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2014 Ford Fiesta Reviews

Affordable small cars don’t need to be bland, whether in appearance or from behind the wheel. And the 2014 Ford Fiesta is proof of that.

• Interior / Exterior »

Inexpensive cars don’t need to aesthetically uninspired; and Ford clearly sets out to prove that with the 2014 Fiesta. You need only look at some of the colors offered for its exterior–like Blue Candy and Green Envy–to understand that this isn’t a car designed for budget-conscious wallflowers. The Fiesta has style and flair inside and out, and it’s really as flamboyant as you want it to be.



Several years ago, the Fiesta heralded a new path for small car design, and when the automaker brought this small-car family to the U.S. a couple of years ago it was truly more expressive and vibrant than most other models its size.
With the arched roofline, crisp profile, and wedge-like side view (and the way the rear pillar nips and tucks), there’s a lot to like about the Fiesta’s proportions. The headlights sweep well back into the fenders, and the new wide-mouthed Ford grille, with lower bodywork, helps give it a somewhat more macho look from the front this year. High-mounted taillights rise into the rear pillars, in a position that’s both functional and stylish.
Fiesta ST hatchbacks really make the most of the look, adding a more aggressive air dam and black-honeycomb-mesh grille, along with a cross-patterned rear diffuser and twin chromed exhaust tips.
The Fiesta four-door sedan is, to our eyes, a work in progress. The new grille seems to give the 2014 sedan a little more gravitas, which is needed, but the proportions just don’t come together in the same way, and the longer body combined with the rather short passenger greenhouse make the car look tall and narrow from the front or rear.
Inside, the Fiesta was already one of the sharper entries in this class, too. But improvements that Ford has made to the instrument panel not only simplify the look for 2014 but also make the budget-priced Fiesta feel significantly up-market of other sub-$20k subcompacts. Ford is adding a soft-touch upper dash to the lineup, along with improved dash and door trim, as well as improved upholsteries and a new steering wheel. But the most noteworthy thing is front and center in the dash, where Titanium models get the MyFord Touch interface (it’s also optional on SE and ST models).
The MyFord Touch isn’t universally appealing, but it declutters the look versus the much-maligned base setup, which we’re surprised to see Ford carrying through to 2014, with its slanted buttons and pre-smart-phone aesthetic.

• Performance »

What a difference one model year makes for the Fiesta. Last year, with its 120-hp, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine it was zippy, and one of the best-handling, if not the perkiest, of the budget-priced subcompacts in its class.

Now, the 2014 Ford Fiesta offers that same engine, but two other serious upgrades this year round out the lineup for those willing to pay a bit extra for more performance, better fuel economy, or both. A new EcoBoost model eyes mileage figures and offers a little more kick, while the Fiesta ST is a full-fledged hot-hatch with 197 hp–which goes a long way in something so small and light.

One of them is an all-new engine for the U.S. market–a turbocharged, direct-injected 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine making 123 horsepower. But with its 148 pound-feet of torque made at just 1,400 rpm, this little engine is bound to feel considerably stronger than the base 1.6-liter four. It will only be offered with a manual transmission, while models with the 1.6-liter four come with a choice between a five-speed manual and six-speed PowerShift automatic.

We haven’t been as impressed with the PowerShift automatic, which contributes to excellent gas mileage but doesn’t always downshift promptly–or even upshift as smoothly (in the lower gears, especially) as a typical automatic.
With the standard four-cylinder engine, if you’re willing to keep the revs up, you’ll be happy enough with the performance you can extract from the Fiesta. It’s plenty to move the 2,600-pound Fiesta quite rapidly. It’s not quick by any gauge (we’re talking about ten seconds to 60 mpg), but there’s a sense of responsiveness you might not expect considering a car that can hit 40 mpg.
Much like the original Mazda Miata, the Fiesta does a great job convincing you it has more performance credentials than it really does, and good steering and suspension tuning is key to this. The electric power steering system has just the right amount of weighting and feedback, and the Fiesta feels responsive and nimble, but secure enough for highway trips. the Fiesta feels nimble around town, secure enough on the highway. This is a short car, and noticeable nosedive when stopping quickly is the only bothersome trait.

Opt for the Fiesta ST, and you won’t be disappointed. This is a model with enough performance chops to excite serious enthusiasts on a budget. With the same basic layout at the other Fiesta models, plus a somewhat lowered, stiffer suspension, rear disc brakes, and a quicker steering ratio, as well as an eTVC (torque vectoring) system to help get all the engine’s 214 lb-ft of torque (in overboost mode) to the road effectively (through grippy summer performance tires), the ST has the goods to challenge the likes of the MINI Cooper S and Hyundai Veloster Turbo–and possibly even win some buyers over from larger fast hatches like the VW GTI and Ford Focus ST.
Especially considering this year’s interior upgrades, the Fiesta makes a great first impression. It has well-coordinated colors and textures inside, and it’ll impress as well above its price class at first look. Although it’s not quite perfect; the base front seats tend to be a little flat and unsupportive, back seats don’t fold fully flat, and the suspension can hop on rough surfaces. A coarse-sounding engine can detract from base models, yet a Sound Symposer in the ST performance model helps give you the right kind of engine sound, when you want it. But the driving position is great no matter what the model, and with the available Recaros in the ST, there’s enough support for demanding mountain roads or all-day cruising.

Base Fiesta S models tend to be quite basic, despite the spiced-up look, and their manual-winding windows and steel wheels with hubcaps betray some cost-cutting–although air conditioning is included. But Fiesta SE models add a lot more popular equipment, like a perimeter alarm system, upgraded cloth interior, and ambient lighting, while the Titanium model includes upgraded Sony audio, and a rearview camera system. Standard on the Titanium and available on the Fiesta SE and ST is MyFord Touch, Ford’s advanced system for controlling audio, connectivity, and navigation functions via a touch-screen system, as well as voice commands. Although not everyone will love the system, it cleans up the look and raises the ambiance.
Credit: Ford Cars

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