Engineered in Europe and brought to America to replace the Escort in 2000, the Ford Focus is a deft handler with excellent grip provided by meaty P205/50 Pirelli P6 tires mounted to handsome 16-inch alloy wheels (SES and ST models). The body rolls in turns, and the ride quality is a bit stiff, but otherwise the Focus is actually fun to drive. Pitch it into a corner and once the body keels over the Pirellis dig in, squealing just a little bit but providing impressive stick. The brake pedal feels good underfoot and the four-wheel-disc ABS scrubs speed quickly, while the steering offers crisp response and better road feel than is expected in this class. The Focus is a breeze to parallel park, too, with a tight turning radius and corners that are relatively easy to judge.