--free for the most part, which inspires plenty of confidence. The ride is firm but doesn't torture drivers, and the bolstered seats hold passengers' bodies in place, although I found them uncomfortable at more sedate speeds.

Despite a lack of paddle shifters, the automatic matched the engine well in Sport mode (Sport mode needs to be engaged to allow drivers to shift for themselves), although it didn't provide much engine braking on downhill runs. Sport mode does allow for slightly more responsive shifting, especially when downshifting to give acceleration a boost.

Speaking of acceleration, while the Focus is stronger than the Fiesta, it still needs a few more ponies. It's quick, but one must really dig into the throttle and keep the revs up to get the best performance. There's enough guts for urban duty, but heavy-footed drivers will want a bit more power.

Switching into the manual-transmission hatchback, I found that despite smaller wheels (16 inches versus 18) the handling characteristics were similar.

Same goes for acceleration. In play mode, the best way to shift is to keep the tranny in one of the lower three gears and keep the revs up--fourth and fifth are strictly for cruising. And for obtaining maximum fuel economy.

Speaking of which, Ford is claiming up to 40 m.p.g. highway with the automatic. The EPA hasn't gotten around to verifying those claims yet, but based on the numbers my drive partner and I saw via the trip computer, that's certainly possible. We were achieving a range from the low to upper 20s while pushing the car hard in the canyons and later struggling against L.A. traffic.

Ford is trying to push high-tech with the Focus, and outside of MyFordTouch and Sync, other available features include a park-assist system, ambient lighting, HD radio with iTunes tagging, a torque-vectoring system, a push-button start, and a rearview camera.

It's clear that Focus is trying to claim the "sport" crown in the C-segment. The Cruze is a solid vehicle, but it's far more mainstream than the Focus, with a focus (pun intended) on being all things to all buyers.

The redesigned 2011 Hyundai Elantra represents value, and Toyota is still pushing the reliability mantra with the Corolla.

That means enthusiast buyers might wind up cross-shopping the

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