Ford Fiesta Tested September 2008

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Environment Rating The Econetic was briefly the UK's lowest emitting five seat car, while all other models are better than average for their power outputs. Even the most powerful Zetec S produces only 134 g/km of CO2, which is a good figure for a 120 bhp petrol model. Overall Rating Highly Recommended. Ford has taken its traditional dynamic excellence and added dramatic exterior styling and a radical new interior. If there is a better supermini out there, we haven't found it.

Summary

The previous generation Fiesta was always one of the most interesting small cars to drive but, unfortunately, amongst the least interesting to look at. Ford has well and truly solved that problem by transforming the looks of the car from frump to (pint-sized) supermodel.

The good news is that the performance of the car has not suffered in the transformation. Ford has taken the dynamic excellence of the old model and polished it, without radically altering the nature of the car. The one significant change is that the new Fiesta is actually lighter than the old one by 40 kg - this changes an unbroken 30-year-trend that has seen cars get gradually bigger and heavier with every model refresh. As fuel economy targets start to take effect, all cars are going to have to reduce weight but the Fiesta (and its Mazda 2 cousin) is the first to actually bite the bullet.

To drive, the Fiesta is recognisably Ford: excellent suspension means the ride is firm but well controlled while the handling is agile. Steering is a fraction lighter than before thanks to electronic power steering rather than the old hydraulic variety, but it is far more accurate than most such systems: electronic assistance has developed a reputation for providing numb, lifeless steering.

The revised engines are also first class. The Fiesta is available with the excellent 1.6 TDCI diesel as used in both the Focus and the Mini, and the Ford installation makes it noticeably quieter than the Mini diesel. There is also D75a revised 1.6 petrol with variable valve timing which produces 120 bhp - enough for a very sprightly drive. The Fiesta also has the distinction of offering one of the lowest CO2 five-seater cars on sale, with a road-tax exempt 98g/km of CO2 in the Econetic version.

Ford's internal catchphrase for the Fiesta is, "It's not our small car, it's our smallest big car" and that is not entirely vacuous. The supple ride and excellent refinement mean that it does feel like a car from the class above. Providing you do not need more space than the Fiesta offers, you would not miss being in a larger car, even on a long run. The only slight fly in the ointment is that the 1.6 petrol is quite low geared, with the engine running at almost 3,500 rpm at 70 mph. It is not noisy, but the engine is clearly quite busy on the motorway. Ford says the low gearing reflects the fact that petrol versions will spend most of their time either in town or on medium length journeys and the gearing gives the best response in those circumstances. Higher mileage drivers might be better off in the 1.6 TDCI.