When it comes to small cars, few match the utility afforded by a five-door configuration. We used our Ford Focus ZX5 test car for a day trip to the beach, and it easily swallowed a tall beach umbrella, blankets, chairs, a cooler, backpacks, and one of the great inventions of modern history – Match Light barbecue charcoal – with the rear seats folded down. The Focus has a wide hatch opening and a low liftover height, making it even easier to stuff the car full of stuff. There is a problem with the design, however. To fold the rear seatbacks flat, the bottom cushion must be flipped up. The seatbacks are a 60/40 split design, the bottom cushion is not. This design precludes expanding the cargo space with a flat load floor while carrying a third passenger in comfort – an arrangement we needed after that day at the beach.