Best new economy Car: 2011 Ford Fiesta vs. 2010 Honda Fit vs. 2010 Nissan Versa
It’s a brave new world out there when it comes to fuel efficient, entry level five door hatchbacks. Automotive history is littered with names like Chevy Chevette, Kia Rio Cinco and Ford Escort—all of which promised rock bottom pricing and delivered build quality that was so resoundingly cheap it often times bordered on the comical. When you used to buy an entry level small car you did so because you couldn’t afford anything better and living with that vehicle reminded you of that every day.
Then along came the first generation Honda Fit which had the build quality to make it feel like a “grown-up car” mixed with an interior so beguilingly spacious that Honda had to refer to the folding rear seats as “Magic.” Truly magical was the amount of stuff you could and still can cram into the back of a Honda Fit with the seats down. You can even fold the front seats and turn it into a “magic bed.” No comment on why you might need that and what sort of “magic” might occur there.
Coming this summer is the first American made competitor for the 2010 Honda Fit’s near total class dominance and it is best known as the 2011 Ford Fiesta. Expectations are rightfully high for the sales success of this highly stylized, well built subcompact. Surely no one ever thought those two words would ever be said about an American small car.
Not to be left out is the 2010 Nissan Versa, a solidly built and very traditionally utilitarian small car choice. Just looking at these three class leaders it’s nice to finally be able to say there is a wealth of choice out there for small car buyers on a budget.
2011 Ford Fiesta
No doubt about it, this is one great looking small car. In person the Fiesta looks very sporty especially in uplevel five door trim. As such hopes are high that Ford will introduce the rumored 180 horsepower turbocharged Ecoboost 4 cylinder so it will have the “go” to follow hand in hand with the good looks. At launch all models will be powered by a peppy enough (especially with the smooth shifting manual) 119 horsepower 4-cylinder.
At a press launch for the 2011 Fiesta I got a chance to drive both automatic and stick shift models and was somewhat disappointed with the lethargy of the automatic variant. If you want to get the most out of your new Fiesta (and 40 miles per gallon highway) buy the stick shift. Even if you are always in traffic you won’t regret your decision.
Going hand in hand with the great transmission is steering that is easily one of the best and most direct units ever delivered in a new North American Ford. Honda finally will have some competition for the Fit in the fun to drive compact car stakes. Handling in the Fiesta is firmer than in the Fit yet the payoff is handling that can so obviously handle more than the 119 horsepower found in the basic model.
Where the Fiesta falls behind the Fit a bit is in interior utility and that is pretty much all down to the swoopy styling. What surprises is that Ford didn’t horribly cost-cut the interior of the European version (it really only lost that version’s fog lights) and Ford is even offering two colors of high quality leather seats, one of which is done in a tastefully chosen hue of burgundy red. I really enjoy that new shade of leather in the new Fiesta and would probably order it even though I usually hate red leather seats.
While the base $13,000 sedan comes pretty much with only the essentials, Ford is playing it smart by offering once unheard of small car options like Sync voice activation, premium audio, ambient lighting, heated seats and push button starting on still relatively inexpensive $15-$17,000 versions.
You can buy a pretty fully loaded Fiesta for under $20,000 and considering the feature content that is a screaming deal. Especially if you value fuel efficiency, creature comforts and style and know the hard to find yet highly pleasurable joys of driving a well built small car.
2010 Honda Fit
Powered by a spunky and fizzy 117 horsepower four cylinder that mates seamlessly to the Caramel smooth manual transmission, the Fit was once the only driver’s choice in the subcompact market until the Fiesta came along. The Fiesta may have a swoopier look than the Fit but there is a charm to the “bloated ant-eater” look of this 2010 baby Honda hatchback.
And don’t think the Honda Fit doesn’t look like that for a reason. As was mentioned before the cargo hold is positively commodious and can even accommodate a mountain bike standing up. Another bonus is that a very well equipped basic Fit with power windows, locks, air and a good stereo comes in under $15,000. I do, however, prefer the looks of the Sport model what with its subtle spoiler, ground effects kit and gleaming alloy wheels (that also includes cruise control and upgraded audio). The Fit Sport just feels and looks like a more finished car than the base version.
One final edge the Honda has over the Ford is that the Fit has an optional built in navigation system. That is a tempting option box to tick as Honda makes one of the easiest to use and infallibly accurate navigation systems on the new car market today.
2010 Nissan Versa
Without the sportiness of the Fiesta or the unparalleled clever packaging of the Fit you might think the Nissan Versa falls into a distant third. Third, yes, but a distant third absolutely not. Hatchback models come well equipped for about $16,000 and offer optional Bluetooth, navigation, moonroof, steering wheel audio controls and more of those “big car features” for what usually amounts to a lower price than the competition.
The Versa, while a bit austerely styled, is attractive enough in hatchback form. The interior also has decent quality plastics and the seat upholstery feels built to last. If you need a reliable workhorse that won’t empty your wallet you could do far worse than the 2010 Nissan Versa.
So Who Wins?
I will grant the Fiesta a tie with the Fit until quality rankings for the first year model are released. If Ford can’t match the Honda Fit’s stellar reliability record I would have to bust it back to second. Regardless of which of these small cars you pick, however, you must remember that you are living in a truly golden small car age. And who ever thought the maker of the Pinto would one day come up with such a great small car?
Slideshow: 2011 Ford Fiesta vs. 2010 Honda Fit vs. 2010 Nissan Versa
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