borrows the front struts and rear shocks from those models, and they are 50 percent stiffer than the ones on the SE and SES versions. The ZX4 ST also has its own distinctive 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels and Pirelli all-season radials. The package provides sharp handling response, precise steering and generally an enjoyable connection with the road. Indeed, the Focus, at least in this version, remains one of the most fun cars in the class to drive. Next Page