The Ford Focus is notable for its spirited driving dynamics.The 136-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the same one used in the Mazda 6 and Ford Escape, is the base engine for most of the country. In California, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine, the Focus comes standard with a super-clean, 130-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder.
Fuel economy is good: The base engine earns an EPA rating of 26/35 mpg City/Highway with the five-speed manual, 26/32 with the four-speed automatic. More important, it puts out much lower emissions so it meets California's PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle) standards.
The Focus ZX4 ST is fun to drive. Ford borrowed pieces of the suspension from the European-market 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 comes with unique 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.