For 2011, Ford is serving up not so much a little car as a big plaything, perfect for the young, party-going crowd. Ford isn’t the only one to do so, however, as Mazda has also jumped on the festive bandwagon with the 2, and GM will be showing off its 2012 Aveo in Paris. And don’t forget that Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa, Kia Rio and Honda Fit have been shaking things up for a few years now already. So here we’ve got a nice bunch of cars each vying for the sweetest spot in the sun and the hearts of young drivers.
With its interesting and very stylish looks and a personality derived from Ford’s Kynetic approach, the Fiesta stands out as the eye-catching alternative par excellence. My fuchsia-cloaked hatchback tester wasn’t what you’d call discrete. In fact, Ford intends on playing the personality card with a palette of brilliant colours and the possibility of adding body decals.
And the cabin is just as fresh. The dash benefits from a user-friendly layout. The four-inch screen on top is easy to read. And while there are a lot of buttons, they’re all intuitive, and the ergonomics are flawless. And to cater to the hip, Ford included ambient lighting that periodically changes hues.
The equipment level is often the key to exclusivity as well. Here, we’ve got available heated seats, SYNC, leather seating and seven air bags. You can also add satellite radio and keyless entry. In the case of the Fiesta, sub-compact doesn’t rime with lack of space. The front seats are easily accessible, however the tight head room and narrow rear doors do complicate the journey to the rear seats. As for soundproofing, the Fiesta impressively filters out exterior and engine noise.
European DJ
But style wasn’t the only thing going European: Ford chose a European engine to get things moving as well. Potent or weak? It depends on your point of view. The little 1.6-litre, four-cylinder mill tries to make the most of its 120 ponies. While it certainly isn’t a thrilling piece of hardware, don’t forget that a blistering 0-100 dash wasn’t the idea behind it. Indeed, the Fiesta accomplishes this task in over 10 seconds! Which is rather surprising, as the diminutive Ford is among the most powerful in its class. Thankfully, the extra weight and power don’t handicap it where fuel efficiency is concerned, and it’s definitely comparable to the competition.
With its interesting and very stylish looks and a personality derived from Ford’s Kynetic approach, the Fiesta stands out as the eye-catching alternative par excellence. My fuchsia-cloaked hatchback tester wasn’t what you’d call discrete. In fact, Ford intends on playing the personality card with a palette of brilliant colours and the possibility of adding body decals.
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| With its interesting and very stylish looks and a personality derived from Ford’s Kynetic approach, the Fiesta stands out as the eye-catching alternative par excellence. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
And the cabin is just as fresh. The dash benefits from a user-friendly layout. The four-inch screen on top is easy to read. And while there are a lot of buttons, they’re all intuitive, and the ergonomics are flawless. And to cater to the hip, Ford included ambient lighting that periodically changes hues.
The equipment level is often the key to exclusivity as well. Here, we’ve got available heated seats, SYNC, leather seating and seven air bags. You can also add satellite radio and keyless entry. In the case of the Fiesta, sub-compact doesn’t rime with lack of space. The front seats are easily accessible, however the tight head room and narrow rear doors do complicate the journey to the rear seats. As for soundproofing, the Fiesta impressively filters out exterior and engine noise.
European DJ
But style wasn’t the only thing going European: Ford chose a European engine to get things moving as well. Potent or weak? It depends on your point of view. The little 1.6-litre, four-cylinder mill tries to make the most of its 120 ponies. While it certainly isn’t a thrilling piece of hardware, don’t forget that a blistering 0-100 dash wasn’t the idea behind it. Indeed, the Fiesta accomplishes this task in over 10 seconds! Which is rather surprising, as the diminutive Ford is among the most powerful in its class. Thankfully, the extra weight and power don’t handicap it where fuel efficiency is concerned, and it’s definitely comparable to the competition.
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| The little 1.6-litre, four-cylinder mill tries to make the most of its 120 ponies. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |