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[Editor’s Note: Sorry we took a writing break, but it’s good to be back!]

When I was contacted by our friends at Ford Canada that I’d have a Ford Focus for a week, the hopeful boy racer in Mr. asked, “is it an ST? Is it a hatchback?”

As it turns out, it was neither. It was a fully loaded (Titanium) sedan with a pretty blue paint job.

It also happened to be the same week as we threw a surprise birthday weekend in Whistler for CL, one of Mr.‘s close friends. So we gave the Focus a thorough test on a 36-hour trip.

36 Hours in Whistler

We kicked off the weekend at Stonesedge Kitchen, where we surprised CL with a birthday brunch.

There were 6 of us – and there were 5 orders of Breakfast Poutine. Except for me, the adventurous one. I ordered the Woodsman’s Bowl, with pulled venison and roasted butternut squash. Let me just say, I was happy with my choice. There was a good combination of flavours and texture. The slightly gamey venison made the dish more interesting than the maple sausage in the Breakfast Poutine.

Then, a stopover at Whistler Brewing.

Whistler Brewing has been around since 1989. One of my favourites from Whistler Brewing is the Bear Paw Honey Lager. It’s fermented with 100% BC honey. It’s light, with a hint of sweetness, very easy drinking.

We spent most of our evening hanging out at the cabin, with old-school games such as Risk, Pictionary and Wii Sports. OK – perhaps there were a few rounds of fun involving Red Solo cups, ping pong balls, and beer.

It’s early spring and there’s still snow in Whistler! The next morning we woke up to some light dusting on the Focus.

That didn’t dampen our mood to get out of the cabin. We took a stroll along the Valley Trail, and wow, the Nita Lake was frozen over, covered by snow! Yes, the picture here is Nita Lake. It’s so beautiful!

Not only did we enjoy a walk in the snow, our furry friend Peaches also had fun playing in the snow. Too bad we didn’t have time to finish the entire trail; well, one more reason for us to go back.

We were going to wrap up our trip with a spa visit. But first, a lunch stop at the Whistler Village.

The Longhorn Saloon & Grill was located at the bottom of the Blackcomb mountain. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised by its Reuben Sandwich. The smoked meat and gooey swiss cheese were salty, but balanced by the sauerkraut. It was rich, satisfying.

Last but not least, the highlight for me on this trip – Scandinave Spa.

Can you believe that I’ve never been to Scandinave Spa before?! I heard great things about it – everyone has recommended to me to check it out, yet this was my first time there. Hot. Cold. Relax. Repeat. The spa may be surrounded by spring snow, but it was a gorgeous sunny day to relax in a hot bath, or read a book in the solarium. You could spend hours here, and we did. I would suggest to book yourself a massage while you are there, instead of just going there for the baths. You’d pay $100 more but you also don’t have to pay $13 to rent a robe. Considering the environment, $100 is rather reasonable for a 60-minute Swedish massage. Or you can bring your own robe and save the $13.

This year, we want to spend more time with friends and family, and to explore our beautiful province. This trip did just that. CL had a great birthday weekend in Whistler. So did we.

The Ford Focus

So how about the car? How did it drive? Here’s what Mr. had to say:

Surprising cargo hauler

The trunk might look small on the outside, but like most modern sedans, it’s deep and tall. A picture is worth a thousand words. We had food and drinks for 6 people, our luggage for the weekend, and snowshoeing gear all stuff in there with no issues.

The rear seats fold flat if you lift up the cushions. Earlier in the week that feature enabled it to transport a full set of jeep wheels and tires, with room to spare.

Shifting and Turning

I don’t care what others may say, but I love the Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) in the Focus. I think buyers need to understand a DCT equipped car will drive and feel differently from a traditional automatic. It maybe a little jerky at times, but the faster shifts, more direct power transfer, and better fuel economy are well worth having to get used to its driving characteristics. My only gripe is that the steering wheel mount paddle shifters are only available on the SE, and not on our top of the line Titanium.

The Focus loves corners. While on the Sea-to-Sky Highway, going fast, slow, up, or down, the Focus never felt unsettled or nervous. While it won’t have the ultimate grip of a serious sports sedan, it’s nevertheless a fun, driver oriented car.

It’s tight in the back

The biggest downside to this car (other than that it isn’t a hatch) is the lack of rear leg room. I’m not exceptionally tall at 5’10’’. When my driver seat is adjusted to a comfortable spot, an adult can’t fit behind me anymore.

A solid choice in a sea of choices

There’s no shortage of options if you are shopping for a compact economy sedan; just about every company makes one. The Focus is a serious contender that checked off quite a few boxes for me, and it might just do the same for you.

Disclosure: The vehicle was provided to us for a one-week test drive complimentary of Ford Canada. However, the views and opinions expressed in this post are purely our own.Edit