The Fiesta's rising beltline and sharp nose give the sense of movement; its short overhangs and taut sheet metal look as European as ... well, the European Fiesta that's been sold globally since late 2008. This is not some watered-down U.S. version. It looks good.

You wouldn't think it by the Fiesta's narrow stance, but it's actually slightly wider than competitors. It shows in its 34.4-foot turning circle, the biggest of its class.

The base Fiesta S has body-colored windows and mirrors -- a premium touch, given its sub-$14,000 price -- while SE models add a body-colored grille. The grille is slightly different between the sedan and hatch. Fifteen-inch alloy wheels are optional on the Fiesta SE. The SEL sedan and SES hatch get 16-inch alloys, along with some nice lighting elements.