Reviews

Marc · Jan 16, 2010

Marc · Apr 26, 2010

PowerShift · Apr 26, 2010

Seems that everyone liked the handling. Most found acceleration somewhat lacking, maybe a little more so w/the automatic. Most were impressed with noise levels but one found it really loud. Most liked the manual but thought a six speed would be better. The PowerShift was generally good, one review thought it kicked down too quick, another thought it took way too long to kick-down, one thought they almost had a stall while trying to start on an upslope. Rear-Seat room was generally panned and some even thought the front was too tight.

The general consensus was that it was still best in class and as close as to the Euro version as could be expected.

Certainly nothing to scare me away. It's strong in the areas I wanted it to be. I'm looking for that intangible all-around "refined" feel and it seems Fiesta definitely has it. Although that transmission is going to be more interesting than I thought.

P.S. I'm now in love with the Lime Squeeze sedan. This looks better than it has any right to. First Drive: 2011 Ford Fiesta -- Autoblog

BRGT350 · Apr 26, 2010

So far, I am blown away with the reviews! Edmunds and Autoblog seem to mimic alot of what I have said. Autoblog pointed out the Fiesta is a momentum car, and once you drive it like that, it can go remarkably quick! My Fiesta laps GingerMan Raceway only a few seconds shy of my SVT Focus with bigger brakes and way more power. I can now sleep at night as it seems the US Fiesta will be as good as the European one. If I could pop champaign in my office, I would!

Edit: Reading a few more reviews, there are some errors in there. Jalopnik has the wrong number of airbags.

GhiaFan · Apr 26, 2010

From CanadianDriver,com very positive review
CanadianDriver First Drives First Drive: 2011 Ford Fiesta

Some points
"For once, a vehicle transplanted from Europe has not been “dumbed down” for our market"
"My personal favourite is Yellow Blaze, a striking tri-colour paint scheme"
"This transmission can be compared to Volkswagen’s DSG, with lightning fast and smooth shifting"
"Having previously driven the Fiesta’s competitors, as well has having driven them back to back with the Fiesta during my stay in California, at the time of this writing I will make the bold statement that the Ford Fiesta will be the best subcompact vehicle available in Canada"
Re-Dynamics "What does all this mean to you? It means you get a subcompact car that feels like it is on rails and has a sporty ride but is not harsh in any way – it truly is a marvel"

Fiestavus · Apr 26, 2010

This is the first time I have seen TechCrunch feature a car review.

CrunchGear.com

Never before has Ford’s car offering been so strong and the compact Fiesta is a big part of that. In fact, it might be the jewel of the lineup with its low-admission cost to a truly well equipped ride. It isn’t alone with a redesigned Focus coming soon, the Fusion that earned Car of the Year from Motor Trend, and the industry-busting big-daddy Tarsus. Simply put, if you’re looking for a new car, you must test drive a Ford.

iamz · Apr 26, 2010

"During the first part of our test drive, my co-driver and I attacked the route like wannabe racers and still averaged 29.5 MPG. We drove the second half like normal human beings and averaged 40.9 MPG. That's hybrid and diesel territory!"

About.com

mrbirdman330 · Apr 26, 2010

You know, with how old fuel injection technology is I am not surprised a full sized sedan really doesn't average at least 36 mpg. Fuel injection is technically older than the Carburator as are Diesel Engines. But I guess the partial downside of it is, look how heavy cars have gotten and I know Ford is taking steps to lighten up their cars to achieve greater fuel economy. We honestly shouldn't need a hybrid to reach such fuel mileage of 40 or more per gallon on the interstate.

FiestaFan · Apr 26, 2010

mrbirdman330 said:
You know, with how old fuel injection technology is I am not surprised a full sized sedan really doesn't average at least 36 mpg. Fuel injection is technically older than the Carburator as are Diesel Engines. But I guess the partial downside of it is, look how heavy cars have gotten and I know Ford is taking steps to lighten up their cars to achieve greater fuel economy. We honestly shouldn't need a hybrid to reach such fuel mileage of 40 or more per gallon on the interstate.

Cars are hopefully going to get significantly lighter in the near future - Ford and Mazda are leading the charge, but others are joining in. Hopefully cars will end up near 1980s weight levels within the next 20 years...I personally yearn for a new Honda CRX equivalent that's really small, really simple and gets 50mpg highway (the CR-Z doesn't accomplish any of these things - and it's a hybrid!). It would of course compliment my Fiesta, not replace it

mrbirdman330 · Apr 26, 2010

While I do not like Honda, I do like the new CR-Z. I remember when my Escort Wagon would get 40 mpg on the interstate.

Jazzdog · Apr 26, 2010

Problem with comparing to fuel economy from these older vehicles is the safety requirements that need to be met today. If these vehicles were sold new today they would be rated very poorly for crash performance.

Fortunately developments in steel production have made weight reductions possible. Details about steel in Fiesta here: http://media.ford.com/images/10031/Boron.pdf. Yea, it's geek stuff but this is what it takes to get the job done.

FiestaFan said:
Cars are hopefully going to get significantly lighter in the near future - Ford and Mazda are leading the charge, but others are joining in. Hopefully cars will end up near 1980s weight levels within the next 20 years...I personally yearn for a new Honda CRX equivalent that's really small, really simple and gets 50mpg highway (the CR-Z doesn't accomplish any of these things - and it's a hybrid!). It would of course compliment my Fiesta, not replace it

Marc · Apr 26, 2010

The Truth About Cars.com:
"Everybody knows a “Mr. Euro”. Hell, you may even be “Mr. Euro” to your friends. Mr. Euro is the guy who, for some reason, wants the cars he cannot have in the United States. He’s the guy who says he would drive a 520i “in a heartbeat” given the chance, the dude who thinks we’re missing out because the Renault Twingo stays on the froggy side of the pond, the fellow who desperately wants a Vauxhall Zafira for child-lugging purposes.

If you know a Mr. Euro, send him by the Ford dealer. This is the Continental experience: plenty of goodies in a car about seventeen inches longer than a 1979 Civic."

Hmmmm.... do we know a 'Mr. Euro' on this forum?

ps. added 4 new reviews!

BRGT350 · Apr 26, 2010

Geek stuff is why I get up in the morning

Edmunds.com-InsideLine has autocross footage from Candlestick Park. There seems to be a buzzer that sounds when the ebrake is pulled. Modification #2 to my car will be to disable the buzzer, otherwise my Fiesta will sound like it is sending Morse Code during the winter.

Marc, I am guilty of being Mr. Ford Euro. Mondeo>Fusion Kuga>Escape but finally Fiesta=Fiesta! Thanks to you sending the Kuga info to me last summer, my wife is talked out of getting an Edge until the next gen Escape comes out.

Marc · Apr 26, 2010

BRGT350 said:
Marc, I am guilty of being Mr. Ford Euro. Mondeo>Fusion Kuga>Escape but finally Fiesta=Fiesta! Thanks to you sending the Kuga info to me last summer, my wife is talked out of getting an Edge until the next gen Escape comes out.

I wasn't aiming at you, nor Mr.Birdman (who also got a Kuga brochure), but ...

BRGT350 · Apr 26, 2010

When it comes to Mr. Euro, they live all over FocalJet and here as well.

nikita · Apr 26, 2010

Jack Baruth

Review: 2011 Ford Fiesta | The Truth About Cars

Jack is a great reviewer and TTAC is my favorite automotive website.

"If you know a Mr. Euro, send him by the Ford dealer. This is the Continental experience: plenty of goodies in a car about seventeen inches longer than a 1979 Civic. Speaking personally, I’d rather have a no-options 2011 Mustang V6 than a loaded Fiesta. Faster, don’t you know, and I’ll put a boom box in the back seat. Most of you will feel differently, and after two days of driving the little Ford I won’t criticize your choice."

His review of that Mustang is also a must-read.

“Hey there!”

“Excuse me?”

“Ain’t that one of them Ay-cord koops?”

“Why, yes it is. Aren’t you sporting the hairstyle commonly referred to as a ‘mullet’?”

“I sure am! Good enough for Brian Bosworth, it’s good enough for me. Is that Ay-cord fast?”

“It has 271 horsepower.”

“Well, shucks! Mah Mustang here done got Three. Oh. Five. Guess it’s faster, cause I don’t think it weighs more than a touch ahead of what you got.”

“Well, the Accord is also rated for twenty-eight miles per gallon on the highway. Much better than that Mustang. It’s important to conserve the planet’s resources.”

“Aw, hell. Guess you’re right. I mean, I’m only GITTIN’ THIRTY-ONE! YEE HAA!” And we close with the sound of a Flat Rock-fashioned burnout. End scene.

FiestaFan · Apr 26, 2010

Yeah, TTAC has the type of writing I wish the car mags had the balls to publish.

nikita · Apr 26, 2010

Car and Driver used to, decades before the internet. The 1960's Opel Kadett photo shoot was done in a junkyard. GM was so pissed that the magazine lost ad revenue for three months. Auto [every other] Week finally stopped sending me free copies after about a year of non-renewal. I was a subscriber from back when it was Competition Press, a newspaper in the 1980's. AW became worthless.

mrbirdman330 · Apr 26, 2010

-is more Guilty of being Mr. Australia since he lusts for the Ford Falcon XR series-

iamz · Apr 27, 2010

"If you want to have some real fun, though, slot it into L. Traditionally standing for Low, on Ford's latest automatic transmissions it actually represents "Lowest possible gear at the current speed." On the road, it means the transmission will hold a gear all the way to redline and even leave it if you let off the gas. Conversely, it will also drop to a lower gear as soon as is safe for the engine in order to give you as much power as possible. Out on the autocross, this feature proved absolutely brilliant, always dialing up the gear needed right on cue."

MotorTrend

"Choose the manual shift instead and enjoy a disturbingly rewarding back-road experience. Nothing else in the class will keep up in a straight line or down a fast backroad. On Ford’s autocross course, the Fit felt more nimble but the Fiesta had more ultimate grip and pulled out of corners where the Honda simply bogged and moaned."

The Truth About Cars

Reviews

Top Contributors this Month