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Ford’s all-new 2011 Fiesta is a small footprint of big fun. Like a piñata, you don’t know all the special surprises hidden inside this attractive package, until you open it. I drove this new ‘sub-compact’ car recently around the streets of San Francisco, along a 200-mile-long stretch of Pacific Coast snaking roadways, and at a drag strip and handling course that Ford set up for auto writers to learn about this small car’s fun-to-drive characteristics—evaluating its acceleration, braking and suspension. On sale in the U.S. market this summer, starting at $13,995 including destination charges, the economical Fiesta comes in two body styles: a four-door sedan and five-door hatchback. It has been tapped as one of Kelly Blue Book’s ‘Coolest New cars Under $18,000’.
 The Fiesta is powered by a smooth and sprightly new 1.6-liter Duratec® engine with Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) that delivers 120 horsepower and 112 pound-feet of torque. This engine can be mated to a standard five-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic transmission. The Fiesta’s electronic steering has “ active nibble control” which smooths driving at highway speeds. A standard MacPherson strut front suspension, 22 mm front sway bar and twist-beam rear suspension keep the Fiesta flat in corners and over uneven surfaces, and its strong brakes scrub speed in a mannerly fashion. Standard safety features include stability and traction control; antilock disc brakes; front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags, and a class-exclusive driver knee airbag. Available is Hill Start Assist.
The new Fiesta comes in some fun paint colors and has an attractive, edgy look from the outside. Inside is a an upscale, well-designed interior that maximizes space. Ford's Sync system, which is standard in top-level trims, provides voice control over the audio system and your cell phone, brings voice-prompted, turn-by-turn navigation, and emergency assist. The sedan has a trunk with 12.8 cu. ft. of stowage capacity, while the hatchback’s ability to carry gear varies with its seats up or folded. Overall, Ford claims 26 cu. ft. of cargo capacity.
 There are three trim levels for the sedan (S, SE, and SEL) and two trims for the hatchback (SE and SES). The S sedan is the entry-level Fiesta that is set up with 15-inch steel wheels, a capless fuel filler, power mirrors, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a four-speaker AM/FM stereo (with an auxiliary input jack and USB port) and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat. The SE adds metallic cabin accents, power windows and door locks and a CD player. Stepping up to SEL, you get LED parking lights, a rear spoiler, 16-inch "premium painted" wheels, a premium sound system (with satellite radio and six speakers), ambient lighting, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and the Sync multimedia voice-command system which is bundled with turn-by-turn navigation. The SE hatchback is equipped like the SE sedan, with the addition of a rear spoiler and wiper. The SES hatchback version gers a rear wiper.
There are also options and special packages, such as the Super Fuel Economy package that improves the car’s mileage by using aerodynamic features, like a blocked-out lower grille and underbody panels; lighter weight wheels; and special low rolling resistance tires. stand-alone options include keyless entry/ignition; heated leather seating; 17-inch alloy wheels; sunroof and special paint colors.
 Ford says its new Fiesta is the most fuel efficient car in its class, with an EPA-certified 40 mpg rating. This comes from a collection of fuel-saving techniques that Ford has employed: the new six-speed PowerShift auto transmission, that marries the fuel benefits of a manual-shifting car with an automatic; its 1.6-liter engine that has an aggressive deceleration fuel shutoff and an engine accessory drive system that improves efficiency by reducing the energy it takes to power the air conditioner and alternator; a few aerodynamic enhancements used in the car’s design that also reduces wind noise; and a fuel-saving electric power-assist steering system. Ford claims this is 5 mpg better than the Honda Fit and 4 mpg better than the Toyota Yaris. ( Note: The Fiesta with the standard five-speed manual transmission is EPA rated at 28 mpg city and 37 mpg highway.)
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