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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  RUN AWAY FROM THIS CAR - 2013 Ford Fiesta
  By Cbyers6300 - July 17 - 5:28 am

  I have a 2013 Ford Fiesta. In the 12 months Ive owned the car weve continuously had electrical and transmission issues. It shifts hard or not at all, the lights go out with the heater is on, the heater goes off when the radio is on, the car turns off while stopped at red lights, etc. A ford dealership finally changed out the transmission last month after I had it in multiple times but only did so when I told them I knew it was under recall. They did not offer this recall to me. They blamed the electrical issues on the transmission. They finally changed out the transmission in Jan 2018. The problems came back three weeks later and the dealership blamed it on the alternator this time. We paid the $500 to have the alternator changed and the car is still shifting hard, running at 4000 rpms in 1st, 2nd, 3rd gear, dying at red lights, etc. How do I solve these problems once and for all you ask? Sell the lemon and move on with my life. Or at least that is my plan. Ford has not been helpful at all in solving this problem once and for all.

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  DRIVER RETURNING ON FOOT! - 2013 Ford Fiesta
  By Greg M. - June 9 - 4:17 am

  I was a Ford man; not after this piece of junk! 60,000 miles--transmission rebuilt 2X. A/C suffered catastrophic failure. Driven loaners for 6,000 miles already (I guess you could say this will extend my warranty approx. 10%) Ford should be ashamed of themselves! Transmission now (today, anyway) shifting better, but we have lost 2 MPG in the process! Bet the govs and EPA will love this! False advertising! SYNC is more of an annoyance than anything else; belongs in the sink! I should have bought a Kia Soul! UPDATE 12/2017-Fourth transmission went out--stranding my wife and daughter (who has special needs and a wheelchair) on the highway. More drama than I prefer. FORD--SHAME ON YOU!!! No more new Fords in my driveway! EVER!

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  So far, an excellent vehicle. - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By fiesta owner - May 19 - 9:16 am

  Lease was up on my BMW 335. My better half got to choose the car this time: The Fiesta. Surprisingly enough, this car has some of the same features as the BMW (not just tires, bumpers...) heated leather seats, heated mirrors, keyless ignition, etc. The Sync system is very versatile and informative. The instrument cluster and dash layout are intuitive, though the Sync has a bit of a learning curve. The car does not drive as well as the BMW, but it takes road bumps at least as well (thank you BMW run flats). Except for the vast amount of space you get with the Fit, the Fiesta outperforms that vehicle in every way. The Fiesta is very quiet when compared to the Fit which is ridiculously loud.

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  Cute, Fast and Fun - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By FiestaInMotion - March 10 - 5:00 pm

  Ive had my automatic Fiesta for 3 weeks and I love it. It is way more fun to drive than its 120 hp would suggest - maintains highway speed effortlessly, passes cars easily, and I dont feel like potential road kill in it. Nothing feels cheap or sluggish, and the seats are really comfortable. Even in high heat when Im blasting the AC all day both ways, I still average 30 mpg. On cool days when I can drive with windows down I get over 40 on the highway.

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  Finally a fun American small car - 2016 Ford Fiesta
  By Steven Parry - January 29 - 11:30 am

  America hasnt had fun small cars like this since the German Opels. Great car, small, fast, nimble, cheap to own and to operate. Nothing fancy mechanically that will break the bank later, very nice amenities inside. Not for a family of four all the time unless youre all small, but as I now have a new driver, I find that as a "2 seater with four doors and a lot of storage", this car is perfect. 3 people easily also, but the storage isnt awesome. She is a little car after all.

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  first 5000 miles - 2016 Ford Fiesta
  By mark - December 19 - 7:22 am

  lets face it everyone one loves a new car so lets keep that in mind. Took my new ford fiesta titanium car on a 4000 mile round trip holiday get away and it was better than great. The only problem was fitting two people ,winter clothes, a dog and Christmas presents all in an economy car. This car has a very large hatch back area an I had hoped to fit it all into the back and not have to pile it into the back seat. Well that dream died quick. So for this trip I should have got the Escape. However as the gas mileage creeped up over 40 mpg (which the sales man swore it would once it hit 2000miles) I became more pleased with my new ford fiesta titanium. The great stuff: 1)the leather heated seats - the best 2) the huge display for the radio and Nav so even I can see it . 3) the sun roof -makes the car seem bigger and lets in the fresh air. 4) this car is layed out so you feel like you have driven it forever. we rent cars and some car brands put things in stupid places 5) a real glove box and console to rest your arm- sounds simple but try to find this in a car under 20 grand and you will see what I mean. 6)dead pedal - a place to rest your left foot on long trips- a back saver. 7)the sync 3 system works great with my iphone The not so great: 1)the nav/gps works good but I have used the garmins for so long that its all I know. So for the first 5000k review this is a great car! we will see at 30k if I cheaped out or got a great fully loaded car that fits in my garage for 18k and change.

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  Front Wheel Drive blows. - 2016 Ford Fiesta
  By Gavin - July 10 - 6:26 am

  Considering this is a FWD car it handles great and is a drivers FWD car. Unfortunately though, its still FWD. The car torque steers all over the road if there is any kind of rut or standing water. The 17 inch rims are too big for the car and it gives the car poor ride quality, handling and makes road noise unbearable. The acceleration is pleasantly surprising. There is very little turbo lag which is nice for me personally because I have driven N/A V8 mustangs and pickups my whole life. The handling will surprise you and the car responds well to throttle burping/modulation while in the center of the corner as long as you dont enter too fast. Sometimes the back end will try to step out if you dive too hard after a Scandinavian flick, in my experience I have found this a somewhat typical trait of FWD cars. The rear wheels have no purpose and are therefore just along for the ride. One feature that often goes overlooked is the hill assist. For an experienced manual transmission driver this is the bees knees. I drove this car somewhere between 10,000 and 20,000 miles (sorry Im not doing that math lol) for Lyft in San Francisco and never once smelt burning clutch. Generally I never even rolled back and it blew American customers minds (they mustve owned a prius). European tourists never gave it a second thought that I was driving a manual and some who had ridden with other drivers around the bay were relieved to see an American driving stick. The manual transmission is the selling point in this car, it is crisp and over built for the equipped 1.6L engine as it is the same 6spd found in the Focus ST which has over 50 more horsepower. The main reason I chose this car over other "Hot Hatch" vehicles is that there is no automatic transmission option so I knew going to the dealership I wouldnt have to search for a car with a stick. Storage space is an issue; however, I never had to turn an airport customer away for luggage although I did have some suitcase induced blind spots from time to time. Visibility in this car is great and I love how there is no backup camera. One of the best things about this car is that you can tell it was designed by a driver, not by a guy in a suit. The little corner mirrors within the side mirrors can easily be adjusted to eliminate blindspots. The sync 3 system is too much for me so I have nothing but great things to say about it. I didnt want or need sync 3, but I got it and I use it. The exterior design is very appealing and the kona blue color is stunning. Overall the car is impressive for what it is. If you drive it right you can hit a high 14 second quarter mile then drive home at 40mpg. I will say this though, you have to drive very conservatively to achieve 40mpg. Ive done it with 3 tanks, the highest of those 3 being approximately 42mpg(92 octane ethanol free, 40.2mpg was my best on crumby California 91 octane). If you arent that patient its pretty easy to get over 35mpg despite the window sticker claiming only 33mpg highway and that is why manual transmissions are the best. I took the car to autocross one time and that was enough for me because Im used to autocrossing my Foxbody mustang, the FWD is just lame and uninspiring. There is no way around it, FWD sucks. Id also like to notate that I always turn off the traction and stability control for two reasons; 1: better driving feel, 2: better fuel economy(less friction, better economy). Driving position is great for visibility but my right knee gets banged up during hard cornering.

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  Almost Perfect - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By SpockFan - June 5 - 10:00 am

  I wanted a small car that would be fun and efficient.This one hit the mark dead on. My other car is a Corolla which has been 100% reliable so it was hard finding a car that would meet my expectations. 800 miles on it and holding at a steady 33.9 MPG with about 50/50 city/highway. And I drive like its a sports car. Handles like a dream. Very comfortable seating and all the controls are well positioned. The sync and ambient lighting are perfect. The back seat legroom is tight but its a small car. It wont win any races going uphill but the power is more than sufficient for normal driving. Get the tinted windows if you have a black interior, it really looks sharp.

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  Very Happy - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By FiestaNSeattle - June 5 - 10:00 am

  Bought a Fiesta SES for my wife. Great car love the Sync system which integrates with her cell phone. Fun to drive and very quiet for a small car.

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  This car is dangerous - 2013 Ford Fiesta
  By Lonnie - May 26 - 12:02 am

  I dont even know where to start. I have owned 31 vehicles in my lifetime, and undoubtedly this is --BY FAR -- the worst vehicle I have ever owned. Its been a nightmare from day one, and I have had it nearly 5 months now. Most importantly is how unsafe this car is. On 3 different occasions, and one of them being on a highway, this car just died, went into neutral while I was going along in the drive gear. It did not stall out, but just lost all power as if it were in neutral. I was lucky enough all times where I was able to turn off to the side of the road. Had I been in the center, or left lane on the highway, I could have been KILLED. It was as though the tranny went. All gears were neutral. I turned it off and waited a while, then restarted it. All 3 times the service engine light went on after restarting it. The gears worked again after the restart, but the car ran terrible after these incidents. Of course after the first occurrence, I brought it back to the dealer. They said it was some emission computer glitch or something and that it was okay now. It was okay for a few weeks then did the same exact thing. Now the dealer had it for 4 days. They pretty much said the same thing after changing out some emission parts, putting in brand new oil, filer, and a cat.... converter. That was good for a few months when the same thing happened again just a few blocks from my home. Right now its in my driveway. I would NEVER sell this to anyone. I would never even think of putting someone else in this danger. Right now I have a complaint in with the MVD, and I want the dealer to take this car back, because I will NOT go for number 4 breakdown, and risk my life in this travesty of a car. I implore everyone. Do not buy this car. I would not wish this 4 wheeled nightmare on my worst enemy. Even without those 3 harrowing events, this tranny was never right. Just shakes, vibrates, shutters, bangs and slips going up a steep incline. The radio is actually a joke. Its more like a toy radio for a little kid. Youd have to be within a mile of a radio station to pick any real clear signal. Also I noticed at night the headlights would dim way down for no reason, then brighten again ! The power door locks are now not working, and you have to turn the ignition switch fully 3 or 4 times before the starter catches. This car has worn me down totally. I will not drive it, not let anyone else drive it. It has to go back to the dealer, or the nearest salvage yard. Ford should be ashamed of themselves for this modern day Edsel. I would bet that the Edsel was probably a better car. By the way if I did not mention, it was a low mileage 2013 Hatchback. 21,000 miles when I bought it with a limited warranty that was another joke. Just do yourself the biggest favor you ever can, Stay FAR AWAY from this shameful mess. Dont even look at photos of it.