2011 Ford Fiesta
Detroit's first great small car
This little Ford represents something big. The Fiesta is the anti-Pinto—the kind of well-engineered, sporty yet frugal small car that Detroit has historically refused to build. Available as a sedan or a five-door hatchback, the 2011 Fiesta gets 120 horsepower from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, good for a reasonably brisk 9.3-second run to 60 mph. The steering is quick, the suspension frisky.
Inside, the Fiesta’s amenities, including Ford’s voice-activated Sync system, easily surpass what you’ll find in other cars in its class. An available six-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission is technology usually limited to pricey luxury cars. And that engine and transmission combine for Toyota-smoking mileage: 29 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. Aside from the two-seat, snail-paced Smart, the Fiesta is the only non-hybrid on the market to achieve 40 mpg. From $14,000.
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"...the Fiesta is the only non-hybrid on the market to achieve 40 mpg." needs to be changed to "...the Fiesta is the only non-hybrid GASOLINE vehicle on the market to achieve 40 mpg."
VW's diesel Jetta and Golf get around 41 (EPA) on the highway, and they aren't hybrids.
My 1993 Geo Prizm gets 40 mpg on the highway with its 1.6 L 90 hp engine and only costs about $1,000. It's good to see we've caught up with 18 year old technology again. ;) Admittedly, the Fiesta probably has cleaner emissions and more comfort than the Prizm.
And there are a surprising number of quality built, economy diesels in Europe that get 50, 60, 70 mpg. Americans consider these cars too wimpy, so manufacturers don't bother putting them through the regulatory and marketing process to bring them to the U.S. It's a shame.
Pi * R^2? Pi are round, cornbread are squared
I'm moving to Mexico next year and all you see are Fords, VW, and Nissans. I'd like a diesel but will probably end up with a Focus.
I purchased a Metalic Squeeze Lime Green Ford Fiesta SES with leather upgrade and the keyless entry opton. I am extremely happy with the car. I am thrilled with the sirius satelite and the voice activated sinc for hands free phone calls.
@gakio12 Very true. Not a well-qualified statement from PopSci.