[courtesi]

Obvious:

sedan has 4 doors - not 5 - er wait, what?

sedan has 4 doors and a trunk, not a hatch.

sedan can carry less stuff.

but..

does the sedan weight more/less than the hatch?

were any modifications made to the suspension set up, etc?

 

[LMTech]

Sedan is 13.5 inches longer and weights more. The hatch has 2.6 cu. ft. of storage room more than the sedan. The hatch also has .1 inches more rear headroom. These numbers are off this 2011 Ford Fiesta | View All Ford Fiesta Specifications | FordVehicles.com except the weight difference which isn't listed for some reason but I will try and find it.

 

[blueflame]

I believe the hatch weighs almost 100 lbs less than the sedan, but that's mostly due to safety. The sedan is going to need more reinforced pillars than the hatch, simply because of how much longer it is. You will likely have a sportier handling with the hatch as well, sedans handle like boats and you really can't fix that.

 

[focusse]

I believe the hatch weighs almost 100 lbs less than the sedan, but that's mostly due to safety. The sedan is going to need more reinforced pillars than the hatch, simply because of how much longer it is. You will likely have a sportier handling with the hatch as well, sedans handle like boats and you really can't fix that.

From all the reviews I've read the hatchback and sedan drive and handle exactly the same. There are no differences in that regard.

 

[BRGT350]

The hatchback will out handle the sedan due to the lower PMOI from the less overhang behind the rear tires. The more centered mass of the hatchback makes it better suited for changing directions faster. The suspension is also slightly different on the sedan due to the increased rear weight. The hatchback also will have more usable cargo space due to the larger rear opening.

 

[dfw.embalmer]

Handling like a boat

I believe the hatch weighs almost 100 lbs less than the sedan, but that's mostly due to safety. The sedan is going to need more reinforced pillars than the hatch, simply because of how much longer it is. You will likely have a sportier handling with the hatch as well, sedans handle like boats and you really can't fix that.

.

Well, obviously I have not driven the hatch...BUT I can tell you this we have several very tight flyover interchanges, cloverleafs and exchanges in Downtown Dallas, Central to I30, Central to Woodall Rogers....the High 5 at LBJ and Central, and I took my Fiesta out last night so I could drive these without being in a traffic jam (crawl) and I can take any of them with the cruise set at 60 and it hugs right through all of them snugly, something I can't do in my wife's 09 Focus (I tried) her car (the Focus) would start to fish tail above 45 on a couple of the really tight ones....The Fiesta is definately a road hugger...(Mine has the Kumho Tires) I don't want to drive it over 60 for the first couple of thousand miles (60 mph is exactly 2500 rpm for those that are interested) so the engine can break in. It is extremely tight.

 

[golf strom]

The main markets for the sedan version of the Fiesta is mostly China, the USA, and southern mediteterranean areas of Europe, places like Turkey, Greece, and Eastern Europe....

Most other countries prefer the Hatchback style..

I'm glad to hear that the HB version of the car is lighter and better weight balanced to boot. Actually correct weight distribution has a LOT to do with how nimble a car is.

 

[Corvair]

I believe the hatch weighs almost 100 lbs less than the sedan, but that's mostly due to safety. The sedan is going to need more reinforced pillars than the hatch, simply because of how much longer it is. You will likely have a sportier handling with the hatch as well, sedans handle like boats and you really can't fix that.

You will have more weight in back, like my Corvair or a Porsche 911. You will get oversteer, or just less understeer. Play with tire pressures, and you can change how the car performs. That amount of weight really won't make a difference, even at the limit. When I get my sedan, I'll post a full report. Oh, I forgot, they come with the stablity control, that will keep you form having too much fun. What happens if we pull the fuse on that? Some one needs to try that too!

Dan
65 Corvair. over 60% of the weight in back.

 

[golf strom]

Probably be better to just use the Ford scan tool to disable or enable features you like/don't like.

 

[Corvair]

Weights

I went to media.ford.com and found these weights. I should add the EPA gas mileage is listest as projected, so these numbers may vary.

4 Door 5 Door
Manual trans: 2578 2537
Auto trans: 2628 2575

The little I've seen, hatches seem to weigh a little more. If we had a convertible, it would weigh a few hundred more.

Dan
65 Corvair Convertible 2670 lbs. add 8 lbs for automatic.

 

[Zinky]

The little I've seen, hatches seem to weigh a little more. If we had a convertible, it would weigh a few hundred more.

Looks like the hatchbacks are 41-53 pounds lighter. Similar to adding the automatic. The automatic hatchback is lighter then the manual sedan.

 

[blueflame]

That seems to confirm that suspicion that the hatch and sedan are both built on the same exact platform/frame. So the only real weight added was for sound insulation and pillar reinforcement.

 

[BRGT350]

yes, they are the same platform and they are built together. The trunk pan, quarters, roof, ect. are what is different from a chassis standpoint. The suspension pick-up points should be exactly the same on both cars.