2011 Ford Fiesta Reviews

2011 Ford Fiesta



Pros and Cons
Super fun to drive
Great build quality
Comfortable, upscale cabin
Base model is sparsely-equipped

Ford Fiesta - What the Auto Press Says
Reviewers are nearly unanimous in saying that the 2011 Ford Fiesta sets new benchmarks for the affordable small car class. Even reviewers who don't go that far say the class leaders should be watching their backs.

Ask any car lover and they'll tell you: some of the world's best small cars never make it stateside. With the 2011 Ford Fiesta, that's changed. On sale in Europe since 2008, the most recent iteration of the Fiesta hits the U.S. in the summer of 2010. AutoWeek says, "The Fiesta is as good a small car as can be found, sourced from anywhere in the world. That it comes from the Blue Oval is remarkable and heartening; its brilliance is the first ray of sunshine on what has been a seemingly midnight horizon."

The Fiesta gets high marks from almost every reviewer who has driven it because it offers things many other small cars lack: a fun driving experience and a comfortable, upscale cabin. With the Fiesta, many reviewers say, Ford may radically alter what American buyers expect from small cars. The Fiesta has features rarely seen in the Affordable Small Car class, from available heated seats to Ford's SYNC system to an airbag for the driver's knees. But what will seal the deal for many buyers is the Fiesta's hybrid-like fuel economy. Ford says it should get 30 miles per gallon in the city and 40 miles per gallon on the highway. Those numbers are close to what many hybrids offer, but the Fiesta will cost thousands less.

However, there's always the risk that the praise may be premature. Many of the reviews we analyzed were of European-spec Fiestas. While the differences between the U.S. and European models are slight (the U.S. model gets different tires, a slightly more powerful engine and a sedan body style), those changes should make a difference for some buyers. Plus, reviewers have been enjoying well-optioned higher trims. In the base trim, which comes with few standout features, reviewers may not be so effusive.

Reference: US News