Along with niceties come an array of safety and protection features included as standard equipment on all Fiestas, even the base Fiesta S, which is priced at an ultra reasonable $13,944. The comprehensive safety and protection array includes: AdvanceTrac electronic stability control, front seat airbags, driver’s knee airbag, front seat side-airbags along with full side curtain airbags.
The Fiesta is also equipped with Ford’s EasyFuel Capless Fuel Filler system. This handy little perk makes filling the tank a much cleaner, less complicated affair. But this isn’t a perk one can expect to use often.
Fiesta engine is smooth and fuel-efficient
A 1.6-litre DOHC I-4 gas engine producing 120 horsepower and 112 pound-feet of torque powers the Fiesta. Power flows through a 5-speed manual stick, such as in this week’s tester, or Ford’s PowerShift 6-speed autobox that’s deigned to optimize both fuel economy and performance.
Ford engineers worked long and hard in an effort to greatly reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) generated by the petit mill, and they were remarkably successful. Anyone appreciating operational refinement knows that NVH is the great nemesis of the four-banger.
I actually marveled at just how operationally smooth and quiet the Fiesta is; it seemed so counter-intuitive for a car belonging in the econo-box segment. This alone made the Fiesta a joy to drive—yet there is so much more to appreciate.
A fiesta behind the wheel
A celebration—often called a fiesta—is generally a joyous occasion. Based on the enjoyment I found behind the wheel of Ford’s new Fiesta, I can understand why Ford retained the nameplate in the vehicle’s return to North America.
I’m not generally a fan of driving econo-boxes despite the logic in doing so, but I’ve got to admit that the 2011 Fiesta has me re-thinking that bias.
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| A 1.6-litre DOHC I-4 gas engine producing 120 horsepower and 112 pound-feet of torque powers the Fiesta. (Photo: Rob Rothwell/Auto123.com) |
The Fiesta is also equipped with Ford’s EasyFuel Capless Fuel Filler system. This handy little perk makes filling the tank a much cleaner, less complicated affair. But this isn’t a perk one can expect to use often.
Fiesta engine is smooth and fuel-efficient
A 1.6-litre DOHC I-4 gas engine producing 120 horsepower and 112 pound-feet of torque powers the Fiesta. Power flows through a 5-speed manual stick, such as in this week’s tester, or Ford’s PowerShift 6-speed autobox that’s deigned to optimize both fuel economy and performance.
Ford engineers worked long and hard in an effort to greatly reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) generated by the petit mill, and they were remarkably successful. Anyone appreciating operational refinement knows that NVH is the great nemesis of the four-banger.
I actually marveled at just how operationally smooth and quiet the Fiesta is; it seemed so counter-intuitive for a car belonging in the econo-box segment. This alone made the Fiesta a joy to drive—yet there is so much more to appreciate.
A fiesta behind the wheel
A celebration—often called a fiesta—is generally a joyous occasion. Based on the enjoyment I found behind the wheel of Ford’s new Fiesta, I can understand why Ford retained the nameplate in the vehicle’s return to North America.
I’m not generally a fan of driving econo-boxes despite the logic in doing so, but I’ve got to admit that the 2011 Fiesta has me re-thinking that bias.
 |
| I actually marveled at just how operationally smooth and quiet the Fiesta is. (Photo: Rob Rothwell/Auto123.com) |