Blue Oval Reconfigures Ford Fiesta Family for 2013

Perhaps the 2012 Ford Fiesta was just too much of a good thing: It finished its run in May with 6,080 sales, good for third place in the subcompact segment behind the Hyundai Accent and Chevy Sonic, which isn’t too shabby of a performance on the surface. But that total was down 14.6 percent from May of 2011 and left the Fiesta trailing last year’s pace by 26.9 percent through the first five months of 2012. So, to help rectify the situation, Ford is streamlining the Fiesta range for the new model year; the 2013 lineup, on sale now, “groups content and features into logical packages based on clear purchase patterns, simplifying the car-buying experience for both the customer and the dealer.”

And better yet, the brand claims the repackaging can save buyers “hundreds of dollars” as compared to similarly contented 2012 Fiestas. Then, for those drivers less focused on bottom-line pricing and more interested in top-of-the-line amenities, the Blue Oval has launched the 2013 Ford Fiesta Titanium—following in the successful tire tracks of the Ford Focus Titanium and offering one of the segment’s most upscale ownership experiences.

2013 Ford Fiesta: A Look at the Lineup

For 2013, the Fiesta—both hatchback and sedan—will be offered at just three basic trim levels:

Fiesta S—The designated “value” choice starts at $13,200 for the sedan and $14,200 for the hatch, and delivers an eminently livable vehicle that includes air conditioning, sophisticated style accents like body-color door handles and a metallic shift-knob insert, rear-seat heating ducts, integrated blind-spot mirrors, seven airbags (including a first-in-class driver’s knee unit), and a wide range of options.

Fiesta SE—Priced from $15,200 for the sedan and $16,200 for the five-door hatchback, the Fiesta SE adds standard content like a six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 sound system, cruise control, and the latest iteration of Ford SYNC with SYNC AppLink for voice-activated access to popular infotainment and connectivity resources. The SE models also showcase a more premium appearance, with tasteful interior metallic trim and up-level cloth seating surfaces, a chrome-finish grille, and power-adjustable, heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals.

Fiesta Titanium—The new Fiesta Titanium takes things to ye olde next level with standard equipment such as Intelligent Access with Push-button Start, ambient lighting, leather-trimmed and heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio and cruise controls, chrome exterior accents, LED parking lamps, 16-inch painted aluminum wheels, and plenty of available extras, including a power moonroof, two different two-tone interior appearance packages, and, only on the hatchback, a Black Sport exterior appearance package. The MSRPs: $17,200 for the sedan and $18,200 for the hatch.

Note: The SFE “Super Fuel Economy” package remains and is only available on the Fiesta SE duo with Ford’s PowerShift six-speed automatic (and without the standard SYNC setup). The package adds enough aero upgrades to nudge the car from an EPA line of 29 mpg city/39 mpg highway/33 mpg combined up to 29/40/33.