OUR TAKE: More than enough has already been written about how this isn't the "new" Focus, but a retread on a retread while Europeans drive a car based on the new Mazda 3. True, of course, but that doesn't tell you much about the car in Ford showroom.
It's not just a retread on a retread but an example of "continuous improvement," something Detroit companies supposedly don't do as well as their competitors. This two-door coupe, a model choice Mazda doesn't offer, isn't exactly swoopy but looks handsome enough and we're glad it doesn't wear that chrome air-vent goiter featured on the front fenders of sedans. Like many who fondly remember the Focus SVT hatchback, we wish they'd kept that three-door hatchback configuration in the mix and the all-out sporting mission of that particular model. the SES has stiffer suspension and bigger tires on alloy wheels, but lacks the upgraded engine mojo that the SVT edition had. It's the sportiest of today's lot of Foci, and will serve many well. As a starting place for a tuner, it's actually better than that old three-door.
That is, while we miss the SVT, we can't help but note how much better this car is by most criteria--it's better built, with higher-grade materials and better fit and finish inside, and comes with a competitive mix of standard features at a good price. A better than good price just now, of course, with rebates and every other trick Ford can throw out there to get people in the door. But even on an MSRP-to-MSRP basis, this car offers a strong value in the segment. the obvious choice here would be a Honda Civic, but it would come at a premium.
While the Chevrolet Cobalt has certainly advanced over the Cavalier even farther than the Focus has done in the same time period, the Chevy had a lot farther to go to become competitive. Better small cars are on the near-term horizon from both firms, but if we were buying domestic-brand compacts today we'd give the nod to the Ford over the Chevy and completely dismiss the Caliber.
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