I also found that the cabin got quite noisy because of the performance-tuned exhaust. While such is the case with most cars in

The two-tone black plastic and imitation carbon-fiber trim that covered the center stack didn't flow that well. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

this class, Dodge's SRT-4 being the most aggressively tuned, it was a little much in a car sporting only 150 horsepower. Perhaps I would have liked it better if there was more grunt under my right foot. Don't get me wrong, the ST is a performance machine and needs a sporty exhaust note to enhance the driving experience, but it could have been toned down just a smidge. But on the bright side, even though the Focus doesn't offer the most attractive interior, it is an easy panel to navigate from. Looking back on a week's commuting, the Focus ST experience was mainly a positive one. As mentioned, the handling and engine are great. The many standard features, including fog lamps, air conditioning, remote keyless entry, power door locks, airbags, heated front seats and heated power mirrors, also made my test week more enjoyable. The Focus covers all the bases in standard trim, and my test car even featured more optional goodies such as a perimeter alarm ($250), a 6-disc in-dash CD changer with Ford's Audiophile stereo upgrade ($200), and side impact airbags ($500).

Fuel consumption was also commendable, at 10.4 L/100 km in the city and 6.8 L/100km on the highway. That's not bad considering how it was to get from point A to B.

If you're wondering why Ford chose to stick with its 7-year old first generation Focus architecture in bringing the

Ford stuck with the tried and true older Focus architecture for North America, instead of going with the European generation-two car. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

updated 2005 model to market, you're not the first. After all, European Ford customers get the much improved generation-two car, which shares architecture with the celebrated Mazda3 and all-new Volvo S40/V50. Just the same, in order to make sure its smallest car remains as one of the category's most reliable, Ford's domestic leaders chose to go with a proven design rather than be left working the bugs out of the new car. The last thing the domestic automaker needs is a bunch of recalls to once again tarnish its image, an image it has worked hard to repair since the inception of Focus gen-one.