2002 Ford Focus - Massaged By Europeans

Scanning the interior of the Ford Focus for the first time I tapped the dash plastic looking for shoddy workmanship to complain about. I'd heard from colleagues that the Focus was good, thus I was feeling particularly critical. I clicked the switchgear and opened and closed compartments, gripped the steering wheel, shifted the 5-speed transmission and fiddled with the radio and HVAC controls half expecting, half hoping to be under-whelmed.

It's no secret that American manufacturers have been playing catch-up to the Japanese and Europeans in the small car market over the last few decades. That said the Focus originates from Ford's European division and comes to our shores virtually unchanged - unlike the Escort that preceded it. After my first few hours behind the wheel I was sold. Ford has officially caught up in the small car war - and in many ways surpassed its competition!

Inside, organic curves meld with industrial edginess for a tastefully artistic interior design. Function follows form with intuitive placement of controls including a power mirror toggle on the 'A' pillar, ironically beside the mirror, and power window switches canted to face the driver in a neat, tidy package, each button indented to accept the tip of the finger. Interior plastics are excellent for this class as is fit and finish. I was most impressed by the tactile quality of the switches. In particular the three dials comprising heating and ventilation function have rubberized knobs and click in precise increments.