SF Auto Show 2011 (aka Why the Fiesta is the best small car for me)

[dirtyblueshirt]

So this weekend I was in the Bay Area with my favorite car and had the opportunity to go to the San Francisco Auto Show. Since my previous experience with car shows have been in Detroit, I wasn't expecting much, and I was more than right. Ford brought the 2013 Taurus SHO, Escape, and Focus Electric, Cadillac brought the 2013 XTS, and Chevrolet brought the 2013 Malibu. The rest was a small representation of their current lines, and most higher-end cars were provided by local dealers.

Anyways, I decided to check out the Fiesta's competition from Toyota, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Kia, Fiat, Mini, Scion, Volkswagen, and Mazda.

Toyota Yaris:
The Yaris has slightly better quality from the last, but it's a far cry from the quality found in the Fiesta, Sonic, or Accent. The steering wheel does not telescope, making the pedal-steering wheel distance insufficient for my legs.

Chevrolet Sonic:
Again, the build quality is much better than the outgoing Aveo. I really like it, actually. The headlights are really odd looking in person though. Once again, the steering wheel does not telescope, making the pedal-steering wheel distance insufficient for my legs.

Chevrolet Cruze:
The crude really is a nice car, though it's more competitive to the Focus. The steering wheel telescopes and the distance from pedal to wheel is adequate; though I would have to lower the seat to practically sit all the way back and on the floor, making the position quite uncomfortable.

Hyundai Accent:
I was impressed with the overall quality of the Accent's interior, though it seems the plastic seems 'less substantial' than the Fiesta. You'd really have to drive a Hyundai to know what I mean. I think the plastic may be molded thinner than most other automakers. Yet again, the steering wheel does not telescope, making the pedal-steering wheel distance insufficient for my legs.

Kia Rio:
This car was a joke. Considering the quality of it's sister, the Hyundai Accent, this vehicle is practically insulting. The interior plastics were loose and wobbly-feeling and the finishes felt super cheap. Ready for the broken record? The steering wheel does not telescope, making the pedal-steering wheel distance insufficient for my legs.

Fiat 500:
Well, this fits more in the size category of the Mini and the Scion iQ, but I tried it anyway. This car is cool. Definitely reaching for the Mini Cooper crowd. The interior plastics are nice, but the white interior is definitely girly-looking. Men secure enough to actually drive a 500 will want to opt for the black/grey interiors. The steering wheel does telescope, but not enough for my legs.

Mini Cooper:
This was the real surprise to me. The last time I sat in a Mini at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show, the pedal-wheel distance was insufficient. Although the interior finishes haven't changed much and it's kitsch is starting to age a bit, they have managed to fix the driver's position to allow me to comfortably operate the vehicle (but only just).

Scion iQ:
Small, small, small. The iQ certainly is finished nicely inside, but as with virtually every small asian car; the steering wheel does not telescope, making the pedal-steering wheel distance insufficient for my legs.

Volkswagen Beetle:
The 2012 Beetle (no longer the "New" Beetle) is really cool. Definitely much improved from the 1998 version, more masculine, and more true to its original styling. As with the Golf, the seating is comfortable and the pedal-wheel distance is adequate and comfortable. Me gusta.

Mazda 2:
This was the real surprise, and not in a good way. I figured the Fiesta's Japanese cousin would offer similar seating comfort, but I was way off. The steering wheel does not telescope, making the pedal-steering wheel distance insufficient for my legs. Also the interior finish is all hard plastic and the center console is little more than a cheap plastic tray. The hatch can only be opened with a key, as there's no button or lever under the handle lip (it's also nearly a foot narrower overall than the Fiesta).

Conclusions:
The Asian automakers still look at a small car (at least for the American market) as something to be made as cheap as possible with little comfort or regard for taller drivers. European automakers take height into consideration much more readily. I can write this off as the average individual's height in each particular region, but it's short-sided for the Asian automakers to ignore the possibility of taller drivers. As far as the American automakers, none have a locally-sourced car. GM pulls from Korea (the Sonic is made by Daewoo) and Ford pulls from Europe with the Fiesta. Chrysler will also source a small car from Europe, most likely from Alfa Romeo's lineup.

Speaking of Chrysler, I took a look at their newer lineup. I was amazed at how drastically the interiors were improved! The dashes are no longer hard plastic, but offer a pleasing squishy texture and significantly refined finishes. Coupled with the new Pentastar V6, I am genuinely excited for Chrysler's future.

So to sum it up, for the price range of the Fiesta; only the Volkswagen Beetle (and its platform sister, the Golf) are viable alternatives to the Fiesta for me. Germans. They're taking over (again).

[wmussatto]

Interesting, when we looked (had a Golf before) the Golf was closer to the Mini in price. Maybe just what was on the lot.

[Captainmorbid]

Nice reviews DBS. What's your thoughts on comparing the VWs with the focus?

[dirtyblueshirt]

Originally Posted by wmussatto

Interesting, when we looked (had a Golf before) the Golf was closer to the Mini in price. Maybe just what was on the lot.

The Golf actually starts at $17.9k and the Beetle at about $19.8k. The Base Mini Cooper starts at $20.2k. Including the Fiesta, they're all in the $18-21k range.

Originally Posted by Captainmorbid

Nice reviews DBS. What's your thoughts on comparing the VWs with the focus?

Well, I suppose the comparison here is more akin to the Jetta, and VW really doesn't have a Focus-sized hatch, unless you count the Jetta Wagon (I wouldn't). In that case, I drove the new Jetta for a week in Hawaii a few months ago. The new price is a few thousand less than the previous model, and it shows in places. I'd go so far as to say the exterior has gotten more bland and the interior, although refined, still feels like the accountants won. the plastic on the backside of the steering wheel's center is flimsy (it's not rattling, but it's soft and overly pliable) and the steering is loose and disconnected at any speed (whereas the steering in the Focus/Fiesta stiffens up at higher speeds).

But if you compare the Focus to the Golf/Beetle, I'd have to say they are very much on par. Unlike the Jetta, the Golf is still made in Deutschland and I think the quality shows. Same with the Beetle, produced in Puebla, Mexico. I think this has a lot to do with Volkswagen's choice to dilute the Jetta for the American market.

Also, Ford's SYNC system is hands-down better than anything available on the VW, even without the MyFord Touch.

Winner: Focus (by a large margin vs the Jetta, by a small margin vs the Golf/Beetle).

[Iceracer]

That is one reason, I have and I tell anyone who asks, what car. I say sit in it first.

[Rodewaryer]

Great write up, I'm sure I'm not alone in appreciating the effort you put into it. :-)

[Audrey]

Originally Posted by Rodewaryer

Great write up, I'm sure I'm not alone in appreciating the effort you put into it. :-)

This. (:

[dirtyblueshirt]

Thanks for the positive responses. I've meant for a long time to adequately compare the range, and this is the best option without spending a weekend dealership-hopping. This way I can actually 'size up' the competition before going for a test drive, and running the risk of simply not fitting in the car at all and wasting the trip (and deal with the inevitable "well you should try this instead..." sales pitch).

[RichBinAZ]

They just did the auto show in PHX as well.

Someone there was actually able to raise the hood of the new beetle after a couple of minutes trying and the first thing I noticed was the oil filter. Sitting on the top left front corner of the engine pointing up???? So when you unscrew the filter, oil will drip down all over the serpentine belt. There is German engineering for you!

They did have the Focus ST in an amazing irradescent gold color, but fenced off. No Fiesta ST. I'll try and post a few pictures later of the focus, but it's hard to capture the color on "film"

[dirtyblueshirt]

Originally Posted by RichBinAZ

...the first thing I noticed was the oil filter. Sitting on the top left front corner of the engine pointing up???? So when you unscrew the filter, oil will drip down all over the serpentine belt.

maybe, maybe not. In theory after you've let the car run, then sit a few minutes to keep it warm, the oil in the filter should have drained by this point to make any residual oil negligible.