2011 Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta will go on sale in the U.S. as a 2011 model.

In about a year, the new Ford Fiesta will go on sale in the United States as a 2011 model. Fiesta is a subcompact, and is Ford’s latest “world car,” a vehicle the company says it will build and sell across the globe with market-specific tuning to suit local driving conditions and consumer preferences. Americans should be able to choose from two body styles, a 4-door hatchback or 4-door sedan.

Fiestas similar to the one that will be offered to buyers in the States are already on sale in some markets, and recently Ford offered me the chance to spend about 15 minutes behind the wheel of a European-specification Fiesta on the back roads of Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine region. The test car was a very well equipped 4-door hatch in an attention-grabbing bright green color the company calls “Squeeze.” It’s one of those hard-to-describe colors that collectors of old Hot Wheels cars refer to as “antifreeze.”

The company hasn’t confirmed the powertrain choices for the U.S., but the test Fiesta had the top gasoline-fueled engine the firm offers in Europe, a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder that’s rated at 120 horsepower. The tester was equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission.

What’s Cool…

Good Looks
Style is always subjective, but to my eyes, the Fiesta is a looker. Sculpted lines, flared fenders, and a tires-to-the-corners stance means Fiesta doesn’t look like a typical econobox. In Europe at least, Fiesta comes in fifteen colors, including unexpected hues like magenta or our test car’s green.

Nice Cabin
Inside, Fiesta is no penalty box. Materials in this Euro-spec model were well above the class norm, and even outshone many well-regarded compacts. Soft-touch materials, metal-look accents, and leather trim with contrast stitching made for a surprisingly nice cockpit.

Click here for a full review of the 2011 Ford Fiesta.
Good Drive
Like I said, I only spent about 15 minutes behind the wheel, and part of that was at 25 mph driving through a small town. Still, the European-grade Fiesta impressed with a fine ride and confident reflexes. The bonus was a fairly quiet cabin that seemed much more isolated than a Honda Fit’s.

…What’s Not

Cramped Rear Seat
Again, it was only a short encounter, but Fiesta’s rear seat and cargo area do not seem as roomy as the same areas in a Honda Fit. I’m a bit over 6-feet tall and was very comfortable up front, but there was not enough legroom to allow me to sit behind myself. The rear seat splits and folds to increase cargo room, but doesn’t offer the flexibility of the folding options found with the Fit’s rear-seat.

Still Months Away
After my seat time, I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel of a federalized Fiesta. We aren’t sure when that will happen yet, but it will likely be in early 2010.

CG Says:

In European trim, Ford’s Fiesta is an impressive piece. A good-looking car with a well-trimmed interior and surprisingly refined road manners could be just what Ford needs to be a serious contender in the subcompact market in the U.S., especially if the price is right. Ford hasn’t confirmed the equipment that will be offered on American-market models, so keep in mind that some of the items mentioned in this story might not be available here. First impressions are very good, but we need to see, not to mention, drive, the final product before we’ll know if the Fiesta joins the Honda Fit and Suzuki SX4 as one of our class favorites.

05.13.2009