2011 Ford Fiesta Interior, Exterior Styling

Aesthetically, the Fiesta isn't bad. The style we were most enamored with was the hatchback SEL, the nicest of the hatchback models, but from what we've seen, the sedans are also very stylish, if a little "Americanized." It seems like the hatchbacks keep a little more of that singular European styling, with a multitude of curved lines, accents in the right places, and body construction that doesn't make the car look or feel cheap. On the contrary, the car feels like it should cost more than it's sticker price, with amenities like LED parking lamps and the optional power moon roof. The more expensive trim models also add things like a rear spoiler, a rear wiper for the hatchback, and all these accessories are integrated into the final model of the car flawlessly. The Sedan models can look a little boring, but that's the tradeoff for a sedan in this vehicle class.

Inside, the styling of the car feels, once again, nicer than the sticker price. Many cars in this class typically regard interior styling as second to performance and effeciency, but the Fiesta manages to have the look of a much more expensive car. An LCD screen is standard for managing audio and fuel information, with a standard auxilary port for MP3 players, and an optional premium sound package boasting satellite radio and six speaker sound system. The SEL model of the car is very trendy on the inside, with metallic accents, amenities such as seat warmers, but even less expensive models of the car seem nicer than one would think.

The main complaint about the interior of the Fiesta is the size. The rear seats and cargo areas feel a bit cramped, especially in hatchback models. While it would be ideal as a small economy family car, the seats would probably be too cramped for adults to sit in for any length of time. The cargo area is adequeate, but hardly roomy by any standards. Those who constantly haul cumbersome items like bikes or large amounts of luggage might want to think about a different car, or at least different storage options.

Safety-wise, the Fiesta performs well. The car is standard with anti-lock brakes, as well as Electronic Brake Force Distribution, meaning stopping feels safer and happens quicker, regardless of the terrain. Brake testing had the car coming to a complete stop from 60mph within about 120 feet, and the car handled well in a variety of conditions, including wet roads and other slippery situations, with loss of control almost a non-issue thanks to the excellent stability and traction controls.

The Fiesta also boasts a lot of safety features that aren't exactly the industry standard, like side airbags for every seat in the car, as well as a knee airbag for the driver, the only car in it's class to feature this. The car earned four stars on the new, more strenous government crash testing, with four stars in the frontal collision rating and a five stars for the side collision rating. This certainly earns points for the Fiesta and rounds it out as an excellent option for those looking into the subcompact class for their next car.