Editor’s note: You may also want to read Autotrader’s 2015, 2016, 2017 or 2018 Ford Fiesta review.
Along with the Ford Focus, the Fiesta is a tangible representation of Ford Motor Company’s drive to leverage its well-regarded and popular-selling European small cars for U.S. consumption. The 2014 Ford Fiesta is the sixth-generation version of this subcompact car, available as a conventional 4-door sedan or a sporty 5-door hatchback. The front-drive Fiesta is renowned for its taut, responsive chassis and good fuel economy.
The Fiesta offers a comprehensive array of standard safety equipment, including dual-front airbags, side airbags, overhead airbags, a driver’s-knee airbag, anti-lock brakes, and stability and traction control systems. Most versions of the Fiesta are also available with Ford’s excellent SYNC hands-free phone connectivity system.
For 2014, the Fiesta gets sleek new looks and a front-end appearance that takes cues from the midsize Fusion sedan. Under the hood there’s a new optional 1.0-liter 3-cylinder turbo that’s rated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at 43 miles per gallon on the highway. The MyFord Touch infotainment system migrates to the Fiesta for the first time. And a new Fiesta ST performance model with aggressive looks, a sport suspension and a lively 197-horsepower 1.6-liter 4-cylinder turbo makes its debut. See the 2014 Ford Fiesta models for sale near you
What We Like
New "mini Aston Martin" front-end look; fun-to-drive character; invigorating performance with the ST model; excellent fuel economy with the 3-cylinder turbo; available SYNC voice-activated infotainment controls; choice of sedan or hatchback body styles; comfortable front seats
What We Don’t
Cramped back seat; poor rearward visibility; cluttered dash; windshield glare; narrow cabin; cumbersome seatback adjustment; shift quality of automatic transmission
Fuel Economy & Engine Specs
The 2014 Fiesta is available with a standard 1.6-liter 4-cylinder or optional 1.0-liter 3-cylinder EcoBoost turbo.
The 1.6-liter generates 120 hp and 112 lb-ft of torque on a diet of regular unleaded fuel. It’s teamed with a standard 5-speed manual transmission or an optional 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Equipped with the 5-speed manual transmission, the 2014 Fiesta 1.6-liter has an EPA rating of 28 miles per gallon in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, while the 6-speed dual-clutch automatic nets a 27 mpg city/37 mpg hwy rating. The Super Fuel Economy version of the dual-clutch automatic model is EPA-rated at an impressive 28 mpg city/38 mpg hwy.
Optional only on the Fiesta SE is a new 123-hp 1.0-liter EcoBoost 3-cylinder turbo with 148 lb-ft of torque. The gas-sipping 3-cylinder is available solely with a 5-speed manual transmission and is EPA-rated at 31 mpg city/43 mpg hwy.
Available only on the new Fiesta ST, a 1.6-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder turbo transforms the econobox into a pocket rocket. The 1.6-liter turbo pumps 197 hp and 202 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated solely with a 6-speed manual transmission and nets EPA estimates of 26 mpg city/35 mpg hwy. Premium fuel is recommended but not required.
Standard Features & Options
The 2014 Ford Fiesta is available in S, SE, Titanium and ST trims.
The very basic S comes standard with air conditioning, cloth upholstery, a tilt-telescopic steering wheel with audio controls, a 6-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo with an audio input jack, variable intermittent wipers, 185/60 tires wrapping 15-inch steel wheels, a split fold-down rear bench seat, mini blind spot mirrors and power door locks and mirrors.
The SE models are more mainstream and add standard upgrades such as power front windows, keyless entry, cruise control, SYNC hands-free phone connectivity, a driver’s-seat armrest, a trip computer, premium cloth seats, auto headlamps, a rear spoiler, a compass and an outside temperature display. Popular SE options can add heated front seats, heated door mirrors, 195/60 tires on 15-in alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, automatic climate control, navigation, SiriusXM and a power moonroof.
The Titanium is the luxury Fiesta grade, with standard upgrades such as 195/50 tires on 16-in alloy wheels, fog lamps, backup sensors, leather upholstery, a leather steering wheel and shift knob, heated front seats, heated door mirrors, automatic climate control, an 8-speaker premium audio system, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and SiriusXM.
The new Fiesta ST performance model only comes as a 4-door hatchback and features the 197-hp 1.6-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder turbo with an intake sound enhancer, a dual exhaust, a 6-speed manual transmission, limited-slip differential, torque vectoring, a lowered sport suspension with 205/40 performance tires on 17-in alloy wheels, a high-mounted rear spoiler, quick-ratio steering, a power moonroof, leather sport seats, a leather-wrapped sport steering wheel and shifter, multicolor interior ambient accent lighting, SYNC with a 6.5-in MyFord Touch infotainment screen and MyKey-programmable top speed, audio levels and stability control.
Pricing
The Fiesta drives home the point that small cars don’t have to feel cheap just because they’re inexpensive to purchase and operate. As good as the 5-speed manual transmission is, you should expect to pay more for Fiesta models equipped with the 6-speed dual-clutch automatic. The Fiesta has a full complement of standard safety features, including seven airbags, anti-lock brakes, and traction and stability control, so it’s a good choice for first-time buyers on a budget. The Fiesta ST is hard to find due to limited production, and it will command higher prices.
To get a good idea of the 2014 Fiesta’s price range, you should investigate the used-car values at KBB.com. You can also search the Autotrader Classifieds to see what models are for sale in your area.
Recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued the following recalls for the 2014 Fiesta:
A broken door-latch part may allow the door to open unexpectedly while the vehicle is moving, increasing injury risk to passengers.
The fuel pump may fail suddenly, stalling the engine unexpectedly and creating a crash risk.
A defective fuel tank may leak, creating a fire risk in the presence of an ignition source.
Recall repairs are required by law even if the vehicle is out of warranty. Your dealer can check to see if the repairs were performed and, if not, will fix the car at no charge to you.
Safety Ratings & Warranties
NHTSA gave the 2014 Fiesta four stars overall, with four stars for frontal impacts and rollover performance but just two for side impacts.
The independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2014 Fiesta 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback Marginal ratings for small-overlap front impacts and Good ratings for moderate-overlap front and side impacts, roof strength, head restraints and seats.
Ford Motor Company sold the 2014 Fiesta with a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, a 5-year/unlimited-distance corrosion-perforation warranty and 5 years/60,000 miles of roadside-assistance coverage.
Ford certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles can’t be more than 5 years old or show more than 80,000 miles. Every CPO Fiesta undergoes a 172-point inspection. Those that pass receive a 12-month/12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and powertrain coverage extending 7 years from when the vehicle was first sold or from the 100,000-mile mark, whichever occurs first. Also included is a vehicle-history report and roadside assistance.
Other Cars to Consider
2014 Toyota Yaris — This subcompact is available as a 3- or 5-door hatchback. Toyota’s entry-level car delivers the basics and is powered by a modest 106-hp 1.5-liter 4-cylinder, teamed with a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission. The latter combination is EPA-rated at 30 mpg city/37 mpg hwy.
2014 Scion xD — The smallest Scion is a 5-door hatchback. No sedan is offered. Its 128-hp 1.8-liter engine makes generous power for the class, and it is EPA-rated at 27 mpg city/33 mpg hwy with either the base 5-speed manual or the optional 4-speed automatic.
Autotrader’s Advice
Ford’s Fiesta is part of a new crop of small cars that are fuel efficient, easy to maneuver and fun to drive. The new Fiesta ST is an absolute ball to drive, but it’s only available with a manual gearbox. Since it was produced in small numbers, finding one that meets your criteria might be difficult.
As for the more readily available S, SE and Titanium models, we think the ownership experience will be more enjoyable if buyers opt for the better-equipped SE or Titanium models that have power windows, mirrors and door locks, cruise control and the upgraded audio system with Ford’s excellent SYNC hands-free phone interface and SiriusXM radio. Although the dual-clutch automatic 6-speed transmission will satisfy the needs of most buyers, we also think that the Fiesta’s inherent fun-to-drive character will be more easily accessible with the 5-speed manual gearbox. The new 1.0-liter 3-cylinder model might be a fuel miser, but it could be a harder sell at trade-in time. You should stick with well-cared-for and lower-mileage 4-cylinder examples when possible, and you’ll find that going the CPO route is always a wise choice. Make sure the Fiesta that you’re considering purchasing has had any applicable safety recalls attended to by the dealer.
