Fiesta class

MANILA, Philippines - In a manner of speaking, Ford Group Philippines’ new baby is in a class of its own – but don’t take my word for it.

Launched last year, the Fiesta earned the sole distinction of appearing in all STAR Motoring writers’ top five picks of 2010 releases. A thumbs-up all around in a segment that’s getting increasingly crowded means a pretty fine product, indeed.

Available as a five-door hatchback and a four-door sedan, buyers can also choose from a 1.4 or 1.6-liter power plant (prices range from P670,000 to P816,000) – good for 94 and 119 bhp, respectively. Between the five and four-door versions, the hatchback looks much more refined and complete. The sedan looks much like the equivalent of its Mazda 2 cousin – a little too, well, passive.

So it was with much pleasure that I accepted the chance to drive about in a top-end Chili Orange-colored hatch for a few days, and it truly confirmed what the hype was about.

Before you even enter the car, it’s easy to admire the “stylish kinetic design” of the Fiesta – styling that speaks more of performance than pragmatism. It looks mean and aerodynamic from both the front and back, with the rear possessing as much oomph as the aggressive fascia. The Fiesta is sure to make the erstwhile king of the B segment, the trusty Honda Jazz, sweat a few drops on its brow.

The Fiesta’s throaty growl is not an empty threat, as the vehicle is perky and feisty – giving you visions of the DC-Ken Block “gymkhana” videos that went viral on the net. It’s not a MINI Cooper, of course, but nimble enough to match its growl nonetheless.

This is not to say, of course, that the Fiesta isn’t designed for more sedate and practical purposes.

The hatch boot is surprisingly capacious, swallowing bags and cargo with gusto. In a segment notorious for cramped interiors, the Fiesta’s is well designed not to give you claustrophobia – in part due to a lower seating position. Speaking of which, said seats hug you to provide great thigh and back support. The rotary knobs to adjust recline might take a little getting used to if you’re used to lever-type control, though.

Others might look for paddle shifters, but being one who doesn’t like them anyway, I really don’t mind not finding them on the Fiesta.

Inevitably, your eyes will rest upon the center console – which, if you squint your eyes a little, looks like the Decepticon insignia of Transformers lore. The preponderance of buttons on said console, plus the snazzy amber-colored multi-function highlight the class-leading connectivity and interface functions of this able car.

At the press of a button, you can activate the Fiesta’s voice recognition function for some hands-free goodness. Aside from the practical (and safe) use, this nifty feature is sure to appeal to the child in you – or the younger passengers you ferry. Dictate your number to the onboard computer and let it do the dialing for you. Reception is crisp as it comes out of the car speakers, and you sound equally clear on the other end of the line as well. Then you can even instruct the car to tune into your favorite station, activate the auxiliary input where you plugged in your iPod.

With its thirst varying from 4.5 to 7.5 liters per 100 kilometers (as much as 16.4 kilometers to a liter), the Fiesta lets you appreciate that choosing small give big returns in fuel economy. Aiding this promise are the unique boron steel reinforcements in the passenger cage – four times lighter yet six times stronger than steel, says Ford Group Philippines AVP Glen Dasig.

Other class-leading features thrown in the Fiesta mix include Hill Launch Assist, which engages the brake for up to three seconds as you move your foot from the brake pedal to the gas. That means no disconcerting rollbacks. Another nicety is dual-clutch technology – previously confined to higher-end vehicles. The airbags are also standard, along with the expected acronyms like ABS that all spell safety.

With substantial experience (and on-the-road proving) all over the world – particularly the demanding European market – the Fiesta is by no means wet behind the ears. That’s good news for Pinoys thinking about procuring a subcompact that overachieves with panache and zooms about with gusto.