Overview & Reviews

Unlike buying a sports car or luxury cruiser, purchasing an economy car isn't usually an occasion to celebrate. Yet with belt-tightening just about everywhere you look, the virtues of value and fuel efficiency are becoming just as important and appealing as eye-watering acceleration and sumptuous comfort. Ford tapped into these potentially changing tastes with its subcompact Fiesta.

The Ford Fiesta provides levels of refinement, sportiness and style that not too long ago were unthinkable in the economy class. We've found that the entry-level Ford boasts not only impressive comfort, enjoyable driving dynamics and an inviting cabin but also unexpected features like keyless ignition and Ford's Sync system. In other words, the Ford Fiesta is a winner. Even if you never thought you'd drive a subcompact car, it may be time to reconsider.

Current Ford Fiesta
The four-door Ford Fiesta subcompact is offered as a sedan and hatchback in S, SE and Titanium trim levels. The high-performance ST model is available only as a hatchback.

All but the ST come standard with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder that produces 120 horsepower. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, but a six-speed automated manual is optional. Optional for the SE is a turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder EcoBoost engine that makes 123 hp. It only comes with a five-speed manual transmission and boasts an impressive estimated 37 mpg combined. The ST boasts a turbocharged 1.6-liter four with 197 hp and comes only with a six-speed manual. With a 0-60 mph time of 7.1 seconds, the ST is a quick little car.

The S trim's standard features include a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, air-conditioning, power locks and mirrors, Bluetooth phone connectivity and an audio system with a CD player and an iPod/USB interface. The SE adds keyless entry, power windows, cruise control, a trip computer, a front center armrest and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Titanium's added highlights, some of which are optional on the SE, include alloy wheels, foglamps, keyless ignition and entry, leather upholstery, heated front seats, automatic climate control, a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, the MyFord Touch interface, Sync Services (traffic updates and turn-by-turn directions) and an upgraded audio system with both satellite and HD radio. The Fiesta ST's perks include unique bodywork, a sport-tuned suspension, 17-inch wheels, high performance tires, quicker steering, upgraded brakes and sport seats.

Inside, the Fiesta features a soft-touch dash and tight construction that impart a feeling of quality normally lacking in an entry-level car. The Fiesta's controls, especially for the stereo, can be a bit confusing even for the technologically minded, but are at least well placed. In terms of backseat and cargo space, the sedan is competitive with its rivals but the hatchback offers considerably less capacity than Honda's Fit.

On the road, the standard 1.6-liter inline-4 provides refined performance, and with either transmission gets the Fiesta to 60 mph in about 9.5 seconds. The available turbocharged inline-3 is a real gem, providing strong fuel economy, an energetic engine note and exceptional acceleration for the segment. Of course, the ST's power plant is the real thriller in a segment not known for pulse-quickening rides. Regardless of which version you get, the Fiesta boasts excellent steering response and suspension tuning that yields an ideal ride-and-handling balance. Handling is even sharper in the ST and although the ride is firmer as well, it's not too stiff for daily driver duty.

Used Ford Fiesta Models
The current-generation Fiesta bowed for 2011 and was essentially unchanged through 2013. Although otherwise similar, these Fiestas had slightly different styling and did not offer the MyFord Touch electronics interface, ST model or the turbocharged three-cylinder engine.

User Reviews:

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  LEMON!! - 2012 Ford Fiesta
  By E. Lucero - November 29 - 12:05 am

  I purchased a used 2012 model from my local Ford dealer as a graduation gift for my daughter in 2013. This car has been nothing but trouble almost from the start! We have had to take the car in for constant service due to the ongoing recalls associated with the clutch, transmission and door locks, and still the car is not up to par. Thank god for warranties! We finally had enough and traded this lemon in for a Fusion hoping for better luck this time around, and peace of mind knowing my child is driving a safer car.

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  Run away as fast as you can - 2012 Ford Fiesta
  By Dan - November 26 - 2:23 pm

  This has got to be the worst car ever made by any car company, including Yugo. This car should auto qualify for a lemon. If you buy this car, chose a lemon law attorney the same day you drive off the lot. The ford sync system is terrible and never works properly, and i mean NEVER. The transmission is a constant problem. It sound like its grinding during every shift point and even when no power is applied. It shifts erratically, surges, stalls out and sometimes leaves me stranded at red lights. Dont buy this car, dont even look at it.

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  RIP. OFF. - 2014 Ford Fiesta
  By Disgusted - November 21 - 5:53 am

  This car is a death trap and an embarrassment to drive. The transmission is constantly jerking, grinding, hesitating, etc. This is a common problem that Ford is apparently doing nothing about. It should be illegal to sell a car like this. Of course the fact that the Ford salesman lied to me when I purchased the car doesnt help. Will not ever purchase another Ford. Cant wait to get rid of this piece of garbage.

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  Nightmare fleet - 2013 Ford Fiesta
  By Thomas Z - November 14 - 3:06 pm

  I repair and maintain the fleet of a large utility company, this is one of the fleet cars, the worst, most unreliable cars in the fleet. Transmission problems galore! all of the transmissions slip, stall, shudder and clunk, 30% have rebuilt transmissions (one within 15K miles most around 50K) the rest have been flashed (works for 6k miles), a few had damaged harnesses, which the dealer refused to repair under warranty (2 yr old 30K miles) Almost all have been towed at one point due to not going into gear, now some of them crank themselves and dont start. But thats not all! All the interior door handles break, the trim around the door and on the roof gutter fall off, the seats are down to rags and springs already, brakes wear super fast, CV shafts snap and support bearings make noise, ball joints go fast, body cracks where door hinge connects due to paper thin steel. To add insult to injury when they are running, they are slow, noisy, uncomfortable and feel cheap going down the road. The absolute worse car you can buy today (or ever) I understand what DCT is, how it works and how it should feel, we have others in the fleet with them (not ford) and these are not right. You could literally buy any other car and have better luck.

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  Drivers Nightmare - 2013 Ford Fiesta
  By sergey - November 10 - 2:17 pm

  It has well-documented problems with transmission (clutch). I wish Id read this before buying it. It jerks when starts moving and feels absolutely unsafe when driving it. A good exterior design is what makes people to be attracted by this car. Its heavily overprices and its losing its value very fast (60% over 2 years).

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  Very expensive lemon - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By Kenneth - November 8 - 10:30 pm

  Very small car great on gas good for intercity driving car has cost me more money than what its worth I am a mechanic and the issues that I am seeing with this transmission worries me really looking forward to trading this in due to the mechanical issues not worth the money.

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  Buy A Toyota!!! - 2012 Ford Fiesta
  By Tchris - November 3 - 4:25 pm

  I have a 2012 FORD FIESTA that has had to have 2 transmissions replaced and now the catalytic converter replaced due to the issues with the transmission. FORD is aware that the fiestas and fusions all have the shutter and lag when you push on the gas. You can call their 800-WE-DONT-CARE number but FORD will not stand behind their product. If enough people come forward maybe FORD will take some action. [HTML removed]

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  LEMON - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By Kori - October 27 - 6:24 pm

  Dont do it. I bought one and I cant even resell because of the Notorious transmission and its defects.

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  Get a different car! Fiesta NO lemon YES - 2012 Ford Fiesta
  By M. C. - October 23 - 12:40 am

  Do not buy this cute little lemon!!! Recalls recalls recalls !!! And brake trouble, transmission trouble engine light always on , car revs at stop signs the service manager said Im not letting the engine warm up before driving!!! As hot as its been in Southern California thats absurd!!! Im done!! Time for a lemon law lawyer! I took it for a recall repair and they CHARGEd me 300 dollars for a throttle body !!! And threatened to take it back out if I didnt pay! And claimed to give me a 300 dollar Ford discount to offset the 600 dollar price tag!!!! I will NEVER buy another Ford!!! To think I was trying to support American made items!! Well they arent supporting me!! I drive up hill to my house each nite and my car stalls for a few seconds each time!, thats dangerous!! Shall I die for an American made car??? %#¥ NO!!! Im done!!! Give me back my Toyota!

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  Dont buy this car. - 2013 Ford Fiesta
  By Steve Haering - October 18 - 10:30 am

  Acceleration - dismal at best, I wouldnt want to be in front of a semi-truck when the light turns green. Bluetooth - in theory its fine. But to turn it on, you have to use the voice activation and say "Bluetooth audio" whenever you start the car. It gets old after 50,000 miles. Braking - Substandard. I feel like Im driving a Mustang. Good luck braking on anything but dry pavement Cargo / Storage - Good enough to put someone in the trunk. The back seat could use space. Climate control - The spray seems a bit uneven in places Comfort - Only one arm rest and no center console. Awesome Dealership Support - Yeah, thats funny. Every time I take it in for transmission grinding "Oh, well recalibrate it. Wait three days". Electronics - Somehow they have a crappy Microsoft radio that only supports USB connections via an Apple device. Explain that one. Entertainnment - what entertainment? Performance - see above. Fuel Economy - It gets a great 40mpg when youre cruising on flat land at 55mph. Headlights - dismal, cant see anything. The brights are like my Camaros regular beams. Navigation - None Noise and Vibration - the tranny is constantly shuddering. Makes me feel really good about driving it, let me tell you. Purchase cost - I could have bought a bottom of the line Camaro for three thousand more. Reliability - little to none due to the Tranny issue. Resale value - abysmal. Okay. Anyway. Let me actually go into detail a little bit. This car is fine, until you hit the transmission issues. It shudders, it clicks, it whines, and it makes you feel like you arent actually going to shift, instead its going to stall out. Its an AUTOMATIC and it feels like its going to stall. Awesome, right? Ive had it into the dealership five times for the same issue, they keep recalibrating the transmission, and absolutely nothing happens. Someone explain that one to me. Trying to get rid of this car is like trying to get rid of herpies - its impossible. Probably because everyone knows that its a horrible car.