2005 Ford Focus ZX4 ST

As entry-level sedans go, few can touch Ford's Focus on the fun-to-drive front, and for 2005, the fun dials are being twisted even further. Both 2.0-liter engines from last year (the 110-horsepower two-valver and the 130-horse DOHC Zetec) are replaced by a de-bored 136-horse, 2.0-liter version of the all-aluminum Mazda-designed 2.3-liter that critics have been raving about. Front and rear styling is tweaked, with a larger grille and taller front fenders (so they can be seen while parking). Tires, wheels, and front brake rotors all go up an inch in diameter this year. The interior has been revised with a more conventional-looking dash and door panels, plus supportive new seats.

All the body styles remain (three- and five-door hatches, sedan, wagon), with most available in S, SE, or SES trim levels. The exciting one is the new ZX4 ST sedan, which gets the 151-horsepower, 2.3-liter Duratec four and a five-speed manual. Front struts and rear shocks are cribbed from the discontinued SVT Focus and are 50 percent stiffer than those on the base sedan. Rear discs with ABS replace the standard drums, and five-spoke alloy wheels are wrapped in grippy, 16-inch Pirelli rubber.

We flogged an ST sedan mercilessly across lower Michigan's twistiest tarmac and came away impressed by its blend of deft dynamics and supple ride. Combine this with a stated reduction in warranty claims and an increase in JD Power quality ratings, and the Focus starts to look like a sensible and fun choice at $13,550 for a ZX3 S or $18,250 for a ZX4 ST.