I'm not disparaging the Focus, it's an excellent small car. I don't like the styling, that's true, as the ZX3 breaks more styling rules than even the Aztek (though the Aztek breaks the rules it does break further).
My point is in my car classification struture, the Focus is a small car, comparable to other small cars like Civic, Corolla, Protege, Sentra, Sunfire, and the like. The Contour was an entry-mid-size car, comparable to Sonata, Passat (until VW decided to get insane with their pricing), 626, last generation Altima, Galant, and those cars.
I'm not sure what you mean by C, D, and that classification, but I use my own based on competitive models.
Interior room has very little place in my classification model, all it does is place the car as being relatively roomy or cramped within it's class. The Focus is a very roomy small car. The Contour was an average roominess entry-midsize car.
Exterior size is not the only indication of status, but it is one indication. V6 vs. 4 cylinder power is another. Styling and how people view the styling is another (I have LOTS of people thinking I bought a much more expensive car than I did with the Contour, the Focus looks like a small economy car).
However, if a Crown Victoria owner were forced into a Taurus, I think that owner would feel like I do when someone thinks I ought to move from the Contour to the Focus.
My only real disparagements is I don't think the SVT Focus, even if it lives up to your expectations is at a high enough level to be worthy of an SVT badge in it's competitive market. SVT should be representing performance that is well above its price, not comparable to those of its price.
My other disparagement is to those that say the Focus fills the Contour's shoes. I'm sorry, but the car is too small externally, lacking a V6, and lacking the style and class and stature needed to fill the Contour's shoes. Ford needs both cars in their lineup, but they're too shortsighted to see that.
