2009 New York Auto Show: Around the block in a Ford Fiesta

Ford has created a lot of buzz around its upcoming Fiesta, a small “B-segment” car it plans to import from Europe in 2010. Ford has also staked the company’s future on sharing worldwide designs, and the Fiesta will be one of the first fruits of that effort.

We had a chance to drive the new Fiesta around the congested rush-hour streets of Manhattan at the New York International Auto Show yesterday and formed some early impressions. Fiesta brand manager, Sam DeLaGarza, who went along for the ride, complimented me on making it all the way to third gear briefly on 11th Avenue.

The car we drove was a hatchback, with a 120-horsepower, 1.6-liter engine and six-speed manual transmission. DeLaGarza said that the U.S. market will likely get a larger engine.

The Fiesta will compete with other budget hatchbacks such as the Honda Fit and the Nissan Versa, just as it does now in Europe. And that is no, uh, small challenge. The Fit and Versa are really nice cars. Like the Fiesta, the Fit is fun to drive. It’s also has an amazing amount of room for both front and rear passengers and cargo space for such a small car. The Versa is also roomy, comfortable, and is quiet and rides very well.

Overall, the Fiesta was fun to drive and rode well. Inside, the hatchback has reasonable cargo space, and I felt comfortable up front, despite being a fairly tall driver. The back seat, however, was snug, though admittedly, I had the seat almost all the way back. Average-height staffers had better luck fitting in the back.

We look forward to doing a full road test when this car is available.

--Eric Evarts

See Consumer Reports' coverage of the 2009 New York auto show.

Comments

[RichK]

The Fiesta will not be imported in 2010, but will be built in Cuatitlan, Mexico in a new production facility (previously a truck plant).

Nice touch that in a Fiesta article, you can't seem to resist spending most of your time talking about the Japanese competition. Typical CR.

[joshg]

I think its totally reasonable to compare to the competition regardless of the source. Give it to us straight CR...how's it line up look forward to the report.

[Carl]

Slap a Honda or Toyota badge on the car and you (CR) would be heaping praise on this car.

The rest of the planet has already made the case that the new Fiesta is the new benchmark in its segment.

Good luck finding excuses why in your (CR) opinions its not.

[Jeff Bartlett - Consumer Reports]

Whoa, this initial impression has very little criticism in it. Our final judgement will be made once we fully test a U.S.-spec Fiesta that we purchased. Without question, it is a car with real promise and tough competition.

Carl - We comment without fear or favor. With the NY show, perhaps you missed my rant on Acura/Honda.
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/04/2009-new-york-auto-show-baffling-acura-zdx.html

[Carl]

Yeah right, the domestics finally get some recommends from CR, and CR finds a creative formula to discredit the domestics.
CRs "bucks per bang" (5 yr owner cost divided by the road test score). The 5 yrs owner cost consists of depreciation, fuel, insurance, interest on financing, maintenance and repair.

Brilliant