2011 Ford Fiesta Review

                   

When I wrote the first drive impressions of the 2011 Ford Fiesta and promised a full review soon, I had no idea that TireKicker would be taking an unexpected two week vacation...but we did and now we're back and item one has to be to fill in the blanks left by the early look at this very significant car for Ford.

The basic first impressions (a quantum leap forward for American small cars, a serious threat to future Focus sales until we get the Euro-spec model of the Fiesta's bigger brother) all hold true.

But I see I used the word "roomy". I was so eager to get behind the wheel that I neglected to sit in the back seat. After I posted the first drive, my 5 foot 11 son sat back there...or tried to. It wasn't pleasant. And it wasn't much better for my 5 foot 4 daughter. That large trunk that I mentioned came at the expense of rear seat legroom. And while none of the cars in this class (Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa, Honda Fit, Chevy Aveo) are limos, some of them...especially the Yaris and Versa...are better.

                        

Coincidentally, I had a Yaris sedan the same week, and was able to drive them back-to-back. While the Fiesta dazzled with its newness, edginess and content, the Yaris had more rear and front-seat comfort, a quieter cabin and a smoother ride.  And it was a few hundred dollars cheaper, too...staying under $19,000 ( The Yaris had the Sport package, a $3500 option that adds alloy wheels, spoilers, foglamps, leather trimming, power everything and an upgraded audio system) while the as-tested price of the Fiesta hit $19,600 (base for the SEL sedan is $16,320).

Gas mileage was a wash....the Yaris delivering 32 miles per gallon in an even split of urban street and freeway driving, the Fiesta 31.

                      

Honestly, both the Fiesta and the Yaris are way out of the target zone when their stickers get that close to $20K. You can get Corollas, Sentras and Civics (not to mention the 2011 VW Jetta) for that kind of money.The base Yaris sedan starts at $13,365...the base Fiesta at $13,320. That's where the battle in entry-level sedans is likely to be fought.

But will the sedans be the main focus? The Fiesta that makes the biggest splash visually is the five-door hatchback...and the base price for that is $15,120...a big step up, especially when you consider the Yaris 5-door hatch starts at $12,905 (lower than the Yaris sedan price).

The Fiesta leads the class in style...leaving the frumpy Yaris in the dust both in terms of exterior and interior. But these are entry-level vehicles. And while Europeans have a keen understanding of the term "premium compact", the Fiesta's going to have to make a value argument to drivers from the land of Wal-Mart. That could turn out to be a very tall order.

UPDATE:  We've now had a chance to drive the 5-door Fiesta...in Blue Flame metallic, like so:

It's the same strengths and shortcomings as with the sedan above, but this time, Ford sent an SE model. And that brings the value equation back into line. The base price for the 5-door SE is $1200 less than the SEL sedan, at $15,120, as mentioned above. And the options list was kept to a minimum: Rapid Spec 203A (SYNC, 80 watt premium audio system, a sport appearance package, crusie control, 15 inch painted aluminum wheels and front parking lamps with black bezels) for $1,245...Ambient lighting and Sirius Satellite radio packaged together for $370...and heated front seats for $195.

With destination charges, it addes up to $17,605, but there's a "Rapid Spec Discount" of $490...so the bottom line works out to $17,115.

EPA estimates say 37 highway/28 city. 

At this price, it's worthy of inclusion in your shopping.

Toyota: Stalling Problem "Not An Unreasonable Risk To Safety"

As the company and federal investigators try to get to the bottom of claims of unintended acceleration,

there's another problem: Cars stopping when they shouldn't.

Toyota says it's trying to figure out how to fix computer flaws in more than a million 2005 through 2007 Corolla and Matrix models that can cause the cars to stall. NHTSA has 76 complaints from owners. Toyota says it does not pose "an unreasonable risk...to safety."

Full story from The Detroit Free Press here. 

Detroit News: NHTSA To Announce Formal Investigation Into Toyota Corolla

The Detroit News reports that the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration will announce a formal investigation into complaints about steering in the Toyota Corolla Thursday.

As we reported Wednesday, Toyota is considering a recall of the 2009 and 2010 models, which use electrical rather than mechanical steering...converting the steering wheel from an implement which is directly linked to and physically turns the front wheels into a control device that sends electrical impulses to a computer, which then tells the wheels which way to turn, how much and how quickly.

More than 160 Corolla drivers have complained to the feds, many claiming the cars veered sharply and suddenly at speeds above 40 miles per hour. At least 10 injuries have been alleged.

The NHTSA has been investigating the Chevrolet Cobalt for the same sort of issues. It, too, uses electrical steering.

If there is a recall, it would be a big one. The Corolla is not only Toyota's best-seller, but the #1 selling car in the world. 296,000 were sold in the United States alone in 2009.

The Detroit News says the NHTSA reached its decision to announce the investigation this afternoon. More as it happens.

Toyota Corolla Recall Possible; Brake Override System Will Be In All Models Soon; Company President Won't Appear Before Congress

Toyota says it's considering recalling its best selling model (and the world's), the Corolla. Consumer complaints about cars veering off track have grown since Toyota switched from mechanical to electrical steering (which changes the steering wheel from a direct connection to the wheels and makes it an input device which a computer then decodes and acts upon) in the Corolla.

Two weeks ago, we told you about the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's investigation into similar complaints about the Chevrolet Cobalt, which also uses electrical steering.

How bad is that electrical steering? Coincidentally, I'm just finishing a week in a 2010 Corolla. And while it's really...really numb (think 1970s Detroit power steering...zero road feel)...I never felt it trying to go off course. Look for a full review soon.

Meantime, at a news conference overnight in Japan, company president Akio Toyoda says the automaker will comply with the NHTSA's investigation into whether the company acted quickly enough to address problems with gas pedals, and announced that all future models will include a brake-override system, which kills power to the engine when both the accelerator and brake are pressed at the same time.

Toyoda had been expected to appear before Congress on February 24. But last night, he called that a "misunderstanding in the press" and said that Toyota North America's chief, Yoshimi Inaba, will be the one in the hot seat.

2010 Prius: 2X More Complaints to NHTSA Than All Other '10 Toyotas Combined

On the heels of word that Toyota will be recalling the 2010 Prius for the brake design problem Toyota admitted to earlier today, this unhelpful (for Toyota) statistic:

The 2010 Prius has been the subject of more complaints to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration than all other 2010 Toyotas combined. Twice as many, in fact. And five times the second highest, the Corolla.

NHTSA says of the 171 complaints they've recieved about the new Prius, 124 were specifically about braking problems.

Teething issues with a new model? Not likely. NHTSA recieved 2,310 driver complaints about the previous-generation Prius between 2004 and 2009...only 30 fewer than for all Toyota models in the same five-year period. 

Toyota Corolla XLE Review

The theory of evolution as applied to small Japanese cars:

Today's Corolla is nicer than yesterday's Camry.

Especially the top-of-the-line XLE sedan. Base price $17,550...buying as standard equipment what used to be Lexus-type options (six-speaker stereo, power everything). The tester I had added an upgraded audio system with Bluetooth, 8 speakers and steering wheel controls, an all-weather package and a set of floor and trunk mats. Price with delivery charges: Still under $20,000. The EPA says 27 city/35 highway, which vaults it into TireKicker's Top Ten Fuel Savers.

If you're trading a six-year old (or older) Camry, this Corolla will feel like you're trading up nicely.

Toyota Corolla Matrix XRS/Pontiac Vibe GT Review

The above could probably make a pretty good puzzle. You know..."find at least x number of differences between these two pictures".

Well, I'll jump straight to the answers. The top picture is the Toyota Corolla Matrix and the bottom shot is the Pontiac Vibe GT. And, apart from some exterior styling cues, they are the same vehicle.

Wait...what? Toyota and Pontiac? The same car? Yep. This is the current fruit of a partnership between GM and Toyota going back to the 1980s, which produced the short-lived Geo. The cars are built here in the U.S. (the Toyotas in Detroit and the Pontiac in Fremont, California, near San Francisco), using 61% American parts and 39% Japanese.

Essentially, it's a five-door hatchback version of a Corolla (which is why that name is part of the Toyota version). If you need a competitor to help pigeonhole the Corolla Matrix/Vibe, the Chrysler PT Cruiser is probably the one to think of: We're talking small sedans made more versatile with the hatchback. And the Matrix/Vibe, especially the new for 2009 models, are more fun to drive.

The Pontiac gets the edge because of little things like OnStar, 3 months free of XM Satellite Radio and bigger things like a better warranty. But it's not likely to break and the Toyota is likely to have better resale value, for no reason other than brand prejudices. Dealers can sell used Toyotas better than used Pontiacs, even when they're the same car.

Pick either and you'll get an EPA estimated 21 city/29 highway miles per gallon with an automatic transmission (inexplicably, the number drops to 21/28 with a stick), the same standard features and the same options, more or less. Base prices are within a few hundred dollars of each other (the XRS and GT are the top of the line and start around $21,000...you can get the base models of Matrix/Vibe for the low $16,000s).

If you've driven the previous generation Matrix/Vibe, test drive the new '09...both are hugely improved.