Ford designed the Focus from the inside out for maximum interior space within the confines of a compact body. The high roofline provides lots of head room and makes entry and exit easier. The front seats are comfortable, cushier than those in other compacts, and are bolstered well with side support. The seats have an exceptionally high hip point, providing a better view down the road and more leg room front and rear. Manual height adjustment allows almost everyone to find a comfortable position behind the wheel and an easy arm's length away from the manual shifter. Two types of cloth upholstery are available, a sporty woven material designed for younger drivers and a textured velour fabric designed for a more upscale ambiance. Leather upholstery is also available.
The dash is a collection of arcs, a theme that reinforces the exterior design. The instrument panel is covered by an asymmetrically curved and sharply creased bezel. High series models feature a silver instrument cluster. The fuel gauge has a small arrow pointing to the right, to remind you where the filler is located. A 7000-rpm tachometer flanks a 140-mph speedometer in the ZX5. Both instruments are round and easily readable, clearly marked with white numerals on black, though the tach has no redline.

The center dash panel is formed by an arc that sweeps upward across the dash to the right side of the car and an inverted parabola. In the Fiord Focus ZX5, ZTS, and ZTW it's finished in brushed aluminum instead of black. The radio fits into the top of this area. Focus ZX3 and ZX5 models come standard with MP3 players. Also available is a six-disc CD player. Snuggled into the top left is a 12-volt power outlet and trinket tray. Circular ventilation controls feature the edgy styling with buttons styled to fit the room available. The trunk release, on the left end of the dash, is triangular aswell, shaped to fit into the intersection of the arcs outlining the instrument panel.
With its asymmetrical design, the interior looks both informal and rich at the same time. Control knobs all have distinctive shapes for easy identifi-cation. Rotary controls are rubberized for pleasing soft-touch operation. The steering wheel on the ZX5 is leather-covered and satisfying to touch. Even the plastics used on the dash and door panels have a finger-friendly soft-touch feel. Our only quibble is that the inside door releases don't feel as substantial as they could.

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The rear seat of the five-door hatchback is entered easily through the rear doors. The back seat of the three-door hatchback is best accessed by the young and agile, however. Once there, rear-seat riders have lots of legroom, thanks to widely spaced runners under the front seats, plus adult-sized head and shoulder room. Rear-seat air ducts add comfort winter and summer.
Fold the back seat of the hatchbacks and there's 18.5 cubic feet of cargo space. Access to this area is easy through the big rear hatch. The versatility of the hatchback design is lost on many Americans, who prefer the more formal sedan profile with its conventional trunk, but the hatchback design is hugely popular among Europeans for its practicality. The sedan's trunk, on the other hand, can hold two standard-size suitcases and comes with 60/40 split fold-down rear seats. The Ford Focus wagon offers the largest cargo capacity in its class, more than a Volkswagen Jetta wagon. Fold the rear seats down in a Focus wagon and there's 55.8 cubic feet of cargo capacity, or 37.5 cubic feet with the rear seats in place.

Behind the wheel, the Ford Focus is an enjoyable car. All models are fun to drive. The Focus is smooth and stable at high speeds with responsive steering and excellent brakes. It feels softer and smoother than most compacts. The Ford Focus leans in corners, but the tires generate a lot of grip.

The 130-horsepower 2.0-liter Zetec engine that comes in most models starts instantly and rewards drivers with an almost imperceptible idle, smooth and quiet. Slam the gas pedal down and it responds with surprisingly rapid acceleration, a benefit of a lightweight car with well-developed torque characteristics. Torque is that force that propels you quickly away from an intersection and 80 percent of the Zetec's maximum torque is available from idle to 6000 rpm. Torque peaks at 135 foot-pounds at 4500 rpm.
Making the Focus even more satisfying to drive is Ford's excellent control of noise, vibration and harshness in this engine. Forget the usual inexpensive four-cylinder harshness; this pup loves to run and doesn't complain about visiting the upper reaches of the tachometer. Ford revised the 130-hp Zetec for 2003. A new throttle body offers improved part-throttle response for improved drivability around town. Greater fuel efficiency comes from a new cylinder head, new valve springs, and a freer exhaust system.

Given a choice, we'd rather have the five-speed manual than the automatic. It's easy to shift. Clutch take-up is good and easy to modulate. Shifting into first gear reveals a rubbery feel to the linkage of the long-shafted shifter. It feels like a Saab shifter; it's precise but not inviting.
The four-speed automatic is slow off the line. Left in Drive, it operates like a conventional American automatic. That is to say it's as dependable as sunrise, but not as exciting. It features an overdrive-off button, plus D2 and D1 slots, but it lacks the sporty feel and effect of the manual gearbox. Also, fuel economy drops from an EPA-rated 34 mpg on the highway with the manual to 31 mpg with the automatic.