2011 Ford Fiesta Up Close
Behind the big guns introduced in Chicago — the Taurus SHO and the Harley-Davidson F-150 — Ford parked a European version of its new Fiesta compact. The car is part of a program that will loan a handful of models to so-called cultural influencers — cool people — before it goes on sale in 2010. I poked around in it and, as a gut check, went across the showroom floor to revisit the competing Nissan Versa, Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris.
My early take: The Fiesta trades quantity for quality. The interior feels high-rent, but larger drivers take warning: It’s no gymnasium inside.
From the driver’s seat there’s immediately less room than Versa and Co. offer. The windows lack Nissan’s elbow-to-ceiling views, and even when you ratchet up the driver’s seat the seating position seems lower than all three competitors’. The front seats feel narrow and a bit constricting, and knee room is cramped on the inboard side by a prominent center tunnel, on which the gearshift goes. Nissan, Toyota and Honda open up the space with shifters mounted closer to the floor, allowing your knees to spill out.
The backseat is more of the same, with marginal headroom for adults and scant legroom. At least the front seats sit high enough off the ground to afford room for your feet. Visibility from behind the wheel is merely OK, with tapered second-row windows obstructing part of the next lane over. At least Ford mounts the center rear seat belt in the seat, not the ceiling, so it doesn’t dangle in your 6 o’clock view (or stay tucked in the ceiling, where a fifth passenger likely won't use it). Honda and Toyota have ceiling belts.
Now for quality: It’s promising, with soft-touch dashboard panels – Nissan, Toyota and Honda employ cheaper, harder plastics — and high-quality stereo and A/C controls. The steering wheel tilts and telescopes — not something every competitor’s does -- and upscale offerings, from push-button start to automatic climate control, stand out in a segment still known for crank windows and no A/C. The dashboard’s futuristic shapes are still within the realm of tasteful car design, and the elements that look deliberately cheap — the headliner, the unpainted plastic door handles — are in mostly peripheral areas.
A Ford spokesman told me the show car, though European-spec, represents something very close to what we’ll see stateside next year. It won’t get any bigger, so as far as quality goes, I hope he’s right.
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"Fiesta" is the perfect name for an el cheapo, sub-compact Ford built in Mexico. Maybe this'll stem the illegal alien surge across the American border in search of jobs. Nah...
www.MichaelSavage.com
i doubt some features will be on the US spec, like Auto Climate, Leather(if thats what it is), Push button start...etc...but seems like a nice vehicle compared 2 some of it's competition...
I would have changed the name. I know Ford is obsessed with naming all their cars starting with an F, but the Fiesta name does not have the best reputation.
The old Fiesta always used to make me consider that it may have been the older brother to the Yugo GV. Ford needs to drop this name and think of something more contemporary and fitting of this great little car.
too bad ford will not offer high mileage/efficient engines in north america as are available elsewhere. i would like a little powerful EU standard clean diesel as they sell elsewhere that gets mid 50's mpg. Why cheat us here in 'merica?
Adam,
I am 26- have had 7 cars, so I think I know a little, lol, anyway I think someone like me would be the core demo of buyers for this car and I had NEVER heard of the old american fiesta. I don't think the name is going to hurt it. Young people don't know it, and anyone with some sense would know that they are not the same car- with the 20 or so year seperation. No offense.
Broq
The original Fiesta was introduced by Ford in the 70s, with styling very similar to the Volkswagon Rabbit from that same era. It wasn't a bad car (considering the time, of course).
maybe they should have kept the "Verve" name of the concept 4 the US market...
Right, the Fiesta... I am 6'6" and weigh more than 100 kilo's. I can fit behind the steering wheel of this car. Comfortable enough. But you wont even get a toddler behind me.
It does have a lower seat and a more cocooned feel then a Yaris (I am making the assumption that the US Yaris is the same as a UK Yaris). I know, I have driven both the current Yaris and the new Fiesta.
They are driven by different people in the UK. Yaris is driven more by older people, while young people usually prefer the Fiesta.
The reason is simple. This low-ish cocooned feeling adds to the sportiness delivered by the best drivers chassis in class. Bar none. You will not get a more sporty feel for this little. The Yaris is usually driven by pensioners wanting a higher seating position, perceived reliability, floaty non-sporty handling, boring car.
As far as trim is concerned, d, there are only a cery small minority of cars like this delivered with leather. Most customers don't have leather money. A/C will probably be standard but climate is only standard on the more expensive trim levels over here.
felipe, the emission standards for cars in the EU are much 'dirtier' than here, and the diesel fuel is not the same. our lawmakers have chosen clean air over economy & efficiency long ago, so we must continue to soldier on with cars that will always strike a weak compromise between the two.
i'm really excited about this car. as a former UK resident, i can say that all the cool kids did drive this car. course that in itself may not mean much, the nissan cube was know as a pensioners car. funny how things take on their own life once in different markets. maybe the fiesta will end up being the geriatric car of choice here afterall, in which case ford could name it the ford florida.
I really like this car. Will there be a 2 door? I would also like to see the diesel come to the use but I guess Ford said they are not bringing it over.
I like this car a lot. If it's reliable, I'll consider it.
while USA is not getting a diesel, don't be fooled by the Euro diesel numbers for fuel economy. The Euro test cycle appears to be very different from USA. if you look at a car you can buy in both places, with identical powertrain, the Euro numbers always look great. I just checked fueleconomy.gov, and the Jetta with diesel and 6 speed is rated at30 city/41 highway. that being noted, I'm expecting low to mid 40's for highway fuel economy from USA Fiesta with the direct injection engine. the lincoln C-car concept they showed at detroit auto show a few weeks ago with direct injection was estimated in high 30's for mpg by Ford's release. the new 2010 gas Fusion with 6 speed trans that is going on sale shortly is rated at 35 mpg highway, and that's a C/D platform without direct injection. a B car with direct injection? don't be surprised at 43-45 mpg. only time will tell, Ford is being tightlipped about expected fuel economy, but I'm betting it will be over 40. only thing people will gripe about is you will need to pony up $$ to get the direct injection eco-boost engine to get the mid-40's. I think it will be a good $1500-2000 add on option. not bad considering cost of diesel though!
The car will be built in the U.S. and get 40++ mpg. They'll milk it for every MPG they can get.
I for one am excited about the Fiesta coming to the US. I actually own one of the original Fiesta imported from 1978-1980. It's an extremely reliable car even for its age, and lots of fun to drive. If the new Fiesta is anything like the the old one...I'm in. I'm glad Ford kept the name...I was definitely less than excited about "Verve." There is absolutely no bad stigma attached to that name. I know a lot of people stateside that fell in love with the old Fiesta, and being a sailor in the US Navy, I've had the opportunity to travel overseas and see the European verions first hand, and have always been nothing short of impressed. Especially when I laid eyes on the Fiesta ST in a showroom in Cannes, France. (Please, please offer it over here...) I would take one over the Fit, Versa, or Yaris anyday.
i think fieta is a fine name i think it goes real nice with the colors its available in
All you need to know about the German-built Ford Fiesta is prsented by Jeremy Clarkson in what maybe the best car road test ever!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_KIqdS1SO0