The 2011 Ford Fiesta is an all-new subcompact available in hatchback and sedan body styles

As the Fiesta cruised confidently down the highway, quiet and stable despite a short fifth (top) gear, we reflected on our journey. We hadn't filled stadiums with young admirers, and the only person willing to towel off the Fiesta for the camera had been the stocky assistant manager of a local car wash. But both the town and the car, it turns out, offer more sophisticated thrills.


The Fiesta is Ford's new subcompact car, intended to compete with models like the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa and Toyota Yaris. The 2011 Fiesta sedan and four-door hatchback are Americanized versions of Europe's second-best-selling car, the current generation of which has been sold since 2008.

The 2011 Ford Fiesta