"Hammonasset Ford is our dealership of choice. We have established a good relationship, built on trust, with the Sales and Service Department. We have been made to feel like part of the family."

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2011 Ford Fiesta CT

The 2011 Ford Fiesta is a a brand new entry into the growing market of small, fuel efficient vehicles. The 2011 Ford Fiesta comes as four door sedan or five door hatchback. All have the same 120 horsepower, 1.6-liter, four cylinder engine. The two body styles make distinct statements. The sedan is an interesting combination of an American style econobox with softened edges and a high rear deck (trunk lid). The hatchback presents a more satisfying, Euro like profile, with nicely wedged side character lines and an almost sensuously rounded posterior. Choice is in the eye of the beholder, but both are pleasant and more than competitive in today's design conscious new car market.

Ford Fiesta Power and Drive

The Fiesta introduces a new transmission technology as an option to the Fiesta's standard, 5 speed manual gearbox. This is a 6 speed, twin clutch, automated manual that operates like an automatic but with the fuel economy of a manual transmission. This offers what approaches the best of both worlds for people who like driving but live a city centered life: not having to deal with a clutch pedal but enjoying authentic manual transmission gear changes and the traditionally better fuel economy of a row your own gearbox. Normally, an automatic would come up two or more mpg short of a manual. Handling is easily controlled. It's quite comfortable in its intended environs.

Design of the 2011 Ford Fiesta

Eyed head on, the stance is solid, with the front tires visible outside of the leading edges of the fenders. The chrome strip topping the license plate recess gives the trunk lid a touch of class. The black valance panel across the bottom of the rear bumper helpfully reduces the visual mass. The hatchback's vertically arrayed taillights brace the liftgate, which is hinged far enough forward that opening demands minimal space behind the car. The spoiler perches atop the rear window like an eyelid. The lip running the full width of the liftgate ties into the upper side character line and gives some heft to the lower portion of the liftgate, contrasting well with a black lower valance slightly more prominent than the sedan's.

'11 Ford Fiesta Cabin

Inside, the dominant feature of the dashboard is not the instrument panel, with its analog speedometer, tachometer and fuel gauge, but the center of the dashboard. Ford says the array of infotainment controls housed in a brushed metallic pod and topped by a deeply hooded data screen was intended to evoke thoughts of a PDA or a smart phone; one also might think of the Starship Enterprise or something along those lines. This infotainment system is a centerpiece of the Fiesta's market strategy. The Fiesta's voice activated SYNC system uses its Bluetooth capability to link up with a smart phone to access certain internet streaming services, including FM like sites and podcast providers.

Ford Fiesta Lineup for 2011

The Fiesta S sedan comes standard with air conditioning; cloth upholstery; 60/40 split fold down rear seatback; four speaker, 40 watt AM/FM stereo with audio input jack; power door locks and outside mirrors; carpeted front floor mats; rear seat heat ducts; cloth door panel trim. Steel wheels with a six spoke hubcap wear 185/65R15 tires. An option package adds a CD/MP3 player, remote keyless entry, auto lock doors.

Fiesta SE comes with the Fiesta S option package content plus upgraded upholstery; metallic painted interior trim accents; power windows; trip computer; and 195/60R15 tires on aluminum alloy wheels.

Fiesta SEL has everything that was standard and optional on the S and the SE plus rear seat floor mats; seven color ambient lighting; a second, rear seat auxiliary power point; auto dim rearview mirror; SIRIUS satellite radio; and leather wrapped steering wheel. Fiesta SEL comes with 195/50R16 tires on aluminum alloy wheels. 

Conclusions

Safety equipment that comes standard includes seven airbags, with dual stage frontal, front seat side impact, side curtain and driver knee; antilock brakes; electronic stability control; tire pressure monitoring system; and child safety seat anchors (LATCH).  Stand alone options for the SE sedan and hatchback include a power moonroof; SIRIUS satellite radio coupled with seven color ambient lighting; carpeted rear floor mats; and heated front seats and outside mirrors.

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com