2005 Ford Focus ZXW SES Road Test

So now that Ford has raised its standards, I get to strap myself into a fully equipped weekend-warrior Ford Focus ZXW

One of the other first impressions that didn't sit well with me was the driver's seat. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

SES Wagon and make the yearly pilgrimage to visit my mom for Passover. So after loading up the rear hold with enough matzah and gefilte fish to hold my sister over until next October, plus a bag with my girlfriend's clothes for the weekend (also probably enough to last until next October), we set out for the country. Actually, we didn't get anywhere close to the Focus wagon's minivan-like 21.0 to 55.8 cubic foot max capacity, the latter with the split rear seatbacks folded forward, but while we're talking about the cargo area, the liftgate sometimes wouldn't close all the way unless you slammed it, which, I guess, is rewarding in its own way.

One of the other first impressions that didn't sit well with me was the driver's seat. Having to turn the crank to lower it was awkward to execute, with the result being almost useless. It made the seat bottom a little too reclined and generally discomforting, so I can only imagine what a pain in the back it would be for anyone seriously pushing six feet or above. Somehow, though, the seats did no lasting damage and after finally figuring out

The interior styling really didn't affect me one way or the other. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

how to tilt the steering wheel I could raise the seat a bit more for a better overall position.

As for the rest of the interior, it really didn't affect me one way or the other. I kind of liked the carbon-fiber effect around the center stack, but the plastics on the dash didn't make me want to start cuddling and rubbing my cheeks all over it. However, everything about it was excellently arranged, with clearly legible, intuitive dials for HVAC and radio, plus supplementary radio controls behind the steering wheel (I really had my girlfriend confused for a while). One thing I especially liked was the extremely grippy rubber on the HVAC knobs. Ooh, grippy.