Used 2011 Ford Fiesta

Have you heard the story about the domestic auto industry that kept claiming its products were as good as Japan’s best? It’s a twist on the tale of the boy who cried wolf. In Aesop’s original, nobody believes the boy when things really do go bad. In our update, people are skeptical when things really do go good. That’s the battle Ford faces in selling America on the most impressive, most recommendable, most buyable lineup a domestic automaker has offered in many drivers’ lifetimes. Do we think the 2011 Ford Fiesta is as good as Japan’s best in the category (the Honda Fit)? It’s better. And if you don’t believe us, blame the past practices of the domestic auto industry.

Many months before we drove the first U.S.-spec Fiesta, Ford gave us a week behind the wheel of the European version. Some of us were impressed, others blown away, and everyone shared the same sentiment: "I hope they don’t ruin the U.S. version." Hallelujah, they didn’t. The Fiesta is comfortable and quiet on the highway, fun when you work the wheel and just feels pricier and more substantial – more European, really – than any of its competitors. Shortcomings? The fun part requires a little planning because there’s not a lot of juice available at the bottom of the rev range, we think the dual-clutch auto deserves a manual control option, and some of us have reservations about long-haul seat comfort. But when you’re talking about the best car in the class, that’s really just nitpicking.

The 2011 Ford Fiesta boasts not only the sharpest sheetmetal in the category, it also has the most stylish and refined interior. Soft-touch materials and top-notch design permeate all trims, and you can outfit the Fiesta with features like heated leather seats, push-button start and selectable seven-color ambient lighting. A navigation system is the only glaring omission from the Fiesta’s options list and instrument panel, but a four-inch multifunction LCD display carries some of that load.

The 2011 Ford Fiesta is available in two styles: four-door sedan and five-door hatchback. We’re partial to the hatchback, which is the only style offered in Europe, but America still prefers sedans. Kudos to Ford for not crippling entry-priced Fiesta models with black bumpers and door handles and such; the 15-inch covered steel wheels are about as cheap as it gets, and the covers are decent. Still, the more you pay the better you look, and loaded models feature things like chrome-bezeled LED parking lamps and 17-inch aluminum wheels. Every 2011 Ford Fiesta comes with Ford’s cool capless fuel filler.

SYNC
Ford’s voice-controlled SYNC infotainment system continues to grow ever more robust and desirable.

Integrated Blind Spot Mirrors
In the upper, outside corner of the 2011 Ford Fiesta’s side mirrors is a small secondary mirror that finds cars hiding in that nebulous area between peripheral vision and mirror coverage.

A 2011 Ford Fiesta S Sedan starts just under $14,000 and includes air conditioning, four-speaker AM/FM audio system with auxiliary audio input jack, four-way adjustable steering wheel, a five-speed manual transmission and the same fun suspension and powertrain found in every Fiesta. It also gets all the safety goodies, like electronic stability control and seven airbags – including the category’s first driver’s-side knee airbag. Base model shortcomings include 15-inch covered steel wheels, roll-’em-up windows and not even the option of SYNC or SIRIUS.

A fully loaded 2011 Ford Fiesta includes a six-speed automatic transmission, leather seats, moonroof, keyless entry and start, voice-controlled SYNC smartphone integration, steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls, heated seats, satellite radio and a trip computer. Step back five or 10 years, read that list again, and try to imagine the price – and badge – on such a car.

The 2011 Ford Fiesta’s four-cylinder engine is relatively smooth and strong, but it’s more notable for its fuel efficiency than its power. Transmission choices include a five-speed manual and Ford’s first dual-clutch automatic transmission. Compared to a traditional automatic, the six-speed "PowerShift" unit delivers more direct engagement, faster shifts and greater fuel economy. We’re not big fans of electric power steering systems, which generally deliver better fuel economy at the expense of driving feel, but the Fiesta’s qualifies as one of the less compromised units. To attain Ford’s much-hyped 40 mpg highway fuel economy rating, you have to pay for the Super Fuel Economy (SFE) Package, which makes the car a bit more aerodynamic, a tad lighter and probably compromises handling to some degree, thanks to special mileage-maxing tires.

1.6-liter four-cylinder
120 horsepower @ 6,350 rpm
112 lb.-ft. of torque @ 5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 29/38 (manual), 30/38 (auto), 30/40 (auto w/SFE package),