this guy actually gives all the information we want in a car review. i wish more car reviewers were as detailed as this guy and other reviewers don't cover as much as this guy.
First full review that I've seen for this SFE model. You set the bar pretty high, Alex. I don't see any of the "competition" being as thorough and full of useful information.
I have this car as my daily drive...4+ years and 64,000 milers..not a single issue...its a fabulous little car ! 43 mpg..up to low 50's on the highway at 57 mph
Must say this is the best review Ive found on the Fiesta SFE thus far. Such a great little car from what Ive heard. Ordering my 2017 model year Fiesta SFE in January! Looking forward to it!
This mature, well thought and thorough review prompted my wife and me to take a test drive of an SFE and we bought it. The car is a hoot to drive and should be an easy tow behind our motorhome. Alex is the best online car reviewer I've encountered.
Torque/Liter is what did it for me. I took one test drive and know exactly what this video is illustrating. The slight none-boost section under 1,500 rpm in 1st gear isn't fast at all, that's where the 1.6L beats it, as well as Hyundai Accent manuals, etc. I'm just mentioning some observations about off the line performance, yet once at 1,500 the Ecoboost Fiesta almost seems too fast, it just blasts off, and that's not even pushing the accelerator that hard. Don't be afraid prospective buyers, the manual is easy to shift, it's excellent. There's too many factors to cover and Alex covered all of them on this video. This was a video besides the one by MPGomatic and Test Driven TV channels on the Fiesta that cemented my purchasing decision.
Great review! What a refreshing change from the car mags, whose writers try to come up with "clever" things to say but seldom talk about issues to concern the typical driver. I also like the way you separate out specific issues (e.g., child car seats) and provide a link to those who are interested. If one of the car mags offers you a job, please don't accept it. They will probably corrupt you. I'm holding out for the Focus with 3-cyl. engine. The difference between the standard (2.0L) Focus engine and the 3-cyl. are greater than in the Fiesta, but your review provides me encouragement that the 3-cyl. will still be adequate in the Focus. To give a reference point, I'm currently driving a 2005 Prius. I also suspect that the lighter 3-cyl. engine in the Focus will improve handling. In 1995 I bought a new Ford Contour with V6. The car mags were raving about it's handling. After the initial glow settled, they started testing the 4-cyl. The general consensus was that the 4-cyl. handled much better, with little appreciable loss in acceleration. I think the four turned out to be a better Contour. I also suspect that the 6-speed manual in the 3-cyl. Focus will help.
I averaged 42.4 mpg mixed driving for more than 2 years. The electronics aren't great (most of my dashboard is dead) so keep your jumper cables under the driver's seat and not in the hatch when your battery runs out - you'll need them. If you're shopping for a used car go with a Japanese brand and skip this one. I still have the car but only until I can get something better for a great price
Best car on its class, more like a subcompact aston martin, won international engine of the year award 3 years in a row 2O12-14. got five stars on Euro Ncap Safety Rating, 2O14 Automotive Excellence Award for Handling, Won Car of the Year by Topgear and more than 22 other awards and ford used to own Jaguar & Aston martin. Check all versus youtubevideos with Fiesta on it and fiesta always wins
Had to order a 2016 and it took 3 months. I have achieved 47 mpg on the highway using no ethanol fuel. It was assembled in Mexico and came with the German built 1.0. It is indeed a fun car to drive, sounds great has more than adequate power. The secret to high mpg with the ecoboost is to go easy on acceleration and not over use the boost. Additionally the car has outstanding free wheeling (coasting) characteristics which contributes dramatically to improved mileage. Newer vehicles including the Ecosport now come with the Romanian built 1.0 and is assembled in India. As of 2018 … it appears that the 1.6 l is only available and it looks like the Fiesta will no longer be available either in the US beginning in 2019. However, the 1.0 l engine will be in the Ecosport and Focus.
Excellent mileage discussion, yes, and I'm really impressed by this car. I'd also be interested an Alex on Answers segment addressing how this engine generates so much torque at low rpm. Big torque, great fuel economy, snow safety and driving fun made the much more expensive VW Golf TDI my choice vs a Subie last year. This three-cylinder gasser could be the better car (!) depending on safety, test drive, availability of after-market console systems and wheels, etc. But in any case, wow.
I would love for you to review the Fiesta ST. I know it is a great handling car as every review has stated, but I would love to see a review done by you on its everyday driving characteristics (road noise, ride with the stiffer suspension, etc...) Any way that is possible any time soon?
I have a 2014 1.0l sfe fiesta sedan, I love it. I bought a set of 2010 focus base alloy wheels to replace the ugly hub caps though, 15 spoke, and they look better on the fiesta then they do on the focus if anyone was wondering. In the summer I was averaging 43mpg now in the winter with all the wind here in michigan is down to 38mpg. I do wish ford would allow you to get the same options as the 4 cyl as I don't really understand the marketing angle unless they aren't trying to sell as many of the 3 cylinders. Thanks for the great review.
I absolutely love mine. The handling is good but it improved substantially when I swapped out wheels and tires to 16 inch performance rubber. Steelie wheels get snow tires so it was a move I was making anyway. The thing is an absolute kick to drive. Extremely well balanced - handling and overall ride quality are both superb That is a difficult combination to achieve. Quiet cabin and torque on demand are also great features. If you can't drive a manual, learn. Or stay off the road.
The Focus 3 cylinder now has an automatic and it's a traditional torque converter unit, not the unreliable dual clutch auto. I actually own one, a 2017 Focus SE 3 cylinder Sedan.
Thanks for a really good review. I sure would like one for driving Northern Cal backroads. It is amazing to me that Ford offers an SE package that has lumbar adjustment, but does not offer it with the SFE package. A huge oversight by Ford that will cost them sales.
Alex i heard Ford is having some issues with the eco boost engines in general At around 20,000 mile mark they have issues with soot build up around exhaust valve exit points under the valves them selfs and Ford at this time does not have a good way to clean this out or no approved way to engine clean without damage to small exhaust turbines . The only method ford approves at this time is to remove head and do manual cleaning so as not to damage exhaust turbine. My Question if this is the case at this time how will this effect long term reliability and costs ? and will this effect the milage numbers in the long run ? Have you any information on this ? Thanks for another Great review ! Joe
From what I researched they say drive down the highway in a lower hear so it revs about 3, 4k RPM and drive for twenty minutes and it should burn out the soot.
Here is where I begin when assessing any vehicle intended to seat 5 or more passengers. (1) Can a 6-foot, 250 lb individual seat comfortably for 3 or 4 hours in the driver seat? (2) Can two 6-foot, 250 lb individuals seat comfortably for 3 or 4 hours in the rear seat? If the answer to any of these two questions is a no or a maybe, then nothing elese matters. The answer to both questions has to be a definite yes; then we can talk about the other things the car offers.
+Choice Ekpekurede WHAT'S a rear seat? I know my car has one but I've never used it (except once to take a coworker to lunch) (and I didn't care if he was comfortable). I prefer to save 4000 dollars on the smaller car because money is scarce .
For me, personal comfort in a car takes precedence over all bells and whistles. That's why when I needed a subcompact car, i bought the Nissan Versa. It is roomier that all the other cars in the category.
Kris Schedler: You may not believe it, but one reason I work very hard is to have sufficient money to eat whatever I like, not so that I can diet or fast.
I bet you're great at writing essays! This review is very well thought out and organized and to top it off, you even came with a conclusion. Great job! Also, would I get more girls with this car or the ford fusion?
Great video, thanks. I needed a payment around $250/month so this car fit that category. I couldn't be happier with the car. Very nice for the money. Great stereo and we love the ambient lighting. I found one with only one option, 1.0 engine, it was sold before I drove it, I just didn't tell the dealer that. $15500 for a new car that's fun to drive. Still smiling.
I really like the character of the turbo motor as described by you. But for my money I would still take the fit. My 2010 fit manual got 38 mpg per tank without to much effort. The interior packaging of the fit is so far superior that it makes the efficiency deficit of the fit a mute point. My point is if you are driving a sub compact, the one that maximizes its usability is the winner, and again for me that is the fit.
But your still driving a Honda. You must be a pretty young since no one my age would ever brag about owning a Honda unless we are talking dirt bikes. We can race if you want, I'll win.
I'm curious to know if the 2015/2016 Ford focus with the 1.0l ecoboost engine is any better from the previous model year. I had a base 2014 focus for a rental once, didn't care for the Dual clutch transmission, however I've heard that Ford has since replaced that with a standard automatic(I could be wrong). I really liked the steering feel on it and I've noticed that a lot of ford products have been getting that planted feel which is a good thing. A friend of mine has a Fiesta ST, love how it drove, but he told me that he knows someone that has this SFE model and that it fares pretty good. Most importantly, I'm wondering if I would be better off with a focus or the fiesta for a daily driver and the occasional trip to Monterey or the sierras. I'm not necessarily in the market for a new car, but I know that I will be within the next few years, and unless they completely redo these models(which a refresh could happen with the fiesta) I'm quite sure these are the vehicles I'll be looking at(along with maybe the Scion IM or the Honda Civic if I'm really okay with spending that extra money).
Got the base focus and get 40 -45 mpg. Its not going to outlast a Toyota but its a better driving car with the 5 speed and more fun and power. Like the Fiesta but its very small fear what would happen in a crash. The Fiesta is made in Mexico the focus is US made. None are as good as the European made Fords which are quite reliable.
I'm surprised that this is a base trim state side, in the UK you can get it in the Titanium x trim, the 100hp version you can get the 6 speed powershift automatic but without the stop start, the Focus 1.0 ecoboost can have a 6 speed automatic too. There is also a 140hp version in the fiesta red & black. We don't get the touchscreen in Europe but oddly you don't have the quickclear heated windscreen.
if i ordered a fiesta with no sync and bluetooth option, can i use the aux instead to have hands free call? well obviously i have to dial through my phone first but atleast the audio would be streamed through the speakers right?
The Fiesta is good but not good enough the 200 the Fit needs would be gas only. The Fiesta has been having some problems which warranty hopefully covers which is fine and all but I want the Fit out of warranty. On top of that if your not a harsh driver you'll equal this in gas mileage or so my grand mother says. Doing a bit of research it seems the same. Fit for me.
Whats the reliabilty on the 1l ecoboost? Ford has some awful reliability on their focus for numerous things but I've never been able to find out if this power train was any better / worse
I think it kind of sucks that you can't get allow wheels.I mean ford show at least offer the 15s. I also don't quite understand not having MY Ford touch as an option. I understand there is a cost issue but still.
+electrictroy2010 The Kia Soul EV has alloy rims designed for efficiency along with the low rolling resistance tires. Other companies have alloy rims that help the car be more efficient. As I said should be an option. The Fiesta with this power train can get a sunroof but not alloy rims? I call bs.
Phu Phillip Trinh Yes it will be heavier, but the 6-speed will compensate a little for that. I don't think it will make that big of a difference however.
On the driving portion of the review, around how fast are you driving? It always looks like your flying down that road, but I'm guessing your not going that fast.
1guyin10 That is why I said "around" lol. With that camera on the roof, it always looks like he is driving fast down that small, one lane road in the driving portion of his reviews.
+GT6SuzukaTimeTrials NONSENSE (and I'm an engineer so I can say that). The tiny dime-sized turbo in this Fiesta will not cause preignition with standard 87 gasoline. AND NEVER RUN E85 IN A STANDARD CAR. E10 is the maximum listed in the manual, and anything higher voids the warranty .
Obviously they could if they wanted to, but Ford's production is constrained from what I understand and they wanted to dip their toe in the water before diving in, so I would not be surprised if in years to come Ford broadens the availability. You can see this in the new Focus getting the same 1.0L engine for 2015.
Alex on Autos Hey Alex, from experience, Ford always rolls out new products in extremely limited configurations. I know all automakers do this, but after playing with configurators online for the last 10 years, it seems that ford in the most restrictive in the first 1-2 years in options and packaging. Pretty annoying, especially since they have become more "package" focused since 2011ish. This was one of the reasons I went with a Chevy instead.
why in usa it's call "SFE" ? In Europe we have 1.0 ecoboost 80hp (N/A turbo) 1.0 Ecoboost 100hp 5 speed 1.0 Ecoboost 125hp 6 speed 1.0 ecoboost 140hp 6 speed Ford & Caterham 1.5 ecoboost 180hp 1.6 ecoboost 150-160-180 hp = Ford & Volvo
electrictroy2010 oh ok in europe for that, diesel are called "Econetic" and are made for aerodynamic/fuel saving package to (can't had hitch hor "fence" on the roof for bagage)
Just bought a used 2014 titanium, and while I enjoy it, I wish Ford would've just shoved this 3 cylinder engine into all their models. Seems like a huge missed opportunity.
Im so confused... why is he demonstrating that he can fit in the cargo space as well as a handle being on the inside. Is he planning on smuggling people in the trunk illegally??
Reliability is one area where I don't mind Europe getting it first. They've had the 1.0L Ecoboost for a couple years with high reviews so hopefully they've worked out the bugs, I think our 1.0L's will come from Germany or Romania.
The reason why I'm asking is... in Australia, the official 0-100km/h times are 9.4 seconds... though there are videos / people claiming that it does the run faster than that. I know 0-100km/h is more like 0-62mph, though if 0-60mph is 7.8 secs, I doubt 0-62mph would be 9.4 secs?
16k is just too much. You can buy a Mirage for under 10 grand. I see Nissan Notes going for 11 grand. The Mirage also has a 10 year warranty. I would not trust a Ford long term. For a little more, you could buy a base Subaru Impreza. I would think buying Fit would make sense at $400 more, mainly because the repairs would be less frequent.
You're thinking about this a little wrong. Yes you can buy a Mitsubishi Mirage for that cheap, but that is not the base price. They start at $13K. Not to mention the Mirage cannot match the Fiesta on features or quality at any trim level and you get a whopping 40 hp less than the Ford. The fuel economy numbers are nearly identical. The Versa Note has a base price of $14K but you can't get the car equiped the same unless you pay $16K plus for the SV model. You don't even get cruise control until you get to the SV. And then you miss out of the driving dynamics of the Ford and the far superior fuel economy. Not to mention that I've seen the Ford go for less than $12 depending on where you look. I wouldn't even consider the Mirage or Note Versa. But the Fit is a nice choice. You can get those with far more options than the Ford with an automatic, more interior volume, more power, and gas mileage that's only a bit worse. Not to mention it has a base price of $15K so it's competitively priced. It's just about what your preferences though.
I agree the Fit is the best car. However, I have a really hard time with an economy car once we start talking over 13 grand. It is better to step up a class and buy a better car. I have seen the Versa for 10 grand, in base form, it is just hard to get one. I am sure you could wheel and deal an SV down to closer to 13k range, then it is worth considering. I have a hard time trusting a Ford, only ones I trust are the vehicles Mazda provided the mechanicals for, they have far less problems with transmissions, cooling system, etc. The Fit is the best all arounder, but because it starts at 15k.. I would look at Hyundai Elantra at that starting price. Or, spend about $2000 more for a new base Subaru Impreza that is a more substancial car with AWD. I wish they still had more real baseline cars without power windows, and mirrors adn locks and such. The Fit at 13k without all of that would be idea. The Civic became an Accord of 5 years back. No more "We Keep it Simple".
+djkenny you're right. Things get complicated when you figure in the price. For full discloser, my fiance owns a Fit and I would say that it's pretty much the best car that I could buy for the money. it does so many things well. But if you want AWD the Impreza cant be beat. and if you want fuel economy the Fiesta cant be beat. If you want a truly cheap care the Mirage is best. And at the same token, if you want more car a couple of grand extra will buy you an Accord with more space. I guess it depends on what you are looking for. Personally I want this Fiesta for the gas mileage alone.
A Fit in base form seems like a reasonable purchase. they are roomy, refined, and do a lot well of ra decent price. Plus, the Honda nameplate usually means less issues down the road.
+djkenny FORD ranks in the top 5 (google Warranty Direct engine reliability). Mitsubishi and Nissan don't rank at all. I'd rather have the Ford . Also I see the Mirage and Note listed as 11,000 and 13000 MSRP. This Fiesta 1.6L base model is 12,500 MSRP .
Brandon Clark they havent had any problems other than the DCT. That has been fixed. A catch can for the turbo wouldnt hurt. Id probably do that immediately
+DriftBandit 96 HAHAHA 123 horsepower per liter == new record for a mass-produced car. My 3-clinder Honda has held-up over 300,000 miles. (Over in Europe a company sells a 2 cylinder car) .
I bet you're great at writing essays! This review is very well thought out and organized and to top it off, you even came with a conclusion. Great job! Also, would I get more girls with this car or the ford fusion?
