2009 Ford Fiesta First Impressions (video)

Despite its unique shape and striking purple paint, not to mention the "Fiesta" badge unfamiliar to Canadians, the car did not attract as much attention as I expected. In fact, if it were not for some real car enthusiasts, who intensely stared and smiled at my tester during rush hour, no one would have cared.

Despite its unique shape and striking purple paint, not to mention the "Fiesta" badge unfamiliar to Canadians.

I had to enter a Ford dealer lot to gauge its actual impact. It seemed like all members of the service and sales staff wanted to admire the little newcomer. After all, this was the Euro-spec model that Ford Canada generously agreed to let us drive; the Canadian variant will only arrive in a few long months.

European flavor
At first glance, the Fiesta boasts a very distinctive physique, even though the connection with other members of the Ford family, particularly the Focus, is pretty obvious. The hood stretches forward to create an aerodynamic profile, while its contours outline the tapered headlight clusters.

The windshield is heavily raked, further emphasizing that wind-slicing look. It all culminates with a small yet convenient rear liftgate that somewhat reminded me of the late Focus ZX5’s.

The overall design looks both familiar and totally different at the same time. It’s jazzier and much more dynamic than Ford Canada’s current crop of models. The Fiesta wants to be hip and trendy so as to attract both the young and young at heart.

Grendizer-style interior
Inside, the dashboard is most definitely one of a kind, although you can bet that our own version will be slightly different. The V-shaped layout of the center stack encompasses all the various controls. I have to admit I found this unusual yet modern design pretty convincing. On the other hand, an older colleague of mine thought it was futuristic and over-the-top, like the cockpit of Grendizer, with many hard-to-read controls.

For sure, I was impressed by the excellent fit and finish. Plus, front-seat comfort is very generous for a car of this size. Remember, the Fiesta is a subcompact in the mold of the Honda Fit and Nissan Versa.

The V-shaped layout of the center stack encompasses all the various controls.