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I was photographing the 2009 Ford Focus coupe when an older gentleman walked up and commented on its styling. Although he got out of a nicely equipped midsize sedan, he said he was interested in the Focus for its fuel economy and smart looks.

Retirees are not exactly the target audience for the Focus coupe, but my experience was an indication of how the automotive marketplace is changing. Last summer’s high gas prices, plus the recent decline in the economy, have made less-expensive cars more appealing to buyers of all ages.

Although the Focus sold in this country is not nearly as stylish, roomy or advanced as the one Ford sells in Europe, it was freshened with a new face in 2008. The coupe has a new front fascia, 17-inch sport wheels and fog lamps.

In addition to having an updated design, the Focus is available with Sync, an industry-first application that offers hands-free operation of cell phones and music players. The car’s Bluetooth technology allows it to communicate with up to six phones, and a USB port at the bottom of the dash connects music or media players directly to the car so that they can be operated with voice commands.

Focus prices start at $14,595 for the sedan and $16,180 for the coupe. I drove an SES that had a base price of $17,570.

The Focus exterior retains the previous model’s basic body structure. The grille now looks similar to the Fusion’s, and the body’s side panels have been stamped with a new character line. On upper models, a small chrome grille that looks like an air outlet is located behind the front wheel. Front and rear fascias are completely new, too.

Settle into the Focus and you’re greeted with a nicely fashioned instrument panel that has bright gauges and a center stack with logically arranged controls for the audio system. When the Focus was redesigned last year, emphasis was placed on updating the interior. While the speedometer and tachometer have light blue lighting that is easy on the eyes, the typography and graphics seemed too large and a bit overdone. The gauges looked much better at night.

The optional interior lighting package gives the driver the option of changing colors of the LEDs that light the cup holders and footwells. That’s a nice touch that makes night driving more comfortable.

Dual power outlets are located at the bottom, along with a row of wide, flat buttons that control the information system, traction control and the interior lighting. The knobs for the radio and climate control are somewhat unusual in that their outside rings rotate around fixed centers.

A window atop the center of the dash displays audio information at eye level. The center stack has sleeker controls and two power outlets for accessories.

Thicker side glass and a new acoustic windshield help reduce road noise. Additional soundproofing includes closed-cell foam in the dash and sound-deadening material that is incorporated into the door trim, rear pillars and behind the rear seat.

For most states, the Focus will be equipped with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder rated at 140 horsepower for the sedan and 143 horsepower for the coupe. A 130-horsepower engine that qualifies as a partial zero emissions vehicle is required in California, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine. The PZEV engine is also a limited option in states that border those listed.

The coupe’s 143-horsepower engine felt reasonably lively with the five-speed manual transmission. The mileage rating is 24 in the city and 35 on the highway. According to the car’s trip computer, I exceeded that mileage in the city but was not able to quite match the highway mileage on a road trip.

To reach Tom Strongman, send e-mail to tom@tomstrongman.com.