2019 Ford Fiesta Expert Review
Reviewed by Alex Leanse
Ford now offers ST-Line trim to slot between the basic SE and hot ST Fiesta hatchbacks. It's mechanically identical to the SE, but has the sporty looks of the ST. Visual distinctions trim include body-color trim on the rocker panels and rear fascia, black roof and spoiler, dark 16-inch wheels, and the larger grille from the ST. Inside, seats are stitched in red, and the pedals get metallic covers.
What's Standard
The Fiesta is Ford's smallest car, available in four-door sedan or five-door hatchback body styles. 2019 will be the final year the Fiesta is sold in the United States.
2019 Fiesta S: S trim offers basic convenience features like a display screen with Ford's SYNC infotainment system and a rear camera, power door locks, five cupholders, and tire pressure monitoring system. Exterior details include 15-inch steel wheels with silver hubcaps, chrome grille trim, and a capless fuel filler.
3 Cool Features
Higher trim levels make the Fiesta feel less basic, or with the ST, transform it into a fun hot hatchback.
- All S, SE, and ST-Line Fiestas come standard with a five-speed manual transmission. A six-speed dual-clutch automatic is available. The sport-focused Fiesta ST is fitted exclusively with a six-speed manual.
- Depending on trim, Fiesta hatchbacks can be had in some fun and unusual colors. Check out bright Outrageous Green, sporty Hot Pepper Red, or pastel Bohai Bay Mint.
- The Fiesta ST features extensive changes to make it fun and nimble. Those include a trim-specific engine, sport-tuned suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and summer tires on 17-inch wheels.
Performance and Fuel Economy
The Ford Fiesta's standard engine is a 1.6-liter I-4 with 120 hp and 112 lb-ft of torque. That allows a 0-60 time of 9.5 seconds, and fuel economy of 27/37 mpg city/highway with the six-speed dual-clutch transmission. Equipped with the five-speed manual, highway fuel economy drops to 35 mpg. The Fiesta ST gets a trim-specific turbocharged 1.6-liter I-4 with 197 hp and 202 lb-ft of torque, and a six-speed manual transmission. Efficiency falls slightly to 26/33 mpg city/highway, but 0-60 acceleration improves to 6.4 seconds, giving it real hot hatchback credentials.
What We Think
We like the Fiesta, and given that 2019 is its last sales year in the United States, we'll be sad to see it go. In our First Test of the Fiesta SE sedan we said it could have earned our Car of the Year award if only Ford had given it a bit more polish. We didn't enjoy the dual-clutch transmission, describing it as "lackluster" and "with slow, lazy, automatic-like shifts." However, equipping the manual transmission makes it feel "like an entirely different car" that's more eager and "genuinely fun to drive." The Fiesta ST makes it even more so. Despite the engine's turbo lag it feels quick once on boost, and we adore the little hatchback's on-road behavior—it's "what really makes the Fiesta ST bring the smiles."
Safety Ratings
The 2019 Fiesta earned top Good crashworthiness results, except for a Moderate driver-side small frontal overlap score, from the IIHS. The NHTSA gave it four stars out of five in all tests, but noted excessive intrusion of the left rear door during side impact testing, increasing potential risk for passengers.
