Back in 2000, the year that the Ford Focus was introduced, Ford Motor
Company was hoping that the model would be well received and exceed
the sales totals of its previous small car, the Escort. Unfortunately,
the new Focus was plagued by various minor quality problems and the
car soon became the joke of the industry. Step forward to 2006, and
the current Focus is vastly improved on earlier models. Let's explore
what is helping the Focus become a proven challenger in the crowded
small vehicle sector:
1. Aggressive Price. Yes, the number of cars available under US$15,000
continues to drop each year. However, the Focus takes it one step
further as it retails just below $14,000. Comparably equipped Chevys,
Kias and Hyundais sell for nearly the same amount, so the consumer has
a good choice when buying the Ford Focus.
2. Sufficient Power. The 2.0L I4 engine paired to a five speed manual
transmission gives the car enough power to get it moving and keep it
moving at a nice clip on the freeway. Competing models offer smaller
engines as small as 1.6L as found in the Kia Rio....

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