The Ford Fiesta could be seen as the doorway to the brand. Affordable and stylish, it's likely to be a “first new car” for many purchasers. In the past, the affordable end of the spectrum has meant a lack of content and quality. One look at the Fiesta's outfitting quiets that argument for good. The 2011 Ford Fiesta is without peer in its class for technology and safety and convenience features.

Looking at the standard features, it's clear that Ford doesn't think Fiesta buyers need to sacrifice anything. A newly available PowerShift transmission is on the cutting edge of gearshifting technology. The Fiesta starts with an optional push button, and good luck finding a hands-free, voice-activated communications and entertainment system like SYNC^® in any of the Fiesta's competitors.

Joining the push button start are other features uncommon in the Fiesta's end of the market, proving Ford has packed the Fiesta full of value. The start button is part of Intelligent Access, which adds remote starting and keyless entry as well. Following the lead of the available graphics options that let owners express themselves on the outside, seven colors of ambient interior lighting make the Fiesta's cockpit glow your favorite shade once the sun has gone down. It's controlled by a switch, so you could even use the 2011 Fiesta as a sort of vehicular mood ring, changing the lighting to match your attitude.

SES and SEL Fiestas kick it with an 80-watt audio system with six speakers, and SIRIUS Satellite Radio expands your entertainment options even further. SYNC adds voice activation to the communication and entertainment systems, as well as bolstering safety with 911 Assist and traffic, directions and information services like turn-by-turn navigation assistance.

There's plenty of dedicated safety gear in the 2011 Ford Fiesta, too. The ultimate safety feature is the nimble, confident way the Fiesta handles all road conditions, making it easy to stay out of trouble in the first place. There are seven standard airbags, even a knee airbag for the driver, something you won't find in any of the competition, optional or otherwise.

The airbags and standard AdvanceTrac electronic stability control are supported by a tremendously strong structure built from plenty of high-strength boron steel. Not only does the Fiesta carry the most standard airbags in its class, they're smartly deployed by sensors, optimizing the effectiveness of the safety gear.

Ford's Trinity front crash structure, a safety design that absorbs and redirects crash energy, is a design that Ford also uses on its much larger Taurus. As do the bigger vehicles, the Fiesta has a comprehensive approach to safety that encompasses the basic engineering of the body, unseen safety aids like antilock braking and available Hill Start Assist, and active technologies like stability control, airbags and the SOS Post Crash Alert System.

Ford's available SYNC system also plays a role in the safety equation. With its voice activation capabilities, SYNC can significantly reduce distraction and will help keep drivers' hands on the wheel and attention on the road. It may be a physically small package, but the 2011 Ford Fiesta delivers big safety and is loaded with technology that leads the market.