Overview & Reviews

Minor changes are in store for the 2003 Ford Focus. Two new trim levels increase the breadth of prices for Ford's economy car; a base trim for the three door hatchback renders air conditioning optional and only comes with a manual transmission. For the five door hatchback, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, front reading lights and a center console are available when you step up to the comfort trim level from the base level. Heated front seats are a new option, as is a traction control and ABS package. New colors for the exterior brighten up the color palette, and the interior is freshened with two new fabric trims. Finally, a CD/MP3 player is now standard on the ZX3 and ZX5. A SVT version of the ZX5 is also scheduled to appear later in the year.

• Thoughtful ergonomics, large interior, smooth ride, sharp steering, impressive selection of body configurations and features.

User Reviews:

Showing 291 through 300 of 353.00

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  Quite Impressive - 2003 Ford Focus
  By jason_vat - March 7 - 10:00 am

  We purchased an 03 ZTS w/auto transmission about 2 months ago and Im very impressed with the car. Very comfortable and the MP3/CD stereo is GREAT! Everything seems to be laid out in a manner that is useful and comfortable for the driver. Best car in the price range for sure, it handles better than most cars that cost 10k more. We did have to have some warranty work on a small spot on the bumper where the clearcoat seemed to be missing, but the dealer fixed it quickly and professionally.

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  What an oustanding vehicle - 2003 Ford Focus
  By ajpuckett - February 23 - 2:00 am

  After 5 months and 6000 miles I am very happy with this car. The best thing about it by far is its exceptional handling. It is so much fun to drive that I often drive it unnecessarily. The acceleration is nothing to write home about but about as good as all the other cars in this class. The sound system rocks even without the six-speaker/subwoofer/6-disc changer upgrade. I can only imagine how great the other system sounds. It gets great fuel economy, I average about 33 mpg on the highway and 25 in the city. I test drove almost 10 different cars in this class before choosing a Focus, and only Mazda Protege came close to being this much fun to drive.

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  SVT Plays No Games - 2003 Ford Focus
  By Guy McFadden - February 17 - 2:00 am

  I work in a body shop and there we had an SVT Ford Focus ZX3 and it in the shop for repairs. Looking at the car on the lift, I was amazed at the transformation of the suspension of the vehicle MAN! I was impressed. To expand my curiosity I opened the hood and as soon as I saw the prim and propper set up of the engine and the sound I said im diffinitly going to buy this car and I did.

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  Not bad so far - 2003 Ford Focus
  By BadAndy - February 17 - 2:00 am

  The Good: Spacious Front/Trunk. Premium Sound with mp3/cd player. Thoughtful moveable driver hand rest/item bin. Power everything AND Cruise control. 6 speed int. wiper. 24/27 mpg w AC, 30/33 mpg w/o AC. Low/Mid highway road noise. The Bad: Gear change hangs/jerks from zero to low-very annoying, thoughtful hand rest not so thoughtful for bigger people (gets in way of seatbelt buckle when down). Trunk lid doesn’t pop all the way up, gets very uncomfortable after long period of driving. The Ugly: The gear change ratio makes an otherwise very peppy, sprightly car feel grossly underpowered.

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  A beautiful hypochondriac girlfriend. - 2003 Ford Focus
  By gukin - February 11 - 10:00 am

  We started off well, me and my orange Euro appearance SVT when the clutch starting making odd sounds around 6000 miles. I brought it into the dealer where he replaced the clutch & flywheel. He also borked the exhaust system, alignment, and shift linkage. I brought it back because my SVT steered like a cow and the dealer aligned it and "balanced" the tires. He actually "unbalanced" the tire and now my car shakes like a paint mixer. The shift linkage broke three miles from home so I drove at 6000 RPM in first gear. The dealer repaired the shifter but crashed the front-end which now squeaks like an old rocking chair. Ford built it badly and the dealer has finished it off.

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  ZTS not too bad! - 2003 Ford Focus
  By Kurt S - January 24 - 10:00 am

  After driving an SUV for the last 5 years, I had forgotten just how much fun a small car can be to drive. The suspension is softer than i expected, but the 4 wheel disc brakes (part of the advance-trac package, are superb, and the Zetec motor, while a little short on horsepower is fun to rev out and has a really wide powerband. the gas mileage has been astoundingly good, despite driving it quickly up in the winding mountain roads west of Denver.

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  my excellent car - 2003 Ford Focus
  By edman - January 24 - 10:00 am

  this car is great, make more cars like it and make more after market parts thank you.

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  Focus SE 2003 4 door model - 2003 Ford Focus
  By gerd knaak - December 24 - 3:20 pm

  Reliable car, fun to drive with the Pirelli tires. Good handling, sluggish automatic transmission. Mileage in town not that great for a small car. Excellent 5 disk CD stereo. Should have more power for a 2 L engine.

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  Mach Edition - 2003 Ford Focus
  By kt928 - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Last summer I purchased a mach edition ZTS and I have never regretted it! I havent had a single problem with my car and every person whos been in it has been astounded about the roominess of the interior. It can turn on a dime and corner like no car Ive ever driven. If youre looking for a small car that is a lot of fun to drive, look no further.

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  2003 focus - 2003 Ford Focus
  By blvd4by - October 24 - 10:00 am

  do not really know yet but apppears to be well built fairly comfortable pretty quick but a little slow off the line