Ford Fiesta

2014 Ford Fiesta: Sporty, limited subcompact

Now in its seventh generation, the Ford Fiesta subcompact debuted in 1976 and is third all-time in the carmaker’s sales behind F-Series pick-up trucks and the Ford Escort. In the 2014 edition, the Fiesta is available in two body styles: a four-door sedan and a four-door hatchback. Both are available in S, SE and Titanium trim levels. The high-performance ST model, new for 2014, is available only as a hatchback. The Weekly Driver’s Test Drive Unveiled at 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, the Fiesta ST, a five-door hatchback — my weekly driver — is available only in North America. It was first publicly available in spring 2013 as a 2014 model. It features a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a

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2015 Nissan Versa Note: Inexpensive but not cheap

It doesn’t seem like the Nissan Versa has been around for nine years. What might be the confusion (at least for me) is the Nissan Versa Note (the hatchback version). It debuted in the summer of 2013 as a 2014 model to replace the Nissan Versa hatcback. And with the 2015 Nissan Versa Note, the subcompact already has changes. It’s now also available in SR and SV trims, increasing consumers’ options to five trims. The Weekly Driver Test Drive As an entry-level sub-compact, what exactly can a consumer expect for a vehicle with a base price of $17,530.00? That’s less than half of the average price of new car in the United States. The answer, depending upon trim and option

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Honda Fit, Nissan Versa among top cheap cars

The Tata Nano was all the rage a few years ago when it was introduced in India as a new car for about $2,500. In the past year, the Elio, a three-wheel concept vehicle with a price of $6,800, has gotten a lot of attention as the first of several pending forward-thinking cheap cars for the masses in the United States. Since neither car is available in this country, two of the most popularity vehicles in the crowd entry level segment are the Honda Fit and the Nissan Versa Note. And a cheap new car in the United States means a starting price of about $15,000 for a base model, sometimes a little more, sometimes slightly less. That’s about half

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Best new cars for about $20,000

The average price of a new car in the United States is about $30,000. Doesn’t that still seem like a lot? What if the average car buyer can only afford around $20,000 on a new car? Are there new cars with price tags of $20,000 that are worthy purchases? In a word, yes. Family sedans to entry-level sports cars to manufacturers whose iconic cars are among the best-selling cars in history all have models available for about $20,000. And they’re, without doubt, some worthy automobiles. Here’s a list and a synopsis of two of out favorite cars among the 10 Best New Cars with price tags of about $20,000. To reiterate, that’s about two-thirds of the average cost of a

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Chevy Cruze, Ford Fiesta top U.S. fuel efficiency

Car and Driver has taken a unique look at the cars available in the United States with the best fuel economy. The publication has determined the Chevy Cruze and Ford Fiesta lead the top-10 most fuel efficient list. It’s take EPA’s list, removed the electric vehicles, hybrid and plug-in hybrids because “they generally cost more and aren’t fun to drive.” What’s left are the gas and diesel cars the editors not only like to drive but would recommend to family and friends. The No. 1 fuel-efficient car in the country, according the Car and Driver, is the Chevrolet Cruze, at 46 mpg gallon in highway driving. Here’s what the publication’s editor wrote about the Cruze: “Perched all alone at the

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2014 Ford Fiesta: Best car $17,500 can buy

Now in its sixth generation and two years away from its 40th birthday, the 2014 Ford Fiesta continues the subcompact car’s enduring legacy. The Fiesta is manufactured in a dozen countries and is third in sales for Ford, trailing the Escort and F-series trucks. The current generation Fiesta (Mark VI) was introduced worldwide in 2010, marking the car’s return to North America. More than 16 million Fiesta units have sold since its debut in 1976. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The 2014 Ford Fiesta is available as a four-door sedan and a four-door hatchback. Both are available in S, SE and Titanium trim levels. The high-performance ST model is available only as a hatchback. My weekly driver was the new

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Best Family Cars for 2014: Mazda3 to Honda Odyssey

What are the best family cars? What defines family? And what are the needs of families, small and large? Edmunds.com and Parents magazine have combined for the past seven years to present their combined list. For 2014, their top-10 list, as usual, is divided into categories, family friendly subcompacts to large sport utility vehicles. Car experts from both organizations examined hundreds of vehicles and narrowed the selection to choices in each category to those vehicles with features that make daily family journeys easier. The criteria include: reliability, impressive mileage and ample cargo capacity. “Whether they’re taking a summer road trip or just making a grocery run, families expect a lot from their vehicles,” said Parents Editor-in-Chief Dana Points. “Safety is

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Scion FR-S, Ford Fiesta Coolest Cars For Under $25,000

The Scion FR-S has for the second straight year top the list of 10 Coolest New Cars Under $25,000, according to editors of Kelley Blue Book. “Many of us aren’t in the position to run out and purchase a Porsche or Lamborghini, which is why we’ve crafted a list of affordable but fun cars, like two-time winner Scion FR-S,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com. “Truly a driver’s car, the FR-S features a stylish looking exterior and modern updates on the interior.” As in previous years, for 2014 KBB.com editors look for the ever-subjective “cool factor” when rounding up candidates for the annual list, building a lineup of cars that

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2014 Mitsubishi Mirage: Thrifty hatchback for tight budgets

Mitsubishi has come up with an affordable fuel-sipper. The 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback sedan is rated as the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid gasoline car in its class sold in the United States if equipped with its continuously variable automatic (CVT) transmission. That should be impressive enough to get the thrifty or those on tight budgets interested in this subcompact, which has been sold overseas since 2012. The Mirage’s estimated highway economy with its CVT is an impressive 44 miles per gallon, while the city number is 37. The Mirage also comes with a five-speed manual gearbox. Estimated figures with the manual are 42 highway, 34 city. The Mirage should be especially appealing to young buyers with only a small to moderate

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CAR REVIEW: 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer: Enduring Mediocrity

The 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer continues the enduring legacy of the compact sedan. It’s now 41 years old. The Lance is rarely mentioned first and often mentioned among the least favorite options for compacts in a car segment with more than 40 options, including perennial favorites like the Honda Civic, Ford Fiesta and Mazda3. But the Lancer has endured. During its first 35 years ending in 2008, more than six million Lancers were sold worldwide by nearly a dozen different names. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Available in five trims, including the top-line, performance-oriented Ralliart and Evo models, my test drive for the week was the GT edition. 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer. Images © James Raia/2013 The base model includes a good

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Two Mazdas, Honda Accord among Car and Driver’s 2013 Best

Two Mazda models, the perennial favorite Honda Accord and several sports cars and sedans have been selected in Car and Driver’s 32nd annual 10 Best list of 2013 cars with prices less than $80,000. Car and Driver this year recognized five all-new cars to redefining excellence for the entire industry. Half of the 10 vehicles selected have starting costs of less than $25,000. Car and Driver writes, “These are the vehicles that offer the most value, that elegantly and comprehensively fulfill their missions, and that engage their drivers in spirited conversation. They are not always the newest or the trendiest, but they are the consistent overachievers.” The 32nd Car and Driver 10Best and publication’s comments: Porsche Boxster/Cayman – “The secret

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CAR REVIEW: 2014 Ford Fiesta: Racy fun

The sporty 2014 Ford Fiesta lets you bring the kids along. The fun-to-drive, European-styled, economical Fiesta has what many want from a subcompact four-door hatchback or sedan, although its rear seat is only comfortable for children. New for 2014 is an Aston Martin-inspired grille and new hood that fronts a slick body. (Ford once owned Aston Martin.) The Fiesta comes as a four-door hatchback or four-door sedan with a variety of engines—from a fuel-stingy new three-cylinder to a hot new turbocharged four-cylinder. The new Fiesta is offered as front-drive S, SE and Titanium models. You can get a four-door hatchback or sedan, but the new front-drive ST hot rod model comes only as a four-door hatchback. The sedan is 173.5

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2013 Chevrolet Corvette: Performance Car of the Year

Throughout its 60-year history, the Chevrolet Corvette has attracted a collection of enthusiasts as loyal as any in the auto industry Often called “America’s Sports Car,” the Corvette is now in its seventh generation. It has undergone a lot of design challenges, but it’s still uniquely a Corvette and made like no other car via design, performance and ride. The Corvette has also received a lot of awards through the years, including its most recent honor as Performance Car of the Year in the Road & Track inaugural “Best Cars” List. The publication’s editors tested 13 of the industry’s best on mountain road and on the Motown mile, the publication’s private circuit. “We selected the Corvette because it represents an

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NEW CAR REVIEW: 2014 Ford Fiesta: Sub-compact star

Now 38 years old and a half-dozen generations into its tenure, the Ford Fiesta joins its siblings, the Ford Escort and F-Series trucks, to complete the trio of the manufacturer’s top-selling vehicles. Since its debut in 1976, more than 16 million Fiestas have sold for several simple reasons. As the third best-selling car in the Ford lineup, the little car provides solid transportation, strong gas mileage and dependability, and at an economical price. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Available in four trim levels and as a four-door sedan and five-door hatchback, the Ford Fiesta is a surprisingly peppy sub-compact. My test vehicle for the week was the four-door SE sedan. It was equipped with a 1.6-liter, 120 horsepower four-cylinder engine.

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NEW CAR REVIEW: 2014 Fiat 500L: Utilitarian, Italian flair

The new 2014 Fiat 500L sedan is roomy and has some Italian flair, but isn’t much fun to drive. The new also sedan doesn’t have much in common with the lively but smaller two-door 500 models. For instance, the $19,100-$24,195 500L four-door hatchback sedan is 27.7 inches longer and has approximately six inches more height and width than the two-door 500. Its grille looks as if pasted on to provide a family resemblance to other 500 models. The front-wheel-drive 500L isn’t as cute as the smaller 500. It has a short nose you can’t see from the driver’s seat and a raked windshield. A large glass area allow good vision. It’s no head-turner, but has a clean Italian design. Rivals

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LA Auto Show, 2013: dozens of global debuts await

Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, MINI, Porsche, Subaru and Volkswagen have all confirmed representation among more than 50 global debuts at the 2013 LA Auto Show, the first major car of the year for automakers’ new models and concepts. Founded in 1907, the LA Auto Show is the first major North American show of the season and it will be held Nov. 22-Dec. 1. Press Days will be Nov. 20-21. The debut line-up this year promises a mix of cutting-edge trends and innovations in today’s competitive automotive market. BMW has confirmed seven to eight debuts,including a yet-to-be-named global premiere. MINI will also present a strong showingwith the long-awaited global introduction of its brand-new MINI automobile. The LA Auto Show is

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