While most Focus buyers won't test their cars on the roads around Mont Tremblant like I did, or for that matter on a world-class

The Focus offers four body styles in order to appeal to a large cross-section of buyers, many of which tune the car for increased performance. This Saleen Focus, featuring a quarter ton of Sony Xplod audio equipment, was a blast to drive. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

racetrack, it should come as some comfort to know that the same car which carries their kids to and from school, and then gets them safely to work and back is capable of avoiding a potential accident if called upon. That's the true benefit of an agile suspension, and probably the single most important safety feature next to a course in defensive driving. Of course, the Focus comes standard with passive safety features too, such as three-point seatbelts all-round with pretensioners up front and the LATCH child safety seat system in back, as well as a protection system Ford dubs APSS, for Advanced Personal Safety System, which uses a variety of sensors to optimize the dual-stage front airbag deployment. Optional front side-impact airbags are available too, but its athletic chassis and available antilock brakes,

Focus can be had with some pretty exclusive luxury add-ons and safety options. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

combined with optional four-wheel discs, can make it so such passive safety systems are never needed. And like its safety features, the Focus can be had with some pretty exclusive luxury add-ons such as leather and suede seats, a power glass sunroof, an AM/FM Sony Audiophile sound system with an in-dash 6CD changer and MP3 player capability, and much more.

So, while the Focus might offer a high level of standard and optional equipment, deliver better than average driving dynamics and pretty good perceived quality, the touchy-feely aspect of a car's interior and exterior, wouldn't you be better served to purchase an Asian import? After all, Honda and Toyota epitomize reliability, as well as safety and fuel economy.