2009 Ford Focus

Based on the revised 2008 model, the '09 Ford Focus coupe incorporates a few mild styling changes in order to improve the car's appearance. Both front and rear fascias sport mild tweaks, with the front bumper - sporting a larger air opening and standard fog lamps - receiving the majority of the attention.

From a mechanical perspective, very little changes. Although a new exhaust design promises a "throaty" sound and more power, the 2.0-liter I-4, in both regular and PZEV specs, continue to be offered. The normal I-4 sees a slight power bump - 143 hp vs. the '08's 140 - when equipped with a five-speed manual. Buyers who opt for the four-speed slushbox may feel a bit more torque, as the transmission will carry a new 4.2:1 final drive ratio.

Gone is the unique exterior and interior styling, and even the historically fabulous Ford Focus chassis has now been softened up to suit old-school American tastes.

The interior of the revised 2009 Focus is pleasant, if not particularly exciting, with a smartly styled, aluminum-look center stack and easy-to-decipher controls.

It's easy to drive this car smoothly, something that can't be said for all manual-transmission cars. Power from the 2.0-liter four is sufficient, and the 35-mpg highway rating is a compelling figure.

I'd certainly rather buy a 2009 Ford Focus sedan than this coupe, though, because although the rear seat has decent space, ingress/egress are compromised by the front seats, which do not easily slide forward and out of the way.

What the 2009 Ford Focus is missing in terms of go-power, it certainly makes up for in price, feasibility, and economy. The little four-pot had enough power to merge onto the highway without having to worry about getting squashed on the grille of a semi, and the automatic transaxle (a worthy $815 option) made my 10-hour drive down to Virginia Motorsports Park a breeze.

The car handled extremely well, as its light weight lent to slinging it on and off the highway ramps with ease, and the brakes (with optional antilock) were more than adequate to bring the little car to a halt.

The Focus' strong suit is its economy. On the trip to Virginia, the little 2.0L powerplant sipped the petrol to the tune of one 34.5 mpg fuel run.

As for the functionality, the car was comfortable. The back seat was a bit crowded, as the car I had was a coupe, not a four-door, but that's the nature of the beast with the Focus' size. Other than that, the trunk was big enough for all of my camera gear and luggage, with room to spare.