Ford Fiesta Review "2012 Best Cars for the Your Money"

2012 Best Cars for the Money

Ford Fiesta Review - What the Auto Press Says

The 2012 Ford Fiesta ranks 2 out of 41 Affordable Small Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 27 published reviews and test drives of the Ford Fiesta, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

The 2012 Ford Fiesta is a well-rounded small car that offers good driving dynamics, a comfortable interior and competitive interior tech for the class.

The Ford Fiesta hit the market in 2010, and for 2012, reviewers are still impressed with the 2012 Fiesta’s nearly perfect package. They say thisaffordable small car offers cute looks, fun color options, a quality interior, fun driving dynamics, upscale tech and good fuel economy ratings for the class.

That said, there are a few caveats consumers should know. In advertisements, Ford says the Fiesta gets 29/40 mpg city/highway. That’s with the Fiesta’s Super Fuel Economy package that’s optional on SE trims and higher, which means you pay more for good mileage. And, even though the Fiesta is available as a hatchback, it is not the most utilitarian five-door in the class. That honor is reserved for the Honda Fit, which has a standard Magic Seat and up to 57.3 cubic feet of cargo space. 

But that doesn’t stop the Fiesta sedan and hatchback from being theBest Subcompact Car and Hatchback for the Money thanks to their stylish looks, available tech and fun performance.

Other Cars to Consider

There are two new affordable small cars that are challenging the Ford Fiesta: the Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent. Previously, the automotive press condemned these models for their bad performance, cheap interiors and few standard safety features. For 2012, both of these models are redesigned and the automotive press is raving about their 138-horsepower engines and attractive exteriors. What’s more, both of these models top the base Fiesta’s fuel economy ratings and get 29/40 mpg city/highway.

If practicality is your main concern, you should check out the Honda Fit. Some reviewers say it isn't as much fun as the Fiesta, but it does a lot of things the Fiesta can’t thanks to its standard Magic Seat. The Magic Seat has four modes (people, utility, long and tall), which means you can fit five adults comfortably, pack 57.3 cubic feet worth of stuff, tote a surf board or haul a tall plant. The Fit does trail the Fiesta in terms of fuel economy, but if practicality is your primary concern, the Honda Fit tops the Fiesta.

Details: Ford Fiesta

The Ford Fiesta sedan and five-door hatchback come in four trims: the base S, SE, SEL and SES. The base S is available only as a sedan, and the sedan is not available in the SES trim. The hatch isn't available in the SEL, though the two trims are nearly identical in terms of features and options.

The Ford Fiesta is in its second year of production, and there are few changes to the model. In response to critiques from the automotive press, Ford has added a center arm rest and blind spot sideview mirrors. The automaker has also added new interior style packages.

• "The Fiesta is a substantial, grown-up car. If Ford can keep pricing for the U.S. model, due here next spring, within range of the spunkier but less well-mannered Honda Fit, it will have a rare commodity: a car suited to both Facebook and the real world." -- Automobile Magazine
• “Fiesta doesn't have near the passenger room and cargo versatility of most competitors, but counters with the availability of several unexpected class features, such as heated seats and leather upholstery. If practicality is secondary to style and substance in your book, then Fiesta should be on your shopping list." -- Consumer Guide
• "Ford would be happy with best in class. And we think that's where the Fiesta may very well rank when it reaches the United States." -- Car and Driver
• "Against more familiar models--the Chevrolet Aveo, the Honda Fit and the Toyota Yaris--the Fiesta rises above this competition and every other segment." -- AutoWeek
• "Want a small, cheap, fun-to-drive, economical, practical car? Right now there's not many choices at all and none if you want to buy American. The Ford Fiesta will change that." -- Jalopnik
• "The Fiesta marks Ford's attempt to market the same basic car here that is sold in Europe at higher prices, by standardizing the basics and making optional some upscale features, including heated leather seats, automatic climate control, heated side mirrors, keyless entry and push-button engine start. Some of these features have never been seen in this price class." -- Cars.com