Ford Fiesta is a Great Car for Less than $20,000
According to the motoring mavens at MSN Autos, “never before has the marketplace been so rife with competent, attractive and truly affordable new vehicles”—and that includes the 2012 Ford Fiesta, recently chosen by the website as one of its “10 Great Cars for Less than $20,000.”
The Fiesta, of course, starts well under that ceiling, with an MSRP that begins at just $13,200. Yet the car still delivers standard features that include Ford’s AdvanceTrac electronic stability control system, integrated blind-spot mirrors, air conditioning, a four-speaker AM/FM stereo, rear-seat heat ducts, the Easy Fuel capless fuel filler, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, a driver-friendly suspension setup and the segment’s only driver’s knee air bag.
Also in the mix, according to MSN: “a class-leading interior, a refined mechanical essence and lively driving dynamics,” along with EPA ratings that “maintain the frugality without infringing on the fun.” Specifically, the Fiesta is capable of attaining 29 mpg city/38 mpg highway/33 mpg combined right out of the box, while the Fiesta SFE can up that highway mark to 40 mpg, thanks to Ford’s innovative PowerShift six-speed automatic transmission.
Which brings up another point noted by the website: Ford’s new subcompact offers drivers a number of different configurations—all starting well under the $20K limit—to provide models for a wide range of different customer preferences. The Fiesta can be purchased in both five-door hatch and four-door sedan body styles, with manual or automatic transmissions, and can be kitted out with a significantly high level of comfort and convenience equipment, including Ford’s SYNC in-car connectivity system.
And while it hasn’t been approved for production—yet—Ford did preview the hi-po Fiesta ST at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show, showcasing a rally-inspired, Ecoboost powered hot hatch that packs 180 hp and 177 lb.-ft. of torque into a car that weighs only about 2,600 lbs.
“True, Ford isn’t the only maker to have recently revised its recipe for small-car goodness,” according to MSN Autos’ Andrew Wendler, “but the sum of the Fiesta’s parts yield a particularly well-rounded example for a bargain price.”