Best Used Luxury Car 2013: The Car Connection's Picks
Luxury cars offer a little more—of what matters to nearly everyone but the most dedicated... Read More
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Four stars, frontal; five stars, side; four stars, Overall
'Good,' all test categories; Top Safety Pick
...the [electric steering] uses what Ford calls "Drift-Pull" compensation to automatically counteract stiff side winds and severely crowned roads, which would normally have you slightly countersteering to maintain course.
...the standard electronic stability control cannot be disabled...
SAFETY | 8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
Four stars, frontal; five stars, side; four stars, Overall
NHTSA
'Good,' all test categories; Top Safety Pick
IIHS
...the [electric steering] uses what Ford calls "Drift-Pull" compensation to automatically counteract stiff side winds and severely crowned roads, which would normally have you slightly countersteering to maintain course.
Edmunds
...the standard electronic stability control cannot be disabled...
Jalopnik
On real U.S. roads, where most vehicles are larger, getting a subcompact model should involve some serious consideration of safety scores and features. And it should be reassuring to know that at least among other cars its size, the 2013 Ford Fiesta is one of the safer picks.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has given the Fiesta top 'good' results in frontal, side, rear, and roof-strength tests--as well as the Top Safety Pick designation in previous years. And in federal tests, the Fiesta has earned four out of five stars overall, including top five-star results for frontal impact but a four-star result in side impact--with an asterisk noting a high likelihood of thoracic injury.
But safety-feature content is strong; front and side bags for driver and passenger, rear side curtain bags, and a knee airbag for the driver are all included. And the electric power steering incorporates Pull-Drift Compensation, which keeps the Fiesta tracking properly.
Conclusion
The 2013 Ford Fiesta does better than many subcompacts in safety tests, and its feature set gets the nod.
