Changes for 2016 are minimal. The big news is the addition of the Sync 3 infotainment system to replace the somewhat controversial MyFord Touch interface. The Fiesta also gets an SE Black Package and a few new color choices.
The Fiesta's design is bold and spunky. The grille, added for 2014, fits with Ford's latest styling idiom and cleans up the exterior look. Five-door hatchbacks are the sportier and better-looking of the two body styles, but there's a four-door sedan in the lineup for those who prefer a conventional trunk. The five-door looks stylish and even a bit racy, especially in ST form. Those who want the ST's performance will have to go five-door, as there's no ST sedan offered. To our eyes, the sedan looks a little ungainly as it can appear skinny and overly tall. Inside, the Fiesta has a bit of elegant Eurostyle.
With impressive steering and handling and a nimble, maneuverable feel that's better than most softened, numbed appliances its size, the Fiesta is securely on the fun-to-drive side of the ledger in any form.
The Fiesta lineup includes three engines. Most buyers will choose the base 120-horsepower, 1.6-liter four. At 2,600 pounds, the base car isn't quick but it feels peppy enough, especially if you get the manual transmission and keep the revs up. We're not big fans of the PowerShift automatic transmission, which is a dual-clutch gearbox doing a bad impression of a lazy torque converter-equipped automatic. Shift tuning could and should be much more crisp with this transmission.
A more frugal SFE version comes with Ford's first three-cylinder engine, a tiny turbocharged 1.0-liter unit paired with a manual gearbox. With 123 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque, the little 1.0-liter is more enjoyable than the base four-cylinder. Keep the revs up and drive it aggressively, and you may become a fan of this quirky engine. Plus, it's very frugal. On a 350-mile road test, we got more than 40 mpg, higher than the car's EPA rating of 36 mpg.
The hot-hatch Fiesta ST—which is not only quite a looker but by far the fastest Fiesta—features a 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder that puts out 197 hp and 214 lb-ft of torque in overboost mode. It's mated exclusively to a six-speed manual gearbox and with upgrades to braking, suspension, steering, and even tires (summer performance rubber is standard), it's a hoot to drive and hits all the right hot-hatch buttons.
Inside, the Fiesta makes a great first impression. It has well-coordinated colors and textures, with a more-expensive-than-it-is look. Nothing's perfect, of course, and the base front seats tend to be a little flat and unsupportive, the back seats don't fold fully flat for hauling cargo, and the suspension can hop on rough surfaces. A coarse-sounding engine can detract from base models, yet the ST model's Sound Symposer (a tube that pipes intake noise into the cabin for a sportier tone) helps create the mood when you're really on it. 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 comfort.
The entry-level Fiesta S model is quite basic despite its spiced-up look; manual windows and steel wheels with hubcaps betray some cost-cutting, though at least air conditioning is included. Fiesta SE models add a lot more popular equipment, like a perimeter alarm system, an 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 the new Sync 3 system for controlling audio, connectivity, and navigation functions via a touchscreen, as well as voice commands. We haven't tested it yet, but it promises to be easier to use than MyFord Touch.
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