Ford Fiesta sedan earns 4- and 5-star ANCAP ratings, Australian launch imminent

By Tim Beissmann | August 02nd, 2010

The Ford Fiesta sedan has moved a step closer to an Australian launch, with the vehicle awarded four- and five-star safety ratings by ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program).

Like the Fiesta hatch, a five-star rating will apply to all Fiesta variants fitted with seven airbags (front, side, curtain, driver’s knee), while variants with two front airbags will carry a four-star rating.

The ratings are based on Euro NCAP testing of the 1.25-litre left-hand drive Fiesta hatch, with ANCAP satisfied that “the Fiesta sedan provides comparable occupant protection to the hatch”.

Overall it achieved a score of 34.45 out of 37, earning 14.90 out of 16 in the offset crash test, 15.55 out of 16 in the side impact crash test, and earning two bonus points each for having seatbelt reminders and for completing the pole test.

Interestingly the official crash test results published by ANCAP say “the Ford Fiesta sedan was introduced in Australia during 2010” although we know this is not yet accurate.

Ford Australia is expected to confirm in the coming days exactly when the Fiesta sedan will join the local line-up.

It announced at the launch of the WS Fiesta hatch in December 2008 that the sedan would arrive in the first half of 2010 when supply moved from Germany, though that has since been delayed.

Ford Australia will begin to source its Fiesta from Thailand in September, promising better equipment levels and more competitive prices, and it is expected the sedan will arrive in Australia at the same time or shortly after the hatch.

The Fiesta sedan was initially unveiled at the 2008 Guangzhou Auto Show and has been on sale in China and selected overseas markets for more than a year.

At 4409mm long, Ford’s smallest sedan is 139mm longer than the Mazda2 sedan and 459mm longer than the Fiesta hatch.

Save it for the track

I still don’t see how seatbelt reminders can be counted toward a star rating for a vehicle. The way these ratings are done, by including such things as points for seatbelt warning lights, it wouldn’t be a stretch to think that there are probably some three or four star rated cars that are actually ‘dynamically’ safer than some five star cars.

joe5619

I completely disagree.. The seat beat is the best safely devise in any car, but it has just one design fault.. It only works when it is put on!!! And you’d be very very very surprised at the number of people (in Australia) that drive without a seat belt.. A bell going off every few second will make people put on the seat beat!! It is a very valid point towards gain 5 stars IMO

Mitch

With the hilux, if you leave it long enough it stops.
Save it for the track

No I wouldn’t be surprised, and depending on the area, I’d say that non seatbelt wearer’s would be more prevalent in the country than the city. Many caught in the city are caught not far from shopping or driving out from their own streets. Whereas many country non wearers are found thrown from their vehicle in crashes.

Shak

IMO looks much better than the Mazda 2 Sedan.

nickdl

Agree but it looks a bit under-tyred, especially at the back. Some bigger wheelarches would make it look better.

Overall I’m not really a fan of light sedans in general but this is a step up from the rest.

Jones

Geez 459mm longer than the hatch! Thats almost half a metre – one big booty!
http://www.facebook.com/ryanzarb Ryan Zarb

Looks like the ugly stick of ugly sticks hit it. the hatch is much easier on the eys.
ox

Looks awkward and very under-wheeled
Baddass

That’s the thing about a high beltline. On the hatch it look’s fantastic, but on the sedan it makes for a mighty big booty, and the rear wheels look about 9-inchers!
JEKYL & HYDE

nice interior…
Vibe

I think it would look better if it weren’t beige. But I think it will still date quickly, inside and out.
Staggers

The curtain airbags on the Fiesta though dont extend on to the back doors like every other car with curtain airbags do. There are only airbags to protect the front occupants.
riddler

Is there a safety rating which just takes the collisions into account?

Im tired of seeing cars with stability control and seatbelt warnings get bonus points, clearly not every 5 star safety car is equal
KeithM

Sorry Henry, your guys have $h@t all over the page again. Way too many lines and curves and bulges and slants and oh, those cute little front & rear 1/4 light windows. What the… ! The safety idea’s spot-on though, no one will want to travel in it.
Al Juraj

The auto versions need the same 1.6 in the manual and 6-speed Powershift as it is in the American models.

EconeticFan

Ford Thailand will be selling the 2011 Fiesta next month with 6-speed PowerShift autos in the 1.6L sedan and hatch. Looks like we’ll be getting PowerShift Fiestas over here later this year or early next.

Looks like I can’t directly post the links, but if you do a google search for these three terms, you’ll see the links with the above information:

2011-ford-fiesta-debuts-in-thailand
ford-begins-thai-fiesta-production
ford.co.th 1248876993208

Interestingly, the Ford Thailand site only has one manual option in their 7 models and it’s with the 1.4L engine. Is this a sign of things to come?