Consumer Car Review and Guide: 2007 Ford Focus

At just over $13,000 MSRP and 27 miles to the gallon the Ford Focus is very attractive. It comes in five body styles. I test drove the 2007 Ford Focus 3 door/hatchback. The Ford Focus presented with two of my three priorities for this particular purchase: gas mileage and price.

The 16 valve, 4 cylinder car engine is a 2.0L Duratec 20 DOHC with multi-port fuel injection. This translates into awesome gas mileage, but no pickup. The "get up and go" got up and went. At 30 seconds I could accelerate to only 30-35 mph. By 60 seconds the Focus was in the mid 40mph range.

That sounds okay for a kid's first car. The Ford Focus doesn't offer too much power and it is easy to handle. Slow acceleration eliminates the temptation to race. On the other hand, pulling into traffic has to be done quickly and efficiently. There are a number of interstates and other merging traffic areas in the city. Crossing traffic is often tricky and dangerous. The Ford Focus cannot get the job done.

The Ford Focus handles well. On 15" wheels, with Pirelli tires it feels stable and takes curves well. It rides, however, like a rattle trap. I've had smoother go-cart rides. It seems like I felt every bump in the road. As a passenger in the Ford Focus it reminded me of riding in a Dodge Neon, another car that rides like a wheel barrow. If you are looking for a comfortable ride, mark the 2007 Ford Focus off your list.

There is a moderate amount of leg room in the front, with a hydraulic adjustable seat on the driver side, and manual adjustable seat on the passenger side. Back seat room is minimal. Cargo space in the Focus is adequate.

If you need a car to get from point A to point B, you may want to consider the Ford Focus. I had one more thing on my mind: safety. The Focus had front airbags. That's all it had to offer in terms of safety.