With circular headlights and rounded body lines, many compact cars have the style of the 1950s. But with the 2012 Fiesta, Ford has avoided going retro. Instead, crisp sheet metal angles up along the flanks and the headlights flow over the top of the fenders creating a look as modern as any you’ll see on the roads.
Available as both a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback, the Fiesta is a subcompact that deserves serious consideration. There are five trim levels, starting with the sedan-only S, then the SE, which comes with a trunk or hatch, followed by the SEL sedan, and then the line-topping SES hatchback. Pricing starts at just over $13,000 for the S, rising to a little over $18,000 for the SES, depending on options selected.
All Fiestas come with a 1.6-liter Duratec four-cylinder engine that generates 120 horsepower and 112 pound-feet of torque. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard across the range, although a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic is available for an additional $1,100. Unlike a traditional torque-converter automatic, the dual clutch transmission actually improves fuel efficiency over the manual, providing 29 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. (The manual gives up 1 mpg on each cycle.)
These numbers are impressive, but buyers wanting even more fuel efficiency should take a look at the SFE package available for SE models. Costing just $395 (but requiring the 6-speed transmission), the SFE package adds cruise control and subtle aerodynamic tweaks to deliver 40 mpg on the highway, according to EPA testing.
Externally, S and SE models ride on 15-inch steel wheels, while the SEL and SES get 16-inch alloys. Depending on whether you choose the sedan or hatchback, the front grilles also feature different styling.
The Fiesta sedan is only 174 inches long, and the hatchback is just over a foot shorter, making it ideal for city use. Yet inside there’s space for four adults, five if they’re really good friends. Luggage capacity in the sedan is 12.8 cubic feet while the hatchback offers 15.4 cubic feet behind the second row, (making a good argument for hatchback practicality over sedan formality), and with the back seats folded down the hatch makes available an astounding 26 cubic feet.
A number of packages and options are available for the Fiesta, and these get more extensive further up the range. This means buyers of the S sedan are only offered the Convenience Package (keyless entry, door locks, and a CD player), while at the SES/SEL end, packages like Premium Sport Appearance, Upgrade, and Interior Style make it possible to add must-haves like heated leather seats, push-button start, and black headlamp surrounds.
On the road, the Fiesta is a lively performer, with confidence-inspiring brakes and handling that’s perfect for zipping through city traffic. To some eyes the hatchback presents a more youthful profile than the sedan, but both come in an eye-catching range of colors (Lime Squeeze Metallic, anyone?) When seen on urban streets, the Fiesta looks like a 21st-century subcompact. Thank goodness Ford eschewed the round-eyed retro look!