2009 Ford Focus Coupe SES
By Marc Noordeloos, Joe DeMatio, Phil Floraday, Rusty Blackwell
I followed a 2003 (or thereabouts) Focus hatchback into work today. As I pondered that unique-looking small car, I couldn't help thinking that Ford has really killed all the funky fun of the Focus. Gone is the unique exterior and interior styling, and even the historically fabulous Focus chassis has now been softened up to suit old-school American tastes. Sure, the new Focus goes down the road with a decent level of refinement, but where did the fun go? It is going to take more than SYNC to bring the import-loving buyer into a small Ford. The forthcoming Fiesta and third-generation Focus can't come soon enough.
Marc Noordeloos, Road Test Editor