2013 Ford Fiesta Total Car Score Analysis

The 2013 Ford Fiesta earns an above average Total Car Score for the Economy Cars segment. 
 
Success in the European car market doesn’t always translate to these shores, but that’s exactly what’s happened with Ford’s little world car. After arriving in the U.S. two years ago, the Fiesta has proven popular with car buyers and the automotive media alike. We like the fact that, as far as the Fiesta is concerned, “economy car” doesn’t have to mean “drab,” “boring,” or “low quality.”  
 
The Fiesta is a looker that’s fun to drive (provided you weren’t hoping for a muscle car) and well put-together, inside and out. If you’re looking for basic, low-dollar transportation, the Fiesta S delivers that, crank windows and all, for a starting price of just over $13,000. You can also dress the Fiesta up with a number of high-end options, including leather interior, push-button start and satellite radio, though it’s easy to option the Fiesta right out of its “economy car” status.  
 
The cost of some of its options was one complaint reviewers had about the Fiesta; another was a lack of power from its 1.6-liter engine, and some felt its rear-seat room was just too tight, even for a small car.  
 
For 2013 the Ford Fiesta sees few changes beyond a reorganization of some equipment groups to “simplify the car buying experience,” says Ford.

2013 Ford Fiesta Model Line-Up

The 2013 Ford Fiesta is available as a five-door hatchback or four-door sedan. Both seat five and are available in S, SE and Titanium trim levels.  
 
All Fiestas are powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that sends 120 horsepower and 112 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, and a six-speed automatic is optional across the line.  
 
The S model truly is a base model, equipped with 15-inch steel wheels, crank windows and an AM/FM stereo, but it does offer air conditioning, power door locks and a tilt/telescope steering wheel.  
 
SE models add power windows and an upgraded sound system with Ford’s Sync infotainment system. Titanium versions of the Fiesta roll on 16-inch painted alloy wheels and have standard equipment that includes leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats, push-button start and the addition of satellite radio to the audio system.  
 
Among the major options available is a Super Fuel Economy package, which adds aerodynamic body pieces and slightly bigger tires to Fiesta SE models. Interestingly Ford promotes this on its website as “giving the Fiesta SE an even sportier look” without mentioning the improvement in highway fuel economy the body mods achieve.  
 
Speaking of fuel economy, the EPA found the 2013 Ford Fiesta to be pretty gas miserly, hitting 29 mpg city, 39 mpg highway and 33 mpg combined in both the manual and automatic transmission versions. The SFE package improves highway mileage to 40 mpg.

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