Ford Fiesta First Drive
At the 2009 New York International Auto Show, Ford provided a couple of European-spec Fiesta subcompacts for the media to drive, and I took one out for a spin on the streets of Manhattan. Of all the foreign-spec cars I’ve driven as teasers of upcoming American products, this one was probably the closest to what we’ll actually get here in the States, which makes it all the more maddening that the 2011 Ford Fiesta is still about a year away.
I drove a five-speed manual with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder, which is basically what we’ll get in the U.S., along with a four-speed automatic. Even with the four adults we had in the car, there was enough low-rpm power to take off repeatedly in a patch of stop-and-go gridlock. It’s certainly powerful enough for driving on the flatlands, but I’d have to drive a loaded Fiesta on hills to know what it’s really made of.
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Fortuitously, we just tested three leading models from the entry-level class back-to-back a couple weeks ago: the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa and Toyota Yaris. The Fiesta avails itself very, very well. The ride quality was among the best, even though it has a sportier handling feel than the Versa and Yaris. The steering is a clear improvement over those.
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As for the interior, Ford says the Fiesta I drove is the highest trim level and very close to what we’ll get in the U.S. — practically the same. The quality is quite good, and it’s more than just the materials. (Cars.com photographer Ian Merritt was especially captivated by the texture of the dashboard.) The car is reasonably quiet inside and it feels solid, substantial on the road. Though my drive was brief, I’d say the Fiesta is closer to the Fit than the others in many ways. The four-door hatchback isn’t as roomy, but the overall feel, quality and driving experience is in that ballpark. It looks good, too.
