Not too long ago, 40 mpg on the highway was a far reach for most manufacturers. With ever-increasing safety standards adding weight to the small-car formula and technology such as direct injection and turbocharging too expensive for the segment, most manufacturers seemed content to leave the 40-mpg-and-better realm to hybrids and clean diesels. But Ford decided to put its money where it counts when developing the Fiesta.

At the heart of the car’s fuel-saving tactics is its 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine. Aside from being a direct-injection design, the engine incorporates such things as a fuel shut-off under deceleration and a variable-valve system that produces more horsepower while using less gasoline. In addition, the Fiesta comes equipped with electric power steering that reduces drag on the engine. Combine those traits with the extremely efficient 6-speed dual-clutch transmission -- another typically high-dollar feature -- and you have one of the most fuel-efficient small cars on the market.

It will be awhile before we can tell whether buyers will respond to the Fiesta’s combination of excellent fuel economy and high standard feature load, but if the car proves to be a success, odds are we will see Ford follow a similar formula with the rest of its lineup. It wouldn’t surprise us to see direct-injection engines become more popular as the manufacturer begins to eye the upcoming changes in government fuel-economy standards.