2003 Ford Focus Review
2003 Ford Focus Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Thoughtful ergonomics, large interior, smooth ride, sharp steering, impressive selection of body configurations and features.
Cons
- Seats aren't comfortable for everyone, below-average reliability.
What’s new
Minor changes are in store for the 2003 Ford Focus. Two new trim levels increase the breadth of prices for Ford's economy car; a base trim for the three door hatchback renders air conditioning optional and only comes with a manual transmission. For the five door hatchback, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, front reading lights and a center console are available when you step up to the comfort trim level from the base level. Heated front seats are a new option, as is a traction control and ABS package. New colors for the exterior brighten up the color palette, and the interior is freshened with two new fabric trims. Finally, a CD/MP3 player is now standard on the ZX3 and ZX5. A SVT version of the ZX5 is also scheduled to appear later in the year.
Edmunds says
The 2003 Ford Focus is a wonderful small car that's fun to drive, frugal with fuel and offered in such a wide variety of configurations it would be hard not to find one that suits your needs.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2003 Ford Focus ZX3 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$174/mo for Focus ZX3
Focus ZX3
vs
$179/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Vehicle overview
"Smart design and spirited driving" were the guiding forces behind the development of the Focus. It debuted in 2000 with "New Edge" styling, a roomy interior and excellent road manners. These qualities, plus a wide variety of configurations, have made the Focus the best small car from a domestic manufacturer. It falls behind the Civic and Corolla in terms of refinement and reliability, but the 2003 Ford Focus is still worth considering for a fun and functional small car.
Performance & mpg
The base drivetrain for LX models is a 2.0-liter 110-horsepower four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission driving the front wheels. This same drivetrain is standard in SE sedans, but ZTS sedans, along with wagons and hatchbacks, get a more powerful 130-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine as standard equipment. A four-speed automatic is optional. Both engines provide adequate power, though the higher-output motor is the clear choice for enthusiasts. Still not enough? Then maybe you should consider the SVT Focus. Based on the ZX3, this hot hatch puts out 170 horsepower and is equipped with an exclusive six-speed manual transmission. The SVT Focus also comes with 17-inch wheels, oversize four-wheel disc brakes and a sport-tuned suspension to keep it glued to the road.
Safety
For safety, the Focus has ABS, traction control and stability control as optional equipment. NHTSA crash test scores for the ZX3 are good with the car earning four stars in frontal impacts and front side-impacts. The rear side-impact test, however, resulted in a very poor one-star rating for the ZX3. However, the ZX5 and wagon also scored four stars for rear side impacts. In frontal offset testing (conducted by the IIHS), the Focus has earned a "Good" score.
Driving
Regardless of trim, the 2003 Ford Focus offers a smooth ride quality and above-average handling ability. The four-wheel fully independent suspension allows for noticeable body roll while cornering, but the Focus stays planted and inspires confidence. The steering system is surprisingly quick, fluid and responsive, always providing plenty of feedback from the road surface. Our experience with our long-term ZX3 has proven to be more than satisfactory, and the SVT Focus, with its aftermarket-sounding exhaust, short-throw shifter and optional audiophile sound system has proven to be our favorite sport compact hatchback.
Interior
The Focus is roomy for its class, offering generous accommodations for its front and rear passengers. Inside you'll find plenty of headroom. Some options usually not found in this segment include an in-dash six-disc CD changer, MP3 player and a stability control system. Some may find the asymmetrical dash layout odd, but the well-dampened controls and correct ergonomic placement should forgive any faults.
2003 Ford Focus models
The 2003 Ford Focus is available in four body styles: a three-door ZX3 hatchback, a five-door ZX5 hatchback, a sedan and a wagon. The sedan can be ordered in one of three trim levels, starting with the base LX model and going up to the midlevel SE and highline ZTS trim. Wagons are available in SE or ZTW trim. The ZX3 can be had in base, premium or power premium trim, while the ZX5 allows for the choice between base, comfort and premium models. There's also the high-performance SVT Focus, which is based on the ZX3.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2003 Ford Focus.
5 star(61%)
4 star(22%)
3 star(11%)
2 star(5%)
1 star(1%)
361 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4 out of 5 stars
Focus for average people
connemara, 11/29/2012
2003 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
Cheap to buy used, good solid reliability, few issues, good mileage, fun to drive, very easy to service
5 out of 5 stars
Clear sailing
matthewew, 03/26/2013
2003 Ford Focus ZTW 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
I love this car.
The only issue is that it is rough on tires.
I normally get about 40K out of a 60K tire.
I average 26-27mpg in the winter and 29-32mpg the rest of the year.
I have 149900 miles on my car.
I have not experienced many of the issues that others have, but then I bought mine new and know what it has gone through.
If you do the maintenance when the owner's manual says to do it … then you will have very few problems.
Word to drivers the rotors are not the best, but the pads are really good so if you have worn out your brake pads, that is on you.
I went 89K before having to change rotors and it was a mountain pass that did in the rear brake pads.
4.5 out of 5 stars
More fun than expected
driven1320, 03/10/2013
2003 Ford Focus ZX3 Premium 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
I knew what I wanted initially: a small hatchback with good mpg and a manual trans.
However, I never expected to like it this much.
The old saying that its more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow... this car nails it.
Driving around town I find this car more satisfying than my 400hp Mustang.
Its reasonably peppy, doesn't have to be revved, and with the addition of a … stiffer rear swaybar, the handling is a blast.
Tons of room too.
On one trip I managed 3 people and a 50" tv.
On another, a full dresser.
It's got 140k miles on it, so a few things are starting to go, but I'd say its held up incredibly well.
Couldn't be happier with my purchase!
4 out of 5 stars
Reliable Vehicle For its Class
John, 02/23/2018
2003 Ford Focus SE 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
I purchased my 2003 Focus Wagon used with just over 60,000 miles in June 2011 when the car was about 8 years old. In the 7 years I have owned the car I have added 120,000 miles for a total of just over 180,000 miles on the original equipment. Given my propensity for clocking what many would call excessive miles per year, it is only understandable I have had a higher maintenance cost. … For example, in October 2015, I changed the timing belt at just under 120K. In less than 2-1/2 years I added another 60K, or a little over 26K per year. For me, that's easy. Where I live, everything is a long-distance commute. I don't know what the previous owner did to the vehicle; I bought it as-is and immediately had necessary but normal maintenance items performed. Other than regular oil changes, fuel filters, air filter, struts and an alternator -- all normal wear and tear items - I have experienced no unexpected hard part failures. The original engine and transmission have served well over the last 7 years, though at 180K the engine has sprung a leak. Having previously lived in a climate with extremes of cold and hot temps, I am not surprised that the motor mounts have begun to crack, increasing engine vibration. To be honest, there are some things about this car I do not like, chiefly poor fuel economy (compared to yesteryear's Japanese imports), poor sound insulation from road noise, the front-end turn signal lights are too much in the center, and an instrumentation cluster that does not provide any useful and preventative information concerning the vehicles day-by-day condition. Also, it's acceleration is not as quick as I would like, but for a vehicle in its class, I think it does well enough. But this is an economy car, not an F-18 fighter jet, and while I may yet wish for many gauges and a Heads-Up-Display with Infrared to see through snow, I am aware of the reality that you get what you pay for; with that in mind, I like my Focus. In fact, I like the wagon so much so, I am willing to repair my oil leak not by fixing the leak itself ($2k) and leaving the old engine and transmission in place, but by pro-actively installing a brand new OEM engine, remanufactured transmission, cross-members, struts, hub assemblies, alternator, water pump, power steering pump, radiator, new wires, and a few other items for $12K -- rather than scrap the car and buy someone else's problem. Some people, I am certain, will think I am certifiably insane. Did I mention I like my wagon?
2003 Focus Highlights
Wagon
SE
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $17,280 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 24 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $177/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 37.5 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger1 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalPoor
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintMarginal
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