When the SVT Focus debuted a little over a year ago, it redefined how good a $20,000 performance car could be. With its dialed-in suspension, track-ready brakes and stout four-cylinder motor, it offered exceptional all-around performance while maintaining the everyday drivability of a typical economy car.

The introduction of a four-door version this year promised all the performance and even greater functionality. With identical dimensions and minimal weight gain, there's no performance penalty, and the additional access provided by the full-size rear doors makes it easier to get the most out of its surprisingly spacious interior.

With all that going for it, how did the SVT still only manage a third-place finish? Consider it a nod to the competition more so than a slight to the SVT. While the SVT's performance and practicality are still impressive, both the Dodge and the Mazda deliver that little extra something that makes them stand out from the crowd. There's nothing inherently wrong with the Focus, but in a category that emphasizes personality as much as performance, it's a bit of a wallflower in this group.

Nowhere was this more apparent than at the track, where the Focus struggled to keep up with its turbocharged rivals. Its 0-to-60 time of nine seconds flat put it a full second behind the next fastest car and nearly three seconds slower than the SRT-4. A 17-second quarter-mile time was also well off the pace, but the margins were smaller toward the end so it was catching up on the high side.

With 170 horsepower from its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the Focus has as much power as the Protegé (170 hp), and nearly as much as the Sentra (175 hp), but with only 145 pound-feet of torque, it can't match the Protegé (160 lb-ft) or the Sentra (180 lb-ft) in the twist department. This makes for slow getaways from a stop and a few more gear changes along the way, but as with most small engines, once you get used to where the power is, it becomes second nature to keep it wound up.

The standard six-speed gearbox makes managing the power that much easier, but the shifter itself received middling marks for its ability to find gates easily. Most often cited as "rubbery" and "vague in the gates," the SVT's shifter lacks the notchy feel that makes the Protegé and Neon so confident through the gears. The rubber-ringed handle was considered better than most and the pedal placement is nearly perfect for heel-and-toe downshifting, but numerous laps on the road course left us wishing for more precise engagement.

Even with the less-than-perfect shifter and lack of low-end grunt, the Focus still turned in some of the quickest laps on the track. Much of the credit goes to the suspension, as it allows you to push the car right up to its limit and then keep it there with only minimal corrections. The SVT has more body roll than the Protegé, better steering than the SRT and brakes that allow for lots of speed heading into corners. If there is one car in this group that would make a great driving school car, the Focus is it.

If we had to pick one of the four as a daily driver, the Focus might get the nod there, too. The seats are supportive without getting in the way, the layout is straightforward and usable at a glance, and there's plenty of room for passengers, cargo or both. As capable as the Ford is on the track, the suspension rarely feels stiff on the street, soaking up road hazards without delivering the sharp jolts that you get in the Mazda and the Dodge. The steering can be heavy at times and the exhaust is more apparent than in your average ZX3, but on the whole, the Ford feels much less like a tuner car than its competitors.

Pop the rear hatch and you have an easily accessible cargo area with no nagging speaker intrusions from stereo components. Drop the rear seats and the cargo area expands to 43 cubic feet of space, more than any of the cars in the test. Flip the seats back up and rear passengers can enjoy the most head-, shoulder and legroom of any of the four cars.

Deciding if such utility and mild manners are what you're looking for is the tough part. For some, the SVT's forgiving setup might be just the ticket. It's less likely to make you feel like you compromised comfort in the name of performance, yet when pushed hard it offers all the capability you could ask for. Novice drivers will feel like Jeff Gordon behind the wheel, while experienced pilots will marvel at the car's ability to take a thrashing.

On the other hand, those looking for all-out speed will be disappointed by its lack of straight-line acceleration. And if it's an outgoing personality you're looking for, the Focus comes up a little short in that department, too. Disregard those categories, however, and the Focus remains a solid choice that's bound to impress you more often than it leaves you wishing for more.

Second Opinions:

Editor in Chief Karl Brauer says:
We were fortunate enough to have both a three-door and five-door SVT Focus during this comparison test (those SVT guys are awfully generous). While the three-door went up against a Mini Cooper S, the five-door slotted perfectly into our "sub-$20,000 performance sedan" category. You'd expect the two Foci to feel essentially identical, what with their common platform, suspension components and drivetrain. But while the three-door felt like a capable and well-rounded pocket rocket, the five-door seemed more "relaxed."

Our sensations were backed up by the hard numbers, where the five-door model was about half a second slower to 60 mph and through the quarter-mile than its hatchback brethren. It also leaned over far enough to allow contact between the fender wells and tires when performing hot laps. Despite these issues, the ZX5 managed quicker lap times than both the three-door version and (slightly) better times than the Mazdaspeed Protegé. It lagged behind the SRT-4 and was about equal to the SE-R Spec V for lap times, but that's saying a lot considering the SVT's relatively slow acceleration figures compared to the Nissan and Dodge. Basically, the car's predictable nature, wide power band and excellent brakes made up for its lack of straight-line punch.

Like the three-door, the five-door Focus offers exceptional utility while being easy to live with on a daily basis. It's not the flashiest or the fastest, but may be the most functional.