Introduction
The Ford Fiesta was introduced to the U.S. market in the early 1970s and discontinued at the end of that decade, but it has remained a popular model elsewhere, especially in Europe. Ford brought the Fiesta back to the United States for the 2011 model year. The 2013 Ford Fiesta is a budget-priced sub-compact car that's available as a sedan or a hatchback. For 2013, the Fiesta is offered in three trim levels: S, SE, and Titanium. Last year's SEL and SES trim levels have been discontinued, and their features incorporated into the remaining trims. The Fiesta competes with subcompacts such as the Honda Fit, Kia Rio, Toyota Yaris, and Chevrolet Sonic.
Exterior Features
The 2013 Ford Fiesta is available in seven standard and two premium exterior colors (although not all colors are available at all trim levels), with standard 15-inch wheels, all-weather tires, capless fuel filler, body-color front grille, bumpers, door handles, and power mirrors. Keyless entry and a Fiesta stripe are optional. Painted aluminum wheels are optional on the SE, while the Titanium trim level features 16-inch painted aluminum wheels. The two upper trim levels feature heated mirrors; the Titanium trim level adds a chrome beltline. Supplemental LED parking lights are optional on the SE and standard on the Titanium.
Interior Features
The base Fiesta's interior features a 4-speaker radio, manual air conditioning, cloth manually adjustable front bucket seats, and 60/40 split-folding rear seat. The SE adds cruise control and power windows, upgraded cloth upholstery, the Sync system, upgraded sound system with CD player, power locks, trip computer, and sun visors with vanity mirrors. The Titanium trim level adds leather upholstery in a choice of five colors, SiriusXM satellite radio, leather-wrapped steering wheel, upgraded storage bins and cupholders, carpeted floor mats, ambient lighting, and push-button start. The sedan provides 12.8 cubic feet of cargo space. The hatchback's cargo space can be stretched to 26 cubic feet with rear seats lowered.
Optional Features
The Fiesta offers many option packages at various levels. Many features that are standard on an upper trim level are available as individual options on a lower trim. The Exterior Protection package (hatchback only) includes front and rear mudguards and a scuff-resistant bumper protector. The SE Appearance package adds some of the Titanium's cosmetic features to the SE trim level. On the Fiesta Titanium, the Black Sport Appearance package adds a black rear spoiler, black sideview mirrors and window surrounds, and an enhanced final drive ratio (manual transmission only). Different styling treatments of the light bezels and grille are available, as are a roof rack, bike carrier, ski carrier, and a security system. The SFE (for Super Fuel-Efficient) package includes aerodynamic features that minimize air resistance and boost fuel efficiency. The package includes side air deflectors, underbody shields, and blockers on the lower grille.
Under the Hood
The 2013 Ford Fiesta's power plant is a 120-horsepower,1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine with a standard 5-speed manual transmission or optional 6-speed automated manual dual-clutch transmission. The Fiesta employs front-wheel drive.
Fuel Economy
EPA fuel-economy estimates for the 2013 Ford Fiesta are:
- Fiesta with manual transmission: 29/38/33 mpg (city/highway/combined)
- Fiesta with automatic transmission: 29/39/33 mpg
- Fiesta with SFE package: 29/40/33 mpg
Safety
Standard safety features on the 2013 Ford Fiesta include anti-lock disc/drum brakes, traction control, front-seat side air bags, side curtain air bags, and a driver's knee air bag. A tire-pressure monitoring system is standard.
In government crash tests, the 2013 Ford Fiesta received 5 (out of 5) stars for driver's-side front-impact protection, 4 for passenger-side protection and 5 for overall side-impact crash protection, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Fiesta received a "Good" rating--the Institute's highest--across the board on impact tests.
Technology
Ford's Sync technology includes various voice-controlled capabilities. Ford's Intelligent Access entry permits entry using key fob, and starts the engine with the push of a button on the dash. An optional keypad entry system allows entry and ignition when not using the key fob.
