Used 2012 Ford Fiesta SEL for sale 

There are three trim levels available for the 2012 Ford Fiesta - S, SE, and SEL. Prices start at MSRP $13,200 for the base level S trim and go all the way up to $16,600 for the SEL trim. All variants are powered by the same 1.6 L engine and five-speed manual gearbox. A six-speed dual-clutch automated manual is available as an option. This delivers excellent fuel economy and very fast-shifting, however, there is no manual shift control and proves to be a bit troubling for buyers.

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The SEL trim of the 2012 Ford Fiesta, which comes at $16,600, feels like the best option out of the three. It still comes at a very affordable price and promises a lot of features that one cannot find in the class the Fiesta is in. There are optional packages like the SFE package, which has various aerodynamic improvements, and special tires to help the Fiesta achieve excellent fuel economy.

All 2012 Fiestas come with a 1.6 L four-cylinder that produces 120 hp and 112-pound feet of torque. All trim levels offer a five-speed manual transmission. However, one can equip a six-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission. However, this is not a much-recommended option. Even though it sounds low on paper, the Fiesta is actually a good performer due to its excellent handling and driving dynamics. The sedan touches the 60 mph mark in 9.5 seconds and completes the quarter-mile in 17.5 seconds.

The Hyundai Accent and the Chevrolet Sonic are a bit faster to reach 60 mph than the Ford Fiesta, however, this difference of a few milliseconds comes with at least 17 hp more. When it comes to performance, we very much prefer the Fiesta’s excellent handling which can leave these two in the dust. In fact, it is the Fiesta in which you can have the most fun while driving and definitely makes for the better pick if you’re looking at a driver’s car.

Fuel economy is one factor that is very important to a buyer who is looking for a car in this category. Ford has equipped the 2012 Fiesta with the 1.6 L engine which is fuel-efficient enough to power its subcompact sedan without compromising on its performance. The Fiesta has an excellent fuel economy of 27 MPG in the city and 35 MPG on the highway. This means a combined fuel efficiency rating of 30 MPG, which is rather high. As a result, even with a tank as small as 12.4 gallons, it offers an excellent range of 334.8 miles in the city and 434 miles out on the highway.

The Hyundai Accent is the most fuel-efficient car of the bunch with its 38 MPG highway rating but falls back when you compare the range due to its small fuel tank. By its fuel tank size and fuel efficiency figures, the Fiesta offers the highest range (334 miles in the city and 434 miles on the highway) out of the three due to its 12.4 gallons fuel tank. The Chevrolet Sonic also returns good efficiency as well as range comparable to the Fiesta.

Ford has done an excellent job with the interiors of the Fiesta, and this has been subject to a lot of praise recently. It feels very upmarket due to the use of great materials inside and the overall build quality, which feels like it’s too good for the category this falls in. The plastic quality is good, and the styling is very modern and edgy. Interior space is also quite good, and the seats, especially the ones up front, are built well and very comfortable. At just 12.8 ft.³, the trunk capacity is decent but not very generous.

Even though we are in the subcompact category, when it comes to interior space offered, all cars have enough space for their front passengers. The Fiesta does not feel cramped at all for passengers. However, its rivals perform better in terms of rear-seat space, where the Fiesta feels a bit tight. Its rivals also offered better cargo capacity: the Chevrolet Sonic deserving a mention for its amazing 14.9 ft.³ of storage. Some of its interior features include:

• Audio and cruise controls on steering wheel
• Front and rear cupholders
• Heated mirrors
• Trip computer
• Electric power steering
• Single zone air-conditioning

Infotainment unit

The infotainment unit in the Ford Fiesta is the latest Sync system that allows voice control and provides features such as navigation. It also offers emergency assists among other very useful features. The optional system adds a touchscreen that provides crisp graphics and is very intuitive to use. The audio system is also decent but nothing exceptional. However, this is acceptable for a very economical car. Few standout infotainment features available are-

• 80 W stereo output
• USB connection
• AM/FM Stereo
• 6-speaker sound system
• SYNC3

The Ford Fiesta looks quite nice, quirky even. It looks more modern than its competitors and hence will take some time to gel with the crowd. It also looks great in hatchback form, and the design has some very nice details that are hard to forget. It is quite a small car with just 2,578 lbs in weight, 173.5 inches in length, 71.6 inches in width, and 58.1 inches in height. Along with the wheelbase of just 98 inches, it is an excellent choice for someone who has a lot of driving inside the city.

The Ford Fiesta, although a small car on its own, is the widest and longest car of its category by a very small margin. In terms of wheelbase, the new Hyundai Accent is slightly longer while the Chevrolet Sonic is slightly taller. But still, all these cars are of very modest dimensions. The Fiesta is one of the light cars of the bunch, but the Hyundai is the lightest. Some of its standout exterior features include:

• Fiesta lower door stripe
• 15-inch rims
• Keyless entry keypad black
• The front license plate bracket
• Wheel locks

Although it is an economical car, the Fiesta has not cut any corners in terms of safety. In the NHTSA crash test, the Fiesta was awarded four out of five stars, which is the second-highest rating possible, and on the IIHS crash test, it earned an overall rating of 'Good' in frontal-offset, side, and roof-strength tests. Standard safety features in the car are basic but cover all the essentials. They include anti lock brakes, traction and stability control, integrated blind-spot monitor, front, side, and driver knee airbags, as well as an emergency assist function. Some standout safety features are:

•  Child seat anchors
•  ABS and EBD
•  4 wheel antilock brakes
•  Front and side airbags
• Curtain airbags
• Blindspot monitor
• Emergency assist

The 2012 Ford Fiesta is a new model that is still being familiarized with the American public. However, owners of the 2011 Ford Fiesta seem to be enjoying it because it is a car with a lively powertrain, sporty handling, good fuel efficiency, and excellent interiors. It is also very safe and very economical, both to buy and maintain. We would definitely recommend the car as it is one of the best subcompact sedans you can buy in the market.