2014 Ford Fiesta Breaks 40 MPG Barrier

There are plenty of cars in the subcompact class with good fuel economy, but only one is EPA rated at 41 mpg. The 2014 Ford Fiesta SE with the new Super Fuel Economy Package delivers 30 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway. 

The package includes the regular SE's 1.6-liter four-cylinder and six-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission, but adds an aerodynamic kit with a rear spoiler, side air deflectors, underbody shields and lower grille blockers. Low-rolling-resistance tires and cruise control complete the package.

NHTSA: 2013 Cadillac SRX, 2014 Scion tC Earn Five-Star Rating

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released the results of a new crop of tests, including some updated-for-2014 vehicles.

All-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive versions of the 2013 Cadillac SRX earned the agency's highest rating, an overall five stars. Its composite score is made up of four stars in front and rollover tests and a five in side crash testing. The model-year 2012 version also scored five stars, although it earned a five in front crash tests. For 2013, the compact crossover got some light exterior styling and interior updates and Cadillac communications spokeswoman Jordana Strosberg told Cars.com that "the SRX interior was modified for 2013 and our score was fractionally different."

Scion's updated-for-2014 tC coupe also earned an overall score of five stars, a repeat of last year's safety rating. Model-year 2014 versions of the tiny Scion iQ and subcompact Ford Fiesta were also tested; both received four stars overall. Sedan and hatchback versions of the Fiesta were lightly updated for 2014. Model-year 2013 versions of the Fiesta were also rated at four stars; the 2013 iQ hadn’t yet been tested.

Editor's note: This post was updated on April 23 with comments from a Cadillac representative.

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Small-Car Leases on the Rise, Lease-Swap Company Says

Leases are gaining traction in an unlikely area: the small-car class. This is according to Swapalease.com, which released a report on Thursday that said small-car leasing swaps boomed 33% in 2012, outpacing 2011's 18% growth. The Cincinnati-based website counts everything from entry-level runabouts to traditional non-luxury subcompacts and compacts in the group, whose growth exceeded trucks (up 26%) but not luxury cars (up 38%).

Small cars took up a bigger piece of Swapalease.com's pie, but overall inventory increased just 9%. Spokesman John Sternal told us midsize cars, by contrast, were the big loser.

Does that mean actual leasing among small cars has improved? It's hard to say. The increase in overall small-car popularity in 2012 could be responsible for some of the leasing gain. New-car sales for all traditional non-luxury small cars improved 17.2% versus 2011, according to Automotive News data. Leasing overall continued to grow in 2012; CNW Marketing Research reported year-over-year leasing gains every single month.

2014 Ford Fiesta Starts at $14,795

Ford's smallest car gets a tiny price bump for 2014. Sedan versions of the refreshed-for-2014 Fiesta will start at $14,795, hatchbacks at $15,395. The sport-tuned ST, which comes only as a hatchback with the five-speed manual transmission, starts at $22,195 (all prices include a $795 destination fee).

It's a modest price bump over model-year 2013 sedans, which started at $13,995, and hatchbacks, which started at $14,995, including destination.

For 2014 the subcompact gets more grown-up exterior styling borrowed from the new Fusion, as well as more available features like the MyFord Touch multimedia system. Under the hood, a new optional 123-horsepower, turbocharged 1.0-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder engine joins the previous version's 1.6-liter four-cylinder. Five-speed manual and six-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmissions carry over.

2014 Ford Fiesta ST Video

The performance-oriented version of Ford's subcompact debuted at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, but we got a closer look at the 2014 Fiesta ST today at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

More 2013 Detroit Auto Show Coverage

The ST gets sportier styling with a more aggressive-looking grille, 17-inch wheels, dual exhaust and a spoiler. But Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays says it's not all show, no go, thanks to the ST's 197-horsepower, turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder. Check out the video below.

Cars.com Reviews the 2013 Mazda2

You might have dated someone like this: attractive looks and fun to be around, but dealing with problems inside that are revealed as you get to know each other better. Cars.com reviewer Jennifer Geiger says the 2013 Mazda2 offers potential suitors a nice, sculpted body with a grinning grille, along with good maneuverability and more zippiness than its petite horsepower might suggest. However, its interior is uncomfortably sparse, offering backseat passengers scant "cushy for their tushy" and deceptively little cargo space. That might be why the competing Ford Fiesta gets more than three times as many dates with buyers.

2013 Mazda2 Review

2014 Ford Fiesta ST: Photo Gallery

Attention car buyers looking live it up with the excitement of a performance car but the fuel consumption of a small car: Your party has arrived. The 2014 Ford Fiesta ST, debuting this week at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, celebrates the fun of its 197-horsepower, turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine while getting an anticipated 34 mpg.

More 2012 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

The corresponding sporty look of the new Fiesta ST features a gaping mesh grille with an "ST" badge in the corner, an aggressive front lip spoiler, larger rocker panels, a mesh-style section above the twin exhaust outlets, a large spoiler atop the liftgate and 17-inch alloy wheels. That"s in addition to chassis revisions that improve steering quickness and stability around corners. Check out the gallery below.

2014 Ford Fiesta: Up Close

With its refresh for 2014, Ford’s youthful entry-level Fiesta appears more grown-up now that it’s sporting a mature look borrowed from the 2013 Ford Fusion sedan. A trapezoidal grille and more angular hood lines replace the rounded, frumpy nose from the previous Fiesta.

More 2012 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

What truly makes waves for the 2014 Fiesta is a newly optional turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine with 123 horsepower. I drove a European Focus with the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine earlier in the year at a Ford event; there’s a lot to be excited about when this refined, smooth engine is available in the smaller Fiesta, including estimates of 40-plus mpg.

2014 Ford Fiesta ST at the 2012 L.A. Auto Show

• Competes with: Chevrolet Sonic RS, Mini Cooper S
• Looks like: The Fiesta ST Concept that graced last year's L.A. Auto Show
• Drivetrain: 197-hp, turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with six-speed manual transmission; front-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: Spring 2013

The 2014 Ford Fiesta ST joins the automaker's Focus ST in the brand's stable of small performance-oriented hatchbacks. Powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that's paired with a six-speed manual transmission, the Fiesta ST brings an efficient-minded approach to performance; it's expected to get up to 34 mpg, according to Ford. It hits dealerships in the spring. Pricing information hasn't been released.

More 2012 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

Ford showed us what a performance Fiesta might look like when it brought the Fiesta ST Concept to last year's L.A. auto show, and the production version stays true to that vision. The Fiesta ST's face is dominated by a gaping mesh grille with an ST badge in the corner. There's also an aggressive front lip spoiler, larger rocker panels and a mesh-style section above the twin exhaust outlets. A large spoiler is mounted atop the liftgate, and unique 17-inch alloy wheels are fitted with summer performance tires.

2014 Ford Fiesta at the 2012 L.A. Auto Show

• Competes with: Chevrolet Sonic, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent
• Looks like: Ford loaned some of the Fusion’s new looks to the Fiesta
• Drivetrain: New 123-hp, turbocharged 1.0-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder engine
• Hits dealerships: Next year

Ford's smallest car is updated for 2014, and the star of the new Fiesta is under the hood: A turbocharged 1.0-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder engine makes its U.S debut. The subcompact also gets revised styling and more available features like the MyFord Touch multimedia system.

More 2012 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

Sedan and four-door hatchback body styles return for 2014. Both versions wear a restyled grille with more chrome, borrowing the look from larger sibling, the Fusion, which was redesigned for 2013.