Mention the Ford Focus, and certain adjectives jump to mind: Practical. Affordable. Unassuming.
Exciting? Exhilarating? Uh, no.
So when I arrived to pick up my test car, a sporty Focus SES model, I was pleasantly surprised to find it adorned with 17-inch aluminum rims, a dark chrome grille, fog lamps and a rear spoiler. Far from boring, the car looked ready for a road rally.
I had a different sort of endurance test in mind, however: A week of highway and city driving with my wife and two kids, aged four and seven. There would be no mud-splattered windshields, but Cheerios getting wedged between the seats was a distinct possibility.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Inside the car, the pleasant surprises continued.
The Focus's black and silver interior exuded a refined look, and the radio and climate controls were logically laid out and intuitive. Another nice feature was the "driver's message centre" that displayed the time, outdoor temperature, radio information and vehicle direction. Located in the centre of the dash-top, the display was easy to glance at without taking my eyes off the road. Presumably, this reduces the odds of swerving into a ditch while trying to read the name of the song that's playing.
On the road, I was impressed by the Focus's crisp handling. The SES sedan - a notch below the top-of-the line SEL - has a performance suspension that makes for nimble cornering while maintaining a fairly supple ride. In other words, it's a fun car to drive, not the bland econo-box I had expected. The car feels secure and surefooted, unlike some other small cars that drive more like go-karts.
When I asked my wife what she thought of the Focus, she said it seemed solid and well built. "If I hadn't known it was a Ford I would have thought it was a Japanese car," she said. Consumer Reports gives the Focus an above-average grade for reliability and a coveted "recommended" rating.
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
The good news for families: The rear of the Focus easily accommodates two child seats. The bad news? That's about all you're going to get back there.
I had assumed that because the Focus advertises itself as a five-seater, we'd be able to fit three people in the back. Wrong. In fairness, the problem isn't unique to the Focus - two child seats are going to eat up most of the back seat of any compact, rendering the centre position uninhabitable by anyone wider than a slice of processed cheese.
But that's why it's called a compact, and not a minivan. That said, our two kids had plenty of room, and there was even space left over for my four-year-old daughter's travelling accessories: two baby dolls, two blankets and a fuzzy, wheeled suitcase.
Up front, mom and dad also travelled in comfort, thanks to the ample leg room and seats that provided good lumbar support.
As for cargo capacity, the Focus's trunk can't compete with a minivan or SUV. But put a roof rack on this baby and you're good to go just about anywhere.
THE SOUND SYSTEM
Our car came with a $700 "premium" sound system, but when I tuned the satellite radio to my favourite seventies channel, I was disappointed: The bass was muddy and the overall sound lacked clarity.
Compared with the top-of-the-line tune box in the Ford Flex I tested this year, the Focus's sound system fell short. At highway speeds, significant wind and road noise compounded the stereo's shortcomings.
I'm fairly particular about my music, having toiled in several unsuccessful and short-lived rock 'n' roll bands in my parents' basement and elsewhere. Other people may not be bothered by the Focus's stereo and, certainly, there are more important considerations when choosing a vehicle - safety, for example.
PLENTIFUL FEATURES
One thing that must be said about the Focus is that it packs a lot of features for the money: Four-wheel antilock brakes and electronic stability control are standard on all Focus models.
So is the MyKey system, which allows parents to program specially coded keys to limit the vehicle's top speed to 129 km/h. The system can also limit the stereo volume and activate warning chimes when the vehicle reaches speeds of 72 km/h, 88 km/h and 108 km/h.
Other standard features across the Focus lineup include dual-stage front airbags and side-curtain airbags in both rows, remote keyless entry and power locks. Sync - Ford's voice-activated communications system for Bluetooth-enabled cellphones and media players - is standard on the SES and top-of-the-line SEL models. Two 12-volt power outlets are also standard - a good thing if you're planning a long road trip with kids who carry portable video games and other devices.
THE COMPETITION
The Focus has some tough competition in the Honda Civic, Mazda3 and Hyundai Elantra. But if you're looking for a vehicle that delivers value, reliability, good fuel economy and is fun to drive, the Focus SES is worth considering.
My only regret is that I didn't get to test the five-speed manual. As much as I enjoyed zipping around in the four-speed automatic, driving the SES with a stick would have been even more fun. And, as long as we're talking about value, it's worth noting that the five-speed costs $1,150 less.
2010 FORD FOCUS SEDAN SES
Type: Compact sedan
Base Price: $20,399; as tested, $23,699
Engine: 2.0-litre, DOHC, four-cylinder
Horsepower/Torque: 140 hp/136 lb-ft
Transmission: Four-speed automatic
Drive: Front-wheel-drive
Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 8.4 city/5.8 highway; regular gas
