Car Reviews: 2002 Ford Focus ZX5
SEE ALSO: Ford Buyer's Guide
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS If it seems that hatchbacks are making a comeback, think globally. They never left in Europe and Asia, where narrow, crowded roads and expensive fuel put a premium on small cars with good space utilization and fuel efficiency. European hatchbacks, in particular, are not necessarily the low-budget, entry-level vehicles that gave the genre a bad name in the U.S. There are some that are serious sports cars, some that provide upscale luxury, and even a few that combine luxury and performance. The 2002 Ford Focus ZX5 isn't quite a luxury-performance car, but it is a cut or two above entry level in appointment, feel, and fun factor without being expensive. Although it's one of the newest additions to the Focus family in the U.S., joining the four-door sedans and wagons and three-door ZX3 hatchback, it has been sold in Europe since the Focus's introduction there in 1999. As you might expect from its ZX5 name, it is a five-door hatchback - the doors being four passenger doors and the rear hatch. The ZX5 is aimed at a slightly older and more affluent market than the ZX3, including young families with small children and people who need a practical commute car but don't want to totally abandon the driving experience. So it's placed slightly upscale of the ZX3, with a higher appointment level. It features the same 130-horsepower 2.0-liter twin-cam ``Zetec'' engine as the ZX3, ZTS sedan, and new ZTW sport wagon, and the same European-tinged suspension tuning. I've just spent a week with a new Focus ZX5. It feels very similar to the sporty ZX3, with nimble handling response and a compliant ride. The four doors improve access, and the large, well- balanced rear hatch makes for great usefulness - large items that won't easily fit into a sedan trunk slide right in. Even in standard form, the ZX5 is well-equipped, and this one was fully-loaded, with leather seats and a host of other options. If you need cargo and passenger versatility in a small (but not too small) package, the ZX5 is a good alternative to many of the small SUVs and crossovers on the market. APPEARANCE: It takes more than a glance to tell the ZX5 Focus from a ZX3. Both hatchback models share the same ``New Edge'' styling, with a curved two-box profile detailed by angular character lines. All Focus models share bodywork from the windshield forward, with a rounded hood sloping forward to a small grille flanked by large triangular headlights, and a flat ``air dam'' front fascia. The two hatchback models also share a very distinctive rear treatment, with taillights mounted high on the rather triangular C- pillar. For the detail-minded, the ZX5 has a chrome deck lid handle, while the ZX3's is black. The ZX3 and ZX5 rooflines are similar, so look closely to see that the ZX5 has four shorter doors and, consequently, different side windows. COMFORT: As is the case with the other Focus models, the ZX5's interior is as New Edge as its exterior. It combines straight lines, angles, and curves in an interesting manner, but not at the expense of easy-to-read instrumentation and easy-to-use controls. The ZX5 is very well-equipped, with power windows, mirrors, and door locks with remote entry, excellent air conditioning with five dashboard vents, a six-disc in-dash CD changer, and a tilt-and- telescope adjustable steering wheel all standard. My test car had the optional leather low-back front bucket seats. They were supportive and comfortable. Adjustment is manual, but, in addition to the usual parameters, the driver's seat is adjustable for cushion height. Ford's official measurements show that the ZX5 is the same size as the ZX3 inside, but four doors sure make access easier for rear passengers. It's also easier to deal with large, unwieldy cargo items when the rear seat is folded. And, with a 60/40 rear seat split and flip-and-fold cushions, the ZX5 is an excellent alternative to any micro-SUV in versatility, with very efficient use of interior space for its modest size. SAFETY: The 2002 Focus includes Ford's ``Personal Safety System,'' which includes an electronic crash severity detector tied to dual-stage airbags and safety harnesses with pretensioners and energy management retractors. Safety-cell chassis construction offers controlled deformation in a collision. The available ``AdvanceTrac'' vehicle dynamics control system uses electronic control of the brakes to help maintain control in extreme situations. ROADABILITY: The Focus's European heritage shows the most in its suspension, a fully-independent design with front MacPherson struts and the ``Control Blade'' multilink system in the rear. As is common in European cars, it has relative long travel, and is tuned with soft spring rates and well-matched shock damping for a comfortable, compliant ride over poor road surfaces and good handling as well. The ZX5 is as much fun as the ZX3 on a twisty road, and, again like the ZX3, is more comfortable than you might expect of a small car on the highway and around town. PERFORMANCE: Like the other sporty Focus models, the ZX5 has the 2.0-liter dual overhead cam, 16-valve ``Zetec'' engine. It makes 130 horsepower at 5300 rpm. Although maximum torque is 135 lb-ft at 4500 rpm, there is plenty at lower engine speeds for good performance around town and when passing, merging, or enjoying a favorite back road. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, and recommended for best performance. My test car had the optional four-speed automatic, which worked very well around town but was slower to downshift when accelerating at highway speeds. Still, it should fit the needs of people looking for utility more than sport just fine, and the four-door ZX5 body style is inherently utilitarian. CONCLUSIONS: The Ford Focus ZX5 combines sporty handling and utility as can only be had with a five-door hatchback. SPECIFICATIONS 2002 Ford Focus ZX5 Base Price $ 15,645 Price As Tested $ 19,620 Engine Type dual overhead cam, 16-valve inline 4- cylinder Engine Size 2.0 liters / 121 cu. in. Horsepower 130 @ 5300 rpm Torque (lb-ft) 135 @ 4500 rpm Transmission 4-speed automatic (opt) Wheelbase / Length 103.0 in. / 168.1 in. Curb Weight 2600 lbs. Pounds Per Horsepower 20 Fuel Capacity 13.2 gal. Fuel Requirement 87 octane unleaded regular gasoline Tires P205/50 R16 Brakes, front/rear vented disc / disc, rear discs and antilock std. with AdvanceTrac system Suspension, front/rear independent MacPherson strut / independent multilink Drivetrain front engine, front-wheel drive PERFORMANCE EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon city / highway / observed n/a 0 to 60 mph est. 12 sec with automatic OPTIONS AND CHARGES Automatic transaxle $ 815 AdvanceTrac system $ 1,625 Side-impact air bags $ 350 Leather low-back bucket seats $ 695 Destination and delivery $ 490