I got the opportunity to meet up with Ford
Fiesta Movement Agents
Brad and Emma today for a test drive of the 2011 Ford Fiesta before our Third-Annual Mt. St. Helens cruise. Although the weather didn't make for great viewing of Mt. St. Helens, it was a perfect day to take a Fiesta out for a spin. Here are some thoughts after seeing and driving Ford's highly anticipated soon-to-be-sold-here subcompact.
EXTERIORAlthough I'd seen plenty of photos of the Fiesta, it's always hard to actually get an idea of a vehicle's size until you see it in person. For comparison's sake, I parked my Yaris in front of the Fiesta to give you an idea of Fiesta's size. You can see, it's similar in size to the Toyota. (
Click the photo to enlarge)
Exterior styling is always subjective, but I think the Fiesta looks great. It's got great lines, a bold design, and is far from bland. It's abundantly clear that this is not an econobox. The Fiesta has projector headlights, fog lights, LED taillights, side-marker turn signals in the mirrors, and great-looking 17" alloy wheels and 205/40/17 Pirelli tires. The Fiesta Movement vehicles also feature unique graphics.
INTERIORLet's just cut to the chase: The Fiesta's interior is fantastic—not only for a subcompact, but for any car—and it's anything but plasticy. The dash is made from soft-touch material and the silver bits and pieces are of high-quality. And it just goes on from there. The seats are comfy with decent bolstering. The ergonomics are great; everything is within reach and feels like it's where it should be. The gauges are easy to read.
This vehicle has Bluetooth and a voice-recognition for things such as climate control. I'm told the U.S. versions will be available with Ford's Sync.
For folks sitting in the back seat, there is a good amount of leg room and it is comfortable. Cargo space is plentiful behind the rear bench. There's a lot more space there than my Yaris; it's probably similar to the Honda Fit.
Good looks: Check.
Nice interior: Check.
Let's hit the road.
DRIVINGOf course, driving is the most important aspect of a vehicle, and the Fiesta continues to impress on the road. The first thing I did was make a complete circle, and determined that the turning radius was very good. Another nice thing: A fat, chunky steering wheel.
The 1.6-liter engine provides the Fiesta with good acceleration. The car doesn't feel underpowered and the engine feels and sounds refined, even at higher RPM. According to
Brad and Emma's Web site, their Fiesta is getting about 30mpg combined. Brad also said the Euro-spec Fiesta runs on premium fuel, although, the U.S. versions will run on regular.
Being a stickler for good shifters, I'm happy to report that the five-speed manual gearbox shifts very nicely; definitely among the best in the subcompact class. Shifts feel accurate and precise; throws are very adequate.
The ride is surprisingly good for a subcompact, even for a car with the 17-inch wheels and low-profile tires. Again, I had four people in the vehicle during the drive, and it never felt jarring or uncomfortable.
The Fiesta has a fairly narrow rear window. However, outward visibility was still good. It helps that the rear C-pillars aren't terribly wide.
The thing I am most impressed with about the Fiesta is its synergy. All the parts work well together to provide an excellent driving experience. The steering feels quick and responsive. The car rides well. The powertrain feels refined and smooth. The controls are where you want them. It all just comes together. And although small, the Fiesta doesn't feel cheap or tinny—it feels solid and substantial—a great thing in a small car.
Assuming the U.S.-spec Fiesta retains the same quality feel and excellent driving dynamics of the European-spec Fiesta Movement cars, Ford will, without a doubt, have a top contender in the subcompact market. It's got the right fuel economy, the right size, and will hopefully have the right price, too.
The Fiesta is selling like hotcakes in Europe, and I can see why. However, convincing Americans to buy subcompacts can be difficult. With that being said, the Fiesta is an excellent option for those who do want to buy small and also want to buy American.
MORE PHOTOSLINKSFiestaMovement.com2011 Ford FiestaFollow The Fiesta (Fiesta Movement agents Brad and Emma)
A bit over an hour to the east of Portland, OR is the town of Hood River. There's a lot to do once you get there, but getting there is a lot of fun, too. If you take Interstate 84 there, like we did, you'll go through The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area rewarding you with fantastic views of the river, rock formations, and just the overall beauty that is "The Gorge." Cool stops along the way can include Multnomah Falls, Bonneville Dam, and numerous parks and trails.
We chose to partake in another thing Hood River is well known for: Beer. There are three breweries in the city: The well-known Full Sail Brewing, Horse Feathers Brew Pub, and Double Mountain Brewery. Not bad for a city with a population of 21,536 people. We stopped at Double Mountain for lunch and the beer sampler (at left). Great beer; the Pilsner, the IRA (India Red Ale) and "Hop Lava" were standouts. We grubbed on the meatball sandwich, too. You can take beer home with you in their 64oz growlers, as well. 
Another thing Hood River is known for is a lot of cool shops. Whether you're looking for clothing, jewelry, outdoor equipment, or just about anything else, Hood River probably has it on Oak St., which is the main drag. We went into a vintage clothing store called "That's Swank," and found a pretty awesome old Ford Pinto t-shirt. The text read "Join the Ford Stampede ... or get stomped!" Apparently it was an original 1970s shirt, too.
The view from the Vista House
ENGINE, SUSPENSION, SPECS
JIMNY IN THE U.S.?
Custom 1989 Nissan Pao
Stock 1989 Nissan Pao
A few of us Yaris owners were speculating on the next generation Toyota Yaris, and which powerplant it will have. It was noted that the current 1.5-liter, 16-valve DOHC 1NZ-FE engine (offered in the Toyota Yaris, Echo, Prius [1NZ-FXE]; Scion xA, first-generation xB) looks like its being phased out of the company. The new Prius is using a 1.8-liter engine. The Toyota iQ in Asia and Europe has an engine displacing 1.0 liter, and will soon get a 1.3-liter (the 1NR-FE above).
Maybe Americans aren't so much worried about engine size as engine output. If Toyota can produce a 1.3-liter engine that makes usable power, maybe people would buy it. Or is there a magic horsepower number?
The IIHS says, "Better bumpers don't have to be complicated. Auto manufacturers already know how to make good ones. Longer and taller reinforcement bars and energy-absorbing material are key to reducing damage in low-speed collisions." 
For $1,270 over the price of a standard xD (making the cost of the RS 2.0 xD $15,920 for the manual, $16,720 for automatic), buyers can get the xD RS 2.0 which includes a touch-screen Pioneer Audio Visual Navigation (AVN) head unit with flash memory, voice recognigtion, and Bluetooth®. It is also ready for satellite radio, HD Radio®, and a back-up camera. It will play iPod videos (when the parking brake is engaged), too.
Contrary to a previous posting, the facelifted front end of the new Hyundai Verna will not be coming to America on the Accent. At least that's what Autoblog is reporting.
INTERIOR
Being a stickler for good shifters, I'm happy to report that the five-speed manual gearbox shifts very nicely; definitely among the best in the subcompact class. Shifts feel accurate and precise; throws are very adequate.
