CD Article: 2006 Ford Focus ZX5 SES

[Wolfe]

Interesting that Dodge has gone from a sedan SRT-4 to a hatchback, while Ford is going from a hatchback SVT to a sedan "sport" (not a true SVT ). And I agree, with the 170hp Focus @ $30 000, the Dodge SRT-4 with ~230 (?) horsepower was a far better value.

In a hp/dollar sense the SRT-4 beat the SVT Focus hands down. I'd bet the Focus was the better handling car of the two, though I never drove the SRT-4.

[Cord]

It does seem odd that Ford didn't make the 2.3 ST variant out of the ZX5. It would seem the more natural "sporty" configuration. The ZX3 has never been a good seller so I can understand why they would forget about it.

This sounds like a pretty positive review for the Focus. Really the only negative is the reviewers insinuation that it is overpriced. Of course, that just reveals an inherent flaw in almost all auto reviews. The only pricing usually considered is MSRP when we all know that the selling price of many cars including the Focus can be significantly less than MSRP.