Nissan Rogue Vs. Honda CR-V: Compare Cars
For small families, the vehicle of choice is no longer the minivan or the SUV; it's the compact... Read More
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This eager mill revs smoothly to redline and delivers the power in a pleasingly linear way.
Six-speed automatic...seemed tuned more for mileage than fun. Downshifts often were reluctant. Without an automatic's torque converter, it was sluggish off the mark.
Delivers above-average handling and minimal body roll.
It's nimble as hell, tossable as the day is long, and it makes you giggle when you spank it down a winding road.
Turn-in is sharp and the car is incredibly easy to place precisely where you want it.
PERFORMANCE | 7 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
This eager mill revs smoothly to redline and delivers the power in a pleasingly linear way.
Edmunds
Six-speed automatic...seemed tuned more for mileage than fun. Downshifts often were reluctant. Without an automatic's torque converter, it was sluggish off the mark.
USA Today
Delivers above-average handling and minimal body roll.
Autoblog
It's nimble as hell, tossable as the day is long, and it makes you giggle when you spank it down a winding road.
Jalopnik
Turn-in is sharp and the car is incredibly easy to place precisely where you want it.
Motor Trend
While the 2012 Ford Fiesta seduces (and succeeds in some counts) with much more raciness than other small cars, once you're behind the wheel this small car is what it is: a small, maneuverable, high-mileage four-cylinder car with a choice of automatic or manual gearboxes.
That said, It's one of the best performers in a group of cars that put most of their time and effort into frugality--which, coincidentally, it does pretty well too. The Fiesta's 120-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine is actually enough to move the 2,600-pound Fiesta quite rapidly; we're talking about ten seconds to 60 mpg, which isn't quick by any gauge, yet it's more responsive than you'd expect for a model that comes with ratings up to 30 mpg city, 40 mpg highway.
You have two gearboxes to choose from: a six-speed manual, and a six-speed PowerShift dual-clutch automatic. Between the two, we like the light, precise manual a lot better (though you'll see slightly lower gas mileage); the PowerShift gearbox can lurch a bit in slower around-town driving, and it also hesitates for too long to downshift when a burst of power is needed. Beware, the engine can be quite thrashy when pushed or revved.
Overall, much like the original Mazda Miata, the Fiesta does a great job convincing you it has more performance credentials than it really does. Great electric power steering gives just the right amount of weighting and feedback, and the Fiesta feels nimble around town, secure enough on the highway. The only exception is a fair amount of dive for this short car under hard braking.
Conclusion
The 2012 Ford Fiesta isn't downright quick, but it always feels responsive and surefooted.
