Over the years I have driven many small cars – all solidly built with a reputation for reliable engines and transmissions.

So it was with considerable interest that I sampled the 1.8 litre Focus LX and the ‘hot’ three-door hatch 2.0L Zetec.

The design does attract considerable attention and knowing Ford’s reputation for clever chassis dynamics, slick gearboxes and perky engines I thought the company was on a winner.

First off the blocks was the 96 kW Zetec. You do sit a little higher than normal, while those in the back seat have reasonable leg room. Seat comfort was good although I was disappointed it was not equipped with a driver’s foot rest.

The dash is an interesting mix of triangles and curves that will appeal to the fashion conscious owner. The build quality is excellent with no squeaks or rattles. It was with some anticipation that I slipped the Zetec into first gear and drove off in Canberra’s traffic.

Oh dear – disappointment. It quickly became apparent that although the chassis dynamics was excellent and the gearbox suitably quick, the engine was a huge let down.

Compared with Alfa’s 156 and Citreon’s Xsara spirited 2L engines the Zetec was out of the competition.

I later spoke to the Ford dealer and there was discussion that the Zetec was not calibrated correctly for Australia’s fuel octane rating. It seems hard to imagine that a large company would stuff-up but I checked with other motoring writers and they had a similar experience.

This front wheel drive has the ride and handling of the top European brands. It has a very stiff chassis, the rear end is a similar design to the BA’s control blade independent rear suspension and Ford has managed to combine superb road holding with reasonable comfort.

The superbly weighted power assisted rack and pinion steering allows you excellent control.

Combine with twin air bags and optional anti-lock brakes/stability control and you are bringing together a nice package.

For those interested, have a chat to your Ford dealer and see if the company has fixed the problem. Or if you really want performance wait for the ST 170 version that thumps out 127 kW.

I also drove the manual four-door 85 kW 1.8L LX at the more reasonable price of $26,070. This model is equipped with alloy wheels, electric windows and mirrors.

You need to stir the engine to get reasonable performance but overall I thought the LX was a very good package. On the open road it is a very relaxing car to drive and even on tight roads it is a very easy and responsive car to manoeuvre.
Expect around 11 litres /100 km from the normal mix of suburban and open road driving.

Both cars are interesting packages. The LX is well worth a look while the Zetec could be a superb sport’s sedan if they fix that engine. Test cars from Ford Australia.