European heritage reveals itself mainly in the 2003 Ford Focus’ crisp cornering ability and in its roomy, upright, ergonomically oriented interior. The ZX3 is frisky on the road with its manual shift, and it accelerates eagerly from a standstill. It is quite spirited for passing and merging. The hatchback is highly maneuverable and fun to drive. The smooth clutch action and a gearbox that works fairly easily contribute to driving enjoyment.