The latest hybrid/electric cars are not cheap and it could take many years before the fuel saved justifies the price tag on a small car that costs over $25,000. However, there are many non-hybrid cars that get pretty good gas mileage too, the Honda Civic, Toyota Echo, Scion XA, Ford Focus, Honda Fit, and the Toyota Corolla are all solid compact, gas-powered cars that deliver decent mileage figures. The best feature of the gas-powered compacts may be their reasonable price tags, as all are priced thousands of dollars below similar hybrid models.
Japan has been making fun, economical compact cars for years and Honda’s Civic has been a leader in the category for decades thanks to its simple platform featuring a 1.6 liter gasoline engine in a lightweight body. Along with the Civic, small cars from Nissan, Toyota, Mazda and others have dominated the compact class.
American-produced small cars have not proven quite as popular or durable as their Japanese counterparts. The U.S. has always produced good large cars and trucks, but success in the compact market segment has eluded Detroit for the most part. American manufacturers have had some success with compact models vehicles for the European market where high-quality small cars are the most common vehicles on the road, but they were not the same cars offered in the domestic market. Until now, that is.
Ford has been selling a European-only version of the Fiesta on the Continent for three years now that is constructed on the same successful platform as the Honda Civic, a 1.6-liter four-cylinder gas engine in a small front-wheel-drive car. The good news is that the Euro-only Fiesta is now coming to the United States as Ford’s least-expensive car for the 2011 model year.
The 2011 Ford Fiesta is more car than you might think. The Fiesta features a 120 horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with two choices of transmission, a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic. The Fiesta starts at $14,000 for a four-door sedan and $15,800 for a five-door hatchback model and the Fiesta also gets up to 40 miles per gallon on the highway.
More than just simple transportation, the new Fiesta is a small comfortable car that is far sportier than most cars in the subcompact segment. The European-inspired body shape not only improves fuel economy, it also delivers a lot of useful interior space and headroom in a small overall package. And unlike some of the odd- looking and cheap-feeling cars in the subcompact segment, the Fiesta actually looks like something an adult would drive.
The Fiesta is surprisingly stable, quiet, and smooth performing for such a small car. Ford has had nearly four years to sort the car out in Europe before bringing it the U.S. and it shows. The Fiesta handles well, the brakes and suspension are responsive, and the acceleration is strong enough to handle freeway speeds with ease. The top-of-the-line SES hatchback model is priced at $17,795 and includes standard stability control, one-touch automatic windows, satellite radio, LED lights and 16-inch wheels. Considering its price and performance compared to the available competition, the new Ford Fiesta could be the right car at the right time.
2011 Ford Fiesta Specifications
- Base price $14,000-$17,000
- Layout Front-wheel drive Subcompact
- Engine 1.6-liter four-cylinder, 120-hp@ 6350/112-lb-ft torque@ 4250
- Trans Six-speed automatic or five-speed manual
- Curb weight 2537 lbs.
- Wheelbase 98 inches
- Length 160 inches
- Width 67.8 inches
- Height 58 inches
- MPG 28 city, 37 highway (manual), 29 city; 40 highway (auto)
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