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At the moment, the Focus slots into Ford’s lineup between the Escort and Contour, although in truth, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it supplant both once it catches on.

Why? Well, it has more room than the Contour, costs little more than an Escort and has a fun-to-drive factor that exceeds both. The longer I drove it the more I found myself comparing it to more expensive cars.

Focus started out in Europe, where it has racked up nearly half a million sales in a year. It speaks to a new genre of small car, one whose taller-than-usual profile accommodates people more comfortably because they sit upright like a dining-room chair instead of a recliner. The 103-inch wheelbase aids ride quality as well as interior volume.

Focus is spacious and athletic beyond what one would expect for a car in this segment. It doesn’t look, feel or drive like an entry-level economy car, despite the fact that prices start at $12,280 for the ZX3 hatchback and range to $15,795 for the SE four-door wagon.

The four-door sedan that is likely to be the volume leader is available in LX, SE and ZTS trim levels. The LX starts at $12,540, the SE at $13,980 and the ZTS at $15,580. I drove both an SE and a ZTS, but I spent the majority of my time in a ZTS during a weekend trip that covered about 1,000 miles.

I was impressed with the firm way it held the road and the wonderfully communicative steering, not to mention a level of comfort greater than its price would suggest. I recorded an average fuel usage of 30 mpg while cruising with the flow of traffic, which often exceeded 70 mph.

There are two 2.0-liter engines offered: a split-port, single-overhead-cam unit with 110 horsepower in the LX and SE, and a four-valve, dual-overhead-cam unit with 130 horsepower in the ZX3 and ZTS. The former engine has its roots in the Escort, while the latter is used in Contour.

The 110-horsepower engine was certainly adequate, but a lack of torque meant downshifts were required for climbing hills or passing on two-lane roads.

The ZTS’s more powerful engine provides considerably more fun than the SE’s 110-horse unit, but I found it to be noisier and harsher than the smaller engine in spite of changes to smooth it out.

Independent suspension both front and rear gives a supple ride that has a decidedly sporty feel. The ZTS, in particular, was free from wallow and bounce both in turns and at high speeds.

Standard equipment on the ZTS included woodgrain trim, AM/FM/CD stereo, alloy wheels, keyless entry and power windows, mirrors and locks.

Other items, such as tether attachments for child safety seats, a rear seat that can be folded down to make a flat load floor and optional side-impact airbags only heighten its appeal.

Styling is a key to the Focus. Cat-eye headlights and creased edges reflect Ford’s New Edge design philosophy. The hatchback’s decidedly European look may take a while to win over conservative buyers, bu t the sedan and wagon should not have a problem.

But more important, really, is an interior whose design is both playful and functional. Fresh-air vents are artfully crafted, as are power window buttons textured with tiny dots. The center section of the instrument panel curves out toward the driver in a bold arc, moving controls closer to the driver for easier reach.

Instrumentation is large and clear, while the thick, leather-covered steering wheel feels just right because it tilts and telescopes, something not usually found in a car in this price range.

Cupholders are large and placed conveniently at the front of the center console, which even has a slot for a pen or pencil next to the driver’s seat.

The radio’s push buttons can be taken off and carried in your pocket as a deterrent to theft. Even if someone took the stereo, it would not work without its buttons.

The ZTS seats were pretty comfortable, although I wished for more lower back support a ter six hours on the road. I also thought the outside mirrors were a bit on the small side.

The rear roof pillar hinders backing up in parking lots.

Around back, the trunk is quite generous, and it contains releases for the rear seat backs so they can be folded down at the same time you are loading up your gear.

Focus reflects the next big trend in small-car design: Good gas mileage, artful design and sporty performance need not be the province of expensive cars. Whether American buyers respond to such sensible thinking when gasoline is cheaper than bottled water is a question yet to be answered.

Price

The Focus ZTS has a base price of $15,580. Our test car’s options of floor mats, side-impact airbags and an ashtray brought the sticker price to $16,000.

Warranty

Three years or 36,000 miles.

Point: Focus packages space for five adults into a small footprint because it has a tall roofline and a relatively long wheelbase. It rides like a bigger car, handles athletically and looks fresh.

Counterpoint: The 130-horsepower engine can be a bit noisy, the outside mirrors seemed small and I would like more lower back support in the front seats.

SPECIFICATIONS:
ENGINE: 2.0-liter, 4-cyl.
TRANSMISSION: Five-speed
CONFIGURATION: Front-wheel-drive
WHEELBASE: 103 inches
CURB WEIGHT: 2,564 lbs.
BASE PRICE: $15,580
PRICE AS DRIVEN: $16,000
MPG RATING: 25 city, 33 hwy.