Offer the basics and please the people. The Focus sedan covers the basics—sufficient power for the car’s size, easy handling, and meaningful fuel economy. But this four-door (sold in S, SE, SES and SEL trims) can be decked out in a state beyond normal. Rather than settle on stagnation, the sedan peps with additional purpose when fitted with new-for-2009 Focus SES options: 17-inch wheels and a tweaked suspension. Bumping up the Focus SES’ standard 16-inch tire/wheel size makes for a better behaving sedan. Add the optional electronic stability control—a new 2009 model year option on all Focus models—and the driving gets even better. The front wheel drive Focus sedan is powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that produces 143 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 140 pounds-feet of torque at 6000 rpm. That’s not an overabundance of speed-strength, but it’s more than adequate to handle passing maneuvers. Inside the SES is a cabin that underscores items of relevancy, including a steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, SYNC to link up hand-held electronic devices inside the car as well as thorax side airbags and side air curtains. Focus SES with the optional four-speed automatic transmission garners per gallon fuel economy of 24 city and 33 highway. MSRP of the Ford Focus SES is $17,570.