The Ford Fiesta is among the best of an impressive choice of recently
redesigned subcompacts.Completely redesigned for 2011, Fiesta carries
over with no significant changes for 2012.Some believe the second year
of production is the sweet spot: All the bugs have been worked out yet
the design is still new enough to offer the latest advances in safety
engineering and fuel efficiency.If that's true, the 2012 Ford Fiesta is
in the sweet spot.
The 2012 Fiesta comes in hatchback and sedan versions and the two body styles make distinct statements.
The
Fiesta sedan is an interesting combination of an American style
econobox with softened edges and a high rear deck (trunk lid).The Fiesta
hatchback presents a more satisfying, Euro like profile, with nicely
wedged side character lines and an almost sensuously rounded
posterior.Choice is in the eye of the beholder, but both are pleasant
and more than competitive in today's design conscious new car market.We
prefer the hatch.
Inside, Fiesta features a voice activated
infotainment system that augments the traditional AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo
with audio and podcasts streamed into the sound system via a Bluetooth
link to a smart phone.Non voice audio controls and creature comfort
settings revert to basic knobs and buttons that are sized and arrayed
for ease of use with minimal distraction from the driving task.
Comfortable
seats have enough side and bottom bolsters to keep occupants properly
positioned, but gingerly, without obstructing ingress and egress.Quality
of interior materials is either on a par with or a tick or two above
the expected standard for cars in the Fiesta's class.Ford wants to boost
this even further, too, with something not commonly found on cars in
this size and price class: Leather seating surfaces and heated front
seats are optional on the top of the line sedan and hatchback.
We
found the Fiesta feels right at home running around town and on weekend
errands.It slips conveniently into fleeting gaps in stop and go urban
traffic and into space limited parking slots.
The Fiesta is
powered by a 1.6 liter four-cylinder engine.We found its 120 horsepower
sufficient to tackle the daily commute in stride.The ride quality is
smooth, important in the daily grind.Wind and road noise is decently
muted.Steering feel is certain, the Fiesta goes where you point it, and
it doesn't lean much in corners at responsible speeds.
It handles long
weekend drives well, also.
Fiesta is available with a 6 speed
transmission that works like an automatic but gets the fuel economy of a
manual transmission.This twin clutch, automated manual is the best of
both worlds for people who like driving but live in the big city:
there's no clutch pedal to have to work repeatedly yet the driver can
engage in authentic manual transmission gear changes.There's also the
traditionally better fuel economy of a manual gearbox.Fuel economy is an
EPA estimated City/Highway rating of 29/38 miles per gallon for the 6
speed against 28/37 mpg for the standard 5 speed manual.Normally, an
automatic would come up two or more mpg short of a manual.