Skip to main content

Review: 2011 Ford Fiesta SES promises the democratization of fun

Remember when economy cars offered few concessions beyond roll-your-own windows, rear window defrosters and AM radios? It was only a handful of years ago that features on our 2011 Ford Fiesta SES tester would've qualified it for premium car status – if indeed items like Bluetooth, SYNC, a capless fuel fill and knee airbags were even available. There's no denying the steady trickledown of luxury goods into workaday iron, and the Fiesta is rolling proof. As you might also recall, back about 10 years ago, Ford executives and those charged with its British outpost, Jaguar, worked ... Read More

  • 0
    Ford Fiesta
    Official: Ford gears up with new Fiesta RS WRC livery
    1326486780

    Teams come and teams go from the World Rally Championship. But while this season will see the arrival of Volkswagen and Mini on the WRC stage as newcomers, one perennial challenger that will return is Ford. Having replaced the long-serving Focus RS last season, Ford will carry on with the new Fiesta RS for another crack at the title it narrowly lost once ...

  • 0
    Ford Fiesta
    Video: A day in the life of Ken Block and his SYNC-equipped H.F.H.V.
    1323216060

    Ken Block has extended his tireless Ford promotion to SYNC, equipping his Hybrid Function Hoon Vehicle with FoMoCo's infotainment system to star – along with DC BMX rider Kelly Bolton – in his latest video. The day-in-the-life comes in three acts, beginning with Block driving one of his Gymkhana-prepped Fiestas to LA's Cars and Coffee, ...

  • 0
    Ford Fiesta
    Report: Car and Driver calls out J.D. Power IQS
    1323109860

    Ford has taken it on the chin from J.D. Power since the carmaker rolled out its new MyFord Touch system in the 2011 Explorer. Ford's ranking in the influential Initial Quality Survey dropped from fifth last year all the way down to 23rd, in large measure because of customer dissatisfaction with the new technology and its voice recognition interface, but ...

  • 0
    Ford Fiesta
    Video: Ken Block recaps 2011 Gymkhana World Tour in latest video
    1322612940

    Ken Block had a busy summer. The exhibition driver spent the season frolicking around the globe with a few friends and putting on Gymkhana shows as part of a world tour. The event showed up in just three cities; Los Angeles, Vienna and Melbourne, and gave a handful of lucky Block fans a show worth remembering. But with so few shoes spread across such a ...

  • 0
    Ford Fiesta
    Official: Ken Block gets own line of Hot Wheels in time for holiday season
    1321990200

    Like floods, wildfires and tsunamis, the Ken Block marketing machine is a force of nature. The exhibition driver has partnered up with Mattel for a special line of Hot Wheels toys that include 1:64-scale die cast versions of Block's WRC Ford Fiesta in either black or white liveries. As with most Hot Wheels toys, the cars are priced at $1, which means that ...

  • 0
    Ford Fiesta
    Los Angeles: Ford Fiesta ST Concept is a five-door street tough
    1321552680

    If you're wondering about the future of Ford powertrains, the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show and the 2013 Ford Escape should provide all the clues you need. The entry-level crossover features a pair of EcoBoost four-cylinder engines and exactly zero V6 options. The smallest EcoBoost displaces only 1.6 liters, and promises terrific fuel economy and ...

  • 0
    Ford Fiesta
    Official: Ford bringing five-door Fiesta ST concept to LA Auto Show
    1320292860

    Ford already debuted the Fiesta ST concept at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, but if you recall, that show car was based on the three-door Fiesta that isn't available here in the United States. Now, Ford is showing off a proper five-door version of the Fiesta ST, set to debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in two weeks. Ford still tells us that the Fiesta ...

  • 0
    Ford Fiesta
    Report: Ford rushes to fix gearbox problems, but not quickly enough for Consumer Reports
    1319738340

    Consumer Reports recently cited issues with the PowerShift dual-clutch transmission in the Ford Focus and Ford Fiesta as one of the primary reasons behind the automaker's fall from grace in its annual Car Reliability Study, but according to The New York Times, the automaker has already worked to solve most of the problems with the gearboxes. Ford has ...

  • 0
    Ford Fiesta
    Report: Ford falls, Chrysler jumps in Consumer Reports reliability survey
    1319572800

    Consumer Reports has released its annual Car Reliability Study, and the results weren't kind to Ford. The automaker saw its ranking fall from 10th to 20th due to issues with three specific models: the Explorer, Fiesta and Focus. Each of those vehicles ranked below average in reliability during their first year on the market due to issues with MyFord Touch ...

  • 0
    Ford Fiesta
    Ford Focus and Fiesta to be well represented at SEMA
    1319228040

    Ford is hitting SEMA with a volley of modified Focus and Fiesta models this year. The company says that the aftermarket show is the perfect venue for showing off just how customizable both vehicles can be, and with creations from the likes of Roush, Cobb Tuning and Gold Coast Automotive among others, there should be a hatch or sedan on hand in Las Vegas ...

Autoblog iPhone App