2004 Ford Focus Review Summary & Specs
ZX3 Hatchback
Smooth and comfortable with sporty performance.
Summary & Specs
reviewed by
The Ford Focus is inexpensive yet long on style, practicality and fun. It's available in a wide variety of body styles to suit all types of lifestyles. The sedans are comfortable and move people efficiently. The three-door hatchback proves to be economical and practical yet sporty and fun. The five-door hatchback makes it easier for rear-seat passengers to join in the merriment. The wagons can carry a ton of cargo.
The SVT models bring stellar performance to this class. The Ford Focus SVT is up to the challenge of other sport compacts with strong acceleration performance, agile handling, and excellent brakes.
While we recommend the Focus, it has been hampered by recalls, most of which involve 2000 and 2001 models. Ford says all the problems have been fixed and owners should not experience problems with 2004 models. Recalls don't cost owners out of pocket per se, but sometimes involve inconvenient trips to the dealership. Overall quality of the 2003 Focus was about average, according to owner surveys conducted by J.D. Power and Associates.
Specs
| Vehicle Category |
Compact Cars |
| Editor |
John Matras |
| Model Lineup |
Focus LX sedan ($13,185); SE sedan ($14,915); ZTS sedan ($15,535); ZX3 3-door hatchback ($12,725); ZX5 5-door hatchback ($15,035); SE wagon ($17,130); ZTW wagon ($17,745); SVT 3-door hatchback ($18,590); SVT 5-door hatchback ($19,090) |
| Engines (standard) |
2.0-liter dohc 16v inline-4 |
| Engines (optional) |
110-hp 2.0-liter sohc 8v inline-4; 130-hp 2.0-liter dohc 16v inline-4; 145-hp 2.3-liter dohc 16v inline-4; 170-hp 2.0-liter dohc 16v inline-4 |
| Transmissions (standard) |
6-speed manual |
| Transmissions (optional) |
5-speed manual; 4-speed automatic; 6-speed manual |
| Safety Equipment (standard) |
dual front second-generation airbags, side-impact door beams, 3-point front seat belts with adjustable upper mount, pretensioners and load-limiting retractors, center 3-point inertia real safety belts, UCSSD child safety seat attachments, child-locks on rear doors, pressure cut-off proportioning valve on rear brakes, SecuriLock theft-deterrent system |
| Safety Equipment (optional) |
ABS; head-and-chest seat-mounted side-impact airbags |
| Basic Warranty |
3 year/36,000 miles |
| Assembled In |
Wayne, Michigan; Hermosillo, Mexico |
| Manufacturer Phone |
1-800-392-FORD |
| Manufacturer URL |
www.fordvehicles.com |
| Base Price MSRP |
$13,185 |
Specs as Tested
| Model Tested MSRP |
Ford Focus SVT 3-door ($18,590) |
| Standard Equipment |
center console, front courtesy lights with theater dimming, door map pockets, cloth trim on doors, removable package tray, sport bucket front seats with height adjust, 60/40 split-fold rear seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel, tachometer, driver and passenger vanity mirror, battery saver, rear defroster, solar tinted glass, power point, power steering, trip odometer, rear window wiper/washer, aluminum wheels, power remote locking, power remote mirrors, floor mats; SVT adds four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, rear hatch cargo net, short-throw shifter, fog lights, unique headlamp bezel surround, electroluminescent instruments, black lift gate handle, color-keyed trim, stainless steel pedals, power locks, power windows, power driver's seat, sport bucket seats, rear spoiler, leather-wrapped steering wheel |
| Destination Charge |
545 |
| Options as Tested (MSRP) |
Audiophile system ($675) includes 80-watt system w/four 2-way speakers |
| Gas Guzzler Tax |
|
| Layout |
front-wheel drive |
| Price as Tested |
$19,810 |
| Horse Power |
170 @ 7000 |
| Torque |
145 @ 5500 |
| Fuel Economy |
21/25 |
| Wheelbase |
103 |
| Length/Width/Height |
168.1/66.9/56.3 |
| Track Front/Rear |
|
| Turning Radius |
39.1 |
| Seating Capacity |
5 |
| Front Head/Hip/Leg room |
39.3/49.4/43.1 |
| Middle Head/Hip/Leg room |
|
| Rear Head/Hip/Leg room |
38.7/49.5/37.6 |
| Trunk Volume |
18.6 |
| Payload |
|
| Towing Capacity |
1000 |
| Front Suspension |
independent |
| Rear Suspension |
independent |
| Ground Clearance |
|
| Curb Weight |
2750 |
| Stock Tires |
P215/45R17 |
| Brakes Front/Rear |
disc/disc with ABS |
| Fuel Capacity |
13.2 |