| 2011 Ford Fiesta vs 2010 Toyota Yaris | June 5, 2010 | AUTORIVALS.NET |
| Share |
|
|
|
| With the introduction of the Ford
Fiesta on U.S. shores, Ford seems to be making all the right
moves in all the right places. While other automakers have been
busy paying back loans or dealing with recalls, Ford has been
busy delivering vehicles that are one step ahead of the
competition. Along with the praised Ford Fusion and next-generation
Ford
Focus, the Ford Fiesta adds another powerhouse to Ford's
rapidly changing lineup. It's got style, pizzazz, a quality
interior, and gets up to 40 mpg. What more could you ask for?
Did we mention it starts around $13,000? The Fiesta sedan and hatchback will go head-to-head with other entry level small cars such as the Nissan Versa, Hyundai Accent, and Toyota Yaris which was introduced back in 2007. The Yaris has been a favorite among small car buyers but Toyota and other automakers will have to go back to the drawing board to stay competitive as the Fiesta outshines them both inside and out. |
||
| 2011 Ford Fiesta | vs | 2010 Toyota Yaris |
 |
 |
|
|
The Fiesta wears the new Ford face like the Fusion and next-generation Focus with
a lower trapezoidal grille and visually wider front end. The
headlights are large and upswept with a more aggressive demeanor
than the Yaris's. There's a few high-end touches which you
usually don't see in this price range such as the lower LED
parking lights which are subtle yet elegant enough to be
appreciated. There's more detail in the bodywork as well with
pronounced front and rear fenders and nicely sculpted doors. A
welcomed design touch are door-mounted side mirrors which not
only look better, but also reduce blind spots. They even feature
turn signals which is a surprise considering plenty of more
expensive vehicles don't even have them. The Fiesta and Yaris have two different personalities. The Yaris is decidedly softer with a friendlier face and blander styling. The sedan arguably looks better than the hatchback version with better-proportioned features but it lacks any upscale details that the Fiesta has. There's really nothing to write home about in terms of exterior styling as the Yaris is what you would typically find in this segment (until the Fiesta showed up that is). It'll get you from point A to point B but without the panache that the Fiesta has. |
||
 |
 |
|
| The Fiesta's body seems to find a
middle ground between the more traditional Fusion and the upcoming,
highly-stylized Ford Focus. The body panels are dynamic or as
Ford likes to say, "kinetic",and are edgier than the Fusion
but less so than the Focus. In a day and age where automakers
are getting increasingly lazier and
designing different vehicles to look the same, the
differences in Ford's lineup gives a more diverse offering. The Fiesta is a little over four inches longer than the Yaris but that difference is visually augmented by the Fiesta's stretched roofline that leads further in the rear. It creates a sleeker profile than the Yaris's and follows on the trend of "four-door coupes". The elongated roofline adds two extra glass panels and a narrow D-pillar which gives better viewing from the driver's seat. |
||
 |
 |
|
| The Fiesta's sportier personality
continues into the rear. The creased line leads nicely from the
front fender to the taillights and the sculpted trunk lid
matches the rear fascia well. Another high-end touch are the
optional 16-inch wheels that look suspiciously like the
Lamborghini Gallardo's wheels (see notes below).
Ford seems to have its sights set on everything from entry-level
cars to supercars. The Yaris's rear design matches the soft front end and lacks any sculpture or definition. The silhouette is traditional with wide C-pillars leading in a softly contoured trunk. The Yaris does make efficient use of its space though with slightly better trunk space and rear leg room despite being shorter overall. |
||
 |
 |
|
| The difference in interiors is as
dramatic as the exteriors. The Fiesta's center stack is modern and
chic that's been styled to resemble a mobile phone's keypad that
should fit well for the trendy, tech-loving, younger crowd.
Technology lovers will also enjoy Ford's SYNC feature enabling
mobile phone integration, voice-activated communication and
entertainment showcased on a screen mounted atop of the
dashboard. More higher end features find their way into the
Fiesta such as Ford's capless gas tank, ambient lighting,
automatic climate control, keyless entry, push button start, and
a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. Safety is another one of
the Fiesta's priorities with features including standard
electronic stability control and air bags all around from the
front to the side to even the knees. Cost-cutting can be seen in the Yaris's interior. I've never been a fan of center-mounted gauges like the ones in the Yaris and other Toyota's which leaves a vast void of plastic in front of the driver. The gauges look especially cheap compared to the Fiesta's and the center console looks rather plain but gets the job done. In terms of features, don't expect much but standard safety features include anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution, and front and side airbags but none for the knees. |
||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RECAP | RECAP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
PROS +Raises the bar for entry level cars +Upscale details (LED parking lights, wheels, etc.) +Chiseled exterior +Chic interior +More power and more fuel efficient CONS -A little late to the party but better late than never |
PROS +Friendly, happy design +Efficient use of space +200+ pounds lighter CONS -Cheap looking interior -Bland in comparison -Less weight doesn't translate into better fuel efficiency |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Video Source: Fifth Gear via YouTube |
| Video Source: Cars.com via YouTube |
The Fiesta's wheels are one of the standout details that puts it above it's competition. They might not be the most expensive but they're still a step ahead of standard wheels and hubcaps that other vehicles use. And am I crazy or is there a slight resemblance to the 2003 Lamborghini Gallardo wheels?
| 2011 Ford Fiesta Wheels | vs | 2003 Lamborghini Gallardo Wheels |
 |
 |
|