Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2000

Small Sedan

Winner: Ford Focus

Focus? Never heard of it, you say? Don't worry; it's brand-new! Built by Ford, the Focus has performed a giant cannonball dive into the wading pool of small sedans. Not only have our initial impressions been good enough to elevate the Focus to the top of the best Small Sedan category, but we'd also say that it's Ford's best small car ever. What impresses us about the Focus is its intelligent design and how it surpasses expectations. The interior offers considerable room and comfort and the handling and steering actually make the Focus fun to drive. Safety has been addressed with a stiff body structure, standard front airbags, and optional side airbags. Trim levels for the sedan are LX, SE and ZTS. The LX and SE use a 110-horsepower engine for power, while a 130-horsepower engine is optional on the SE and standard on the ZTS. The MSRPs start at $12,125 for the LX Sedan and end up at $15,165 for the ZTS. For the money, you'll be hard pressed to find another sedan that offers as much as the Focus.