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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  What you see is not what you get. - 2012 Ford Fiesta
  By jstrand - March 24 - 12:35 pm

  The tranny in this thing sounds like it is going to give out. My car grinds in reverse and in drive. It is especially bad in the morning. I have brought it into the dealership multiple times and each time they tell me this is normal.

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  Throttle Broken at 45K highway miles - 2012 Ford Fiesta
  By jt18 - October 8 - 7:52 pm

  Driven gently, and properly maintained, this vehicle has only given me a few problems. The arm rest broke after one year, Im not a big person and I didnt abuse the arm rest, it just broke one day when I leaned on it to adjust the seat. The throttle body started failing after about 40K miles, idling erratically, lurching on the highway, stalling at stoplights and randomly racing the engine while idling. Took it to be repaired, of course it is NOT covered under the power train warranty. Cost $900 to repair! Strange, I would have expected the throttle box to be considered part of the power train. It does handle fairly well in rain and snow as long as its not too deep.

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  Think before you buy this car - 2013 Ford Fiesta
  By avatheps - August 8 - 7:27 am

  I bought the car new on May 1st 2013 and have driven it over 7500 miles. Most of the miles were driven during an extended trip to all points south of NY state. All highway conditions were experienced most being I81 and I95. Wet and windy conditions were frequent. I found several issues that I did not like and was happy with others. I will try and touch on most of them as briefly as possible due to the limited space available. My overall rating of this car is a 3 out of 5. This based on my thorough testing of this car in comparison with 49 years of driving experience and having owned many cars of all types. This car performs best in flat terrain. Do not buy it if you live on a hill.

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  Not one of Fords Better Ideas! - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By godzilla1957 - July 20 - 3:07 pm

  Though the SES is very sharp looking, gets pretty good MPG (though a friends TDI Passat at twice the size gets just as good MPG) it has many flaws and I honestly wish I hadnt bought this car. The 6 speed auto trans had to be reprogrammed, Im reading about those who had to get new trans and Im nervous since Im 2K miles out of warrantee. I cant enter or exit a driveway with any grade without scraping. I cant see though the back window due to the read hear rests, no center console creates right arm fatigue. The AC vents blow right on my hands creating aches. At 511" I sit way too low, the back seat is basically worthless and SYNC is an abomination. Im an unhappy camper.

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  Do not buy this car!!! - 2013 Ford Fiesta
  By avatheps - July 16 - 12:56 pm

  Bought it on 1 May 2013 after much looking and online comparing. Wish I had been able to test drive it longer and in more realistic conditions as I would never have bought it. I live on a fairly steep hill and it can barely climb it in 3rd gear. Put 6500 miles on it in in 2 months so have given it a good test. It does get good gas mileage. Went to Florida on $80 and the same coming back. Does fine on flat thruway drives up to 85 mph, but includes lots of down shifting. It skips and bucks during rainstorms or wet weather. On board navigation is worthless even on I81 and I95 where you dont turn for hundreds of miles. To much wrong to report it all. Please reconsider buying this car.

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  Adaptive Transmission and Poor Gas consumption issues - 2012 Ford Fiesta
  By coach_dizzy - June 26 - 10:37 am

  We purchased the 2012 Ford Fiesta SE (Auto) in August of last year. Since we have put on over 33,000 km on it. Never had a issue with until last week. While accelerating there seemed to be a slip or clunk in the transmission and there would be no acceleration for a very brief period of time. We also started to notice a dramatic drop in our MPG. The first 8 months of use we would get around 650km per tank of gas on a mixed driving terrain. Now we are lucky to push 425km per tank. Dealer says it was the ATC and said it is fixed now. We will see. I really hope the gas consumption gets resolved.

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  The no torque, suspension, easiest to drive and give up car. - 2013 Ford Fiesta
  By musicmitch - June 17 - 1:51 pm

  Suspension: Front independent, but rear only a beam in the back - it bottoms out on bumps. NO torque from A standstill - almost got into two accidents when trying to accelerate from a standstill. The gas economy is not 29/39. My trip computer after 6000 miles, says I get only 17mpg in the city and 28 on the highway - UNACCEPTABLE for such a light car. I challenge anyone from Ford to come and look at my trip computer. The rear seat is severely cramped. The rear windshield is harder to see out of at night. No center bin front seat. When Arm rest extended, it interferes with cup holders. Ambient lighting is a waste of money. Front door has a weight imbalance. Blind spot mirrors hard to use.

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  Automatic Transmisson problems - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By fiestatranny - February 14 - 2:12 pm

  10,000 miles and I cant put it into reverse or drive and had it towed to nearest Ford Dealership and it runs fine so they tell me they cant "verify the problem"like I made it up! So I do an internet search and find that people all over the country had the same problem. I sent the links the reports of Ford replacing transmissions to the head o the service dept. Only after doing that would the dealership even look at my car. And they found a check engine light and ran a report. They redid some computer issues but still arent sure if they fixed the "unverified" report...is keeping the reports "unverified" Fords way of under reporting how many owners have the same intermittent issues?

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  Terrible Engine, do not buy this car - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By cremebrulee - January 8 - 6:57 am

  I own a 2011 Ford Fiesta SE. Ive had more mechanical problems with it then any other car Ive owned. Bought it new, and has been making a grinding noise since I bought it. Replaced the clutch and is now in the shop again for the 3rd time, they cannot figure out what the grinding noise is? I dont understand how Ford can get away with this? They are not standing by their product. Ive also read, that they were replacing transmissions quietly due to this terrible grinding noise it makes?

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  Shifting/ automatic - 2012 Ford Fiesta
  By ldouglass - September 6 - 8:02 am

  I bought this car in May of 2012 with only 5 miles on it. At first I loved it but after I hit around 4,000 miles I noticed the car wouldnt shift properly. When I brought it into the dealer they said it was normal for this car. I dont care if it is normal or not. It is dangerous. Sometimes it wont shift very well at all. Hesitating and feels like it will stall at any minute. Hills are the worst, very hard to get up them. I feel this car will cause an accident for some. I dont recommend it. Not only does it spit and sputter shifting up but you can also hear the clunking of the transmission when it shifts down. I have a feeling there will be a recall on this car.