Introduced at the turn of the century, the first Ford Focus was a pretty good car. It was fun to drive, versatile and available in a wide range of body styles. But as the years went on, newer and more polished rivals relegated it to mid-pack status. Not so with the current-generation Focus, which debuted for 2012 and ranks among the best picks in the compact car segment. Major reasons to consider the 2014 Ford Focus sedan and hatchback include sprightly performance, an upscale interior, a refined ride and excellent fuel economy. Another key attribute is the Focus' abundance of available high-tech convenience features. One such luxury-like standout is the automated parallel parking system that can neatly slip the car into a curbside spot without the driver ever touching the steering wheel. And of course there's Ford's Sync system, one of the first voice control systems to be offered in any car. The MyFord Touch interface (which consists of configurable control screens), meanwhile, has drawn mixed reviews. Upon its debut, the system was rather finicky to use, and although Ford has improved it through software updates, it remains slow and prone to glitches. Even if technology isn't a priority for you, the fact that Ford offers a choice of hatchback and sedan body styles, as well as a wide range of trim levels, should give the Focus plenty of appeal. There are even all-electric and high-performance variants. The former, the Focus Electric, is propelled by a 107-kilowatt (143-horsepower) electric motor and can be recharged in about four hours from a 240-volt power source. Owners of the electric Focus can keep tabs on its charging state via smartphone integration. (The high-performance Focus ST is covered in a separate review.)