2011 Ford Fiesta awarded Top Safety Pick award by IIHS

August 25, 2010October 29, 2011 Omar Rana 2011, Compact Cars, Ford Fiesta, Hatchbacks, IIHS, Sedans

2011 Ford Fiesta undergoing IIHS'S side impact test

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced today that the 2011 Ford Fiesta hatchback/sedan is the first minicar to earn the Top Safety Pick award since the Institute added a roof strength requirement for rollover protection testing.

“The Fiesta is recognized as a Top Safety Pick after earning good ratings for front, side, rollover, and rear crash protection, and for having electronic stability control as standard equipment,” the IIHS said. “No other minicar the Institute has tested has earned top ratings in all four safety evaluations.”

The Fiesta is the eighth Ford model to earn the Institute’s top designation. The others are Ford Fusion/Lincoln MKZ/Mercury Milan, Ford Taurus/Lincoln MKS, and Ford Flex/Lincoln MKT.

Click here to read our review on the 2010 Ford Fiesta.

Refresher: The 2011 Ford Fiesta is powered by a 1.6L DOHC 4-cylinder engine making 120-hp with a peak torque of 109 lb-ft. The EPA rated the 2011 Fiesta at 29/40 mpg (city/highway) when mated to a 6-speed PowerShift automatic transmission and 28/37 mpg when mated to a 5-speed manual. Pricing for the 2011 Ford Fiesta starts at $13,320.