Vehicle: 2011 Ford Fiesta SES hatchback
Price as tested: CDN$20649

Performance: It comes as no surprise Ford didn’t need any of government’s bailout dollars, as they have homerun after homerun. Everything started from Flex to Fusion hybrid are all wonderful vehicles. Will the new Fiesta give Ford another homerun? Or is it a contender to be our overall Car of the Year? We will find out after this review.

The Fiesta, unlike its chassis silibings, Mazda2. Uses a more powerful Duratec-based 120hp and 112 lb/ft of torque 1.6 liter DOHC 4-cylinder with variable valve timing. Although 120 ponies don’t sound like much, its actual seat-of-the-pants feedback suggest otherwise. While its about 200 lb more than equivalent Mazda2, as well as 20 more horses than Mazda2. But the engine responsiveness don’t feel any differently. This motor is the equal of anything from Honda and Toyota, when it comes to engine refinement and smoothness. I expect rough and crude before I drove the Fiesta. I came out very impressively with its luxury car refinement and quietness. That’s despite there are still some level of noisy in the cabin when driven on higher rpm. 112 lb/ft of torque also work up the low rpm relatively well. Mated with this willing little motor is the smooth shifting 5-speed manual gearbox. The shifts are crisp and precise, with well-defined gates and decent throw. Clutch is light and progessive, while returning decent feedback.

Handling: European Ford has always been renowed for its excellent dynamic qualities. The European breed Fiesta is certainly one of them. It all begins with a stiff and solid foundation, which is completely feel of any cracks and rattles even when driven hard over patholes and railroad tracks. Then add the European suspension which has the uncanny abilities to combined supple ride quality with enough firmness with excellent handling prowess, the result is a little car that really make the thing does. The electric power steering provides awesome feel and feedback with amazing precision. Then add the uninstrusive stability control, which doesn’t step in unnecessarily. That means it encourage any enthuisasts to push the Fiesta with bit of fun before Ford’s excellent AdvanceTrac steps in. The body motions are well-controlled with minimal understeer when pushed hard into any corners.

Brakes: With front discs, rear drums and standard ABS. Fiesta’s brake feel is top-notch consider its at the lower end of the price spectum. What really impressed me is Ford packaged ABS as standard feature even on the entry-level Fiesta S. On the other hand, the ABS doesn’t step in unnecessarily is an added bonus.

Interior: Ford interiors have gone a long way in recent years. Fiesta is certainly one of them. The interior styling and color theme are refreshing for a Ford. Fiesta’s use of materials and fit-and-finish are certainly up to the standards of this class. Instrumentation gauges are clear and analog. The stereo placed on top of the dashboard with the information screen is very logical to use, its also smart enough not to wash out in the hot sunlight. The climate control is finished in large knobs, which have high-quality tactical feel to its operation.

If there is one drawback, it has to be the rear seats don’t go completely flat into the floor. As well as the front passenger seat doesn’t fold flat. Otherwise, the rest of the cargo space is well-finished and provide decent cut-off for ease of loading.

Conclusion: Ford is on a roll lately, everything else from the Taurus to the Mustang are all homerun. The latest Fiesta is another prime example, as it combines cool looks with excellent handling and potent engine. All come with an attractive price that include plenty of standard features. In a nutshell, Ford is finally back at the game in the subcompact segment.

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2011 Ford Fiesta
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Performance: 4/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 5/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 4.5/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 4/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 4/5
Value-for-money: 5/5

Overall rating: 4/5