Getting your player ready...
Remember, back in school, when, regarding twins, it was sometimes necessary to get up close in order to tell them apart.
It’s been that way at my house this week; neighbors have to look closely to tell whether I’m backing from my garage in a Ford Fiesta or Mazda2.
I’ve had them both, they’re same-sized subcompacts, and the Ford is finished in lime squeeze metallic color, the Mazda in spirited green metallic. The Ford lime is just slightly lighter in green than is that of the Mazda. The Mazda, built in Japan, and the Ford, coming off an assembly line in Mexico, are similarly styled four-door hatchbacks for the fact they’re based on Ford’s B3 vehicle chassis. The creative link is Ford’s small ownership stake in Mazda. Either car will carry four adults and deliver fuel economy above 30 miles per gallon. Beneath the hood of the Ford Fiesta is a 119-horsepower, 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine and 5-speed manual transmission. The Mazda2 is powered by a smaller 100-hp, 1.5-liter 4-cylinder and 4-speed automatic transmission. Ford’s manual transmission, of course, will outperform the automatic, but keep your foot in the Mazda’s accelerator for high revs and it is a surprisingly spirited competitor. We drove the Mazda2 to Jefferson County last weekend to assist in a move of Dale and Sandy Wells, then Brent and Tina Wells joined Jan and me in testing the “four-adult” ride rating for the return trip to northern Colorado. The Mazda2, with an EPA rating of 27-33, averaged 33.6 miles per gallon overall; the Ford, with an EPA of 28-37, recorded 34.9 mpg. I drove like models last summer, both with manual transmissions, and averaged 37.3 with the Fiesta and 34.1 with the Mazda.
While the front-wheel-drive hatchbacks ride on a wheelbase of 98 inches, the Ford is 4 inches longer in overall length. The Mazda2, with 15-inch wheels (Fiesta’s are 16-inch), has a 2-foot shorter turn circle than the Fiesta; in fact, at 32.2 feet, it is one of the tightest turnarounds available in four-door automobiles.
Interior of the Ford is more nicely finished than that of the Mazda, though the Mazda has wider front-seat cushions for a bit more comfort.
Leather seats, well-designed center stack and remote start are among highlights of the Fiesta, which carried a sticker price of $19,305. Ambient lighting, such as colored rings inside the cupholders, is standard, along with AM/FM sound, Sirius satellite radio, Sync voice-activated system, message center, intermittent wipers both front and rear, capless fuel filler. The Mazda2’s price of $17,480 included cloth seats, leather-covered steering wheel, power windows/locks/mirrors, air conditioning, cruise control, trip computer, halogen headlamps. Brakes are disc in front and drum at the rear for both cars.
Notes from e-mail
Q: Bud, I liked your review of the Toyota Venza, except the center stack photo. Please ask the manufacturers of SUVs to keep the shift lever in the console where it belongs. I nearly walked away from my ’09 Honda Pilot EXL because of the center-stack location. As a near-retirement-age empty-nester, I find the high-mounted lever ill-positioned. Plus, my retirement SUV will have manu-matic function, I cannot see reaching for the dashboard to shift. Maybe it’s helpful in a minivan full of soccer kids, but not for me. Your prompt attention to my request will assure me a wide selection of floor-mounted shift levers in a couple of years. – E.L.
A: I agree, Ed, positioning of the shift lever on the dash doesn’t seem to be for convenience. You’re not old enough to remember the first to do that, the Chrysler/DeSoto/Dodge/Plymouth lineup of 1955, then a year later they all switched to push-button shift.
Q: Bud, are you telling me that most pickup buyers are now choosing V-6 power for their trucks over V-8s? I’ll not be among that group, and I would guess within a few months that fad will come to an end. Most pickups need some sort of power. – R.T.
A: It is Ford, Roger, that is selling more V-6 pickups than V-8s, and it is due to the excellent performance of its new EcoBoost engine. The EcoBoost 6-cylinder delivers 365 horsepower and 420 lbs.-ft. of torque, surpassing the 360-hp and 380-torque of Ford’s 5.0-liter V-8. Try it, Roger, you may like it.
Q: Personally, Bud, I’d take the white color of my SUV any day over the so-called gold or brown in the photo of the Toyota Venza last week. – B.L.
A: Well, Betty, the photo reproduction didn’t do justice to the “gold umber mica” finish of the Venza I was reviewing. And, too, you know what is said, “Beauty is in the eye of the .”
2011 Ford Fiesta
$19,305
(price as tested)
MPG City 28 Highway 37
Vehicle type: Subcompact four-door
Wheelbase: 98 inches
Length/Width/Height: 160.1/66.6/58 inches
Weight: 2,462 pounds
Engine: 1.6-liter 4-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Fuel mileage: 34.9 mpg
Fuel tank: 12 gallons
Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles basic; 5/60,000 powertrain
Competitors: Mazda2, Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa, Honda Fit
Built at Cuautitlan, Mexico
THE STICKER
$17,120 base
$795 Heated front seats, keyless start
$715 Leather-trimmed seats
$675 Destination
PLUSES
Fuel mileage
Sleek styling
Interior refinement
Roomy rear seat
MINUSES
Engine power
Cruise-button placement
I’ve had them both, they’re same-sized subcompacts, and the Ford is finished in lime squeeze metallic color, the Mazda in spirited green metallic. The Ford lime is just slightly lighter in green than is that of the Mazda. The Mazda, built in Japan, and the Ford, coming off an assembly line in Mexico, are similarly styled four-door hatchbacks for the fact they’re based on Ford’s B3 vehicle chassis. The creative link is Ford’s small ownership stake in Mazda. Either car will carry four adults and deliver fuel economy above 30 miles per gallon. Beneath the hood of the Ford Fiesta is a 119-horsepower, 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine and 5-speed manual transmission. The Mazda2 is powered by a smaller 100-hp, 1.5-liter 4-cylinder and 4-speed automatic transmission. Ford’s manual transmission, of course, will outperform the automatic, but keep your foot in the Mazda’s accelerator for high revs and it is a surprisingly spirited competitor. We drove the Mazda2 to Jefferson County last weekend to assist in a move of Dale and Sandy Wells, then Brent and Tina Wells joined Jan and me in testing the “four-adult” ride rating for the return trip to northern Colorado. The Mazda2, with an EPA rating of 27-33, averaged 33.6 miles per gallon overall; the Ford, with an EPA of 28-37, recorded 34.9 mpg. I drove like models last summer, both with manual transmissions, and averaged 37.3 with the Fiesta and 34.1 with the Mazda.
Leather seats, well-designed center stack and remote start are among highlights of the Fiesta, which carried a sticker price of $19,305. Ambient lighting, such as colored rings inside the cupholders, is standard, along with AM/FM sound, Sirius satellite radio, Sync voice-activated system, message center, intermittent wipers both front and rear, capless fuel filler. The Mazda2’s price of $17,480 included cloth seats, leather-covered steering wheel, power windows/locks/mirrors, air conditioning, cruise control, trip computer, halogen headlamps. Brakes are disc in front and drum at the rear for both cars.
