Ford would love it if you saw the Focus's new face as a smaller rendition of the more prestigious Ford Five Hundred. Ford calls the Focus's new exterior more "upscale and aspirational." You might notice the larger headlamps with reshaped clear lenses, a larger grille with a new crosshatch pattern ringed in chrome, and a new fascia that incorporates a wide lower air intake and new round fog lamps. Then again, you might not.

Two-tone interiors are nice, but the reason we loved the previous Focus--even the non-SVT models--was the way they rode and drove. In that regard, Ford hasn't messed with success. The rack-and-pinion steering and a four-wheel independent suspension that uses MacPherson struts in front and a multi-link "Control Blade" design are still here. Our ZXW SES came with 16-inch alloy wheels and all wagons are fitted with 21 millimetre front and a 20 millimetre rear stabilizer bars. The rear stabilizer bar also allows lower rear spring rates to be used, for better ride quality.

Understeer is ultimately what you get when driving the Focus ZXW like you stole it. However, the steering has tons of feel, and there's enough feedback from the chassis to communicate the attitude of the car's behaviour. It's not a MINI Cooper, but the rear of the car can be coaxed into thinking its part of the fun. Compared to the more wooden and woolly Jetta, ride and handling is where the Focus shines.

Especially over our rutted and bombed out roads. The Focus's ability to ride with the road, as opposed to attempting to pound it into submission, is what makes it unique in this class. As before, the Focus approaches the level of ride and handling that BMW's are pined for. A Jetta wagon may have better interior build quality and status, but going down the road, the Focus wins.

Because our wagon was not an ST packaged sedan, like every other 2005 Focus, it came with the new 136 horsepower, 2.0 litre DOHC, straight-four that supercedes the old 110 horsepower, 2.0 litre single overhead cam and the optional 130 horsepower engines. This engine betters the Jetta GLS's 115 horsepower 2.0 litre four by 21, but its raucous manner fills the cabin easily with unwanted noise. When equipped with slushboxes, both the Focus and Jetta acceleration abilities are non-threatening to anyone with neck problems.

The 2005 Ford Focus wagon presents a compelling value equation.

If hauling is a priority, consider that the Focus still has more cargo room than such pricey compact wagons as Audi's A4 Avant 1.8T Front Track ($36,435), BMW's 325i Touring ($41,400), or even Volvo's V50 2.4i ($31,495).

Nonetheless, if you are comparing within its own price class, and fun-to-drive is a priority, the 2005 Focus wagon is difficult to ignore.

If you forsake the options that our ZXW SES model came with (such as the automatic), the Focus is still well equipped, and thousands less than a less powerful, lesser equipped Jetta wagon. And regardless of its somewhat thrashy mill, and questionable seat comfort, the 2005 Ford Focus ZXW SES easily beats out the similarly priced Toyota Matrix XR ($21,185)/Pontiac Vibe ($19,850) twins or Chevrolet Optra LS wagon ($18,650) as the compact wagon for those who love to drive.

- John LeBlanc, Publisher, straight-six.com