The 2003 Ford Focus continued to struggle with the line's reputation for quality issues and recalls. Despite its somewhat checkered history, the roomy interiors, smooth handling, and affordable price of the Focus line continued to appeal to American drivers looking for compact family transportation.

Buyers had a choice of several trims: the SE line, available in four-door wagon and sedan body models; a four-door LX sedan; and the performance-enhanced Z-line, which featured a two-door ZX3 hatchback, a four-door ZX5 hatchback, a four-door ZTS sedan and a four-door ZTW wagon. (The Focus was also offered as an SVT performance model, which you'll find elsewhere on this site.)

The standard models of the 2003 Ford Focus had a 2.0 liter, four-cylinder Zetec engine, which produced 110 horsepower; the Z-line models offered an enhanced overhead-cam version, which packed a more impressive 130 horsepower. Still, it wasn't power that was going to draw buyers to this line; value was the watchword that Ford emphasized in its marketing, and value was what people responded to.

The 2003 Ford Focus gives good value at the pumps, too, with 21-27 mpg city, 25-36 mpg highway. It may not set your heart aflutter, but it's easy on the pocketbook!