Review – Welcome to the all new Ford Fiesta
I drive the new seventh generation of the UK’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta
A bit of Fiesta history
- When introduced in 1976 the 1.0-litre 40ps version cost just £1,856
- 4.5 million Fiesta’s have been sold since its introduction
- The Ford factory in Cologne, Germany produces a new one every 68 seconds on average
Massive sound and a huge improvement on the inside
Firstly Ford has dealt with my most major grumble about the previous model, gone is the button festooned dashboard to be replaced with a stylish new layout where a 6.5-inch touchscreen is a dominating feature. You also get the excellent Sync 3 system which is now Apple CarPlay and Android Auto equipped. Everything just looks and feels very modern and intuitive; it’s a vast improvement over the ageing cabin of the outgoing model.
The seats are also very comfortable and accommodating for the tallest of drivers – Ford claims that these new seats have been sat in 25,000 times during durability testing, not by a human being though, but by a set of robotic buttocks which is a dedication to durability testing if ever you saw it.
This B&O play version is equipped with a 10-speaker 675-watt sound system to please audiophiles everywhere. It is a great addition to the model, and it delivers a strong depth of sound - buyers can also spec this setup as an option a
Minty Fresh Paint and still one of the best to drive
The Ford design team has done a great job with the redesign; the Ford design DNA is present at the front with the revised grille and lights. At the back, the entire rear-end looks more streamlined with new rear light clusters. It's clear from laying eyes on that this is a small Ford, but now it’s all very modern and bang up to date in the looks department.
While the Minty green is not for everyone (Bohai Bay Mint so you know), there is little doubt that it stands out.
My test car was equipped with the 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 100ps, thanks to the addition of a six-speed manual gearbox (a first in a non-ST Fiesta) it produces only 97g/km of CO2 and is good for 0-62mph in 10.5 seconds with a top speed of 113mph. Fuel economy is also helped by the addition of the six-speed box with the official figure being 65.7mpg combined.
In this chassis the tiny motor shines, it feels smooth and refined under acceleration and is more than capable of powering the Fiesta around with ease. The steering is light and easy to use around town, while it lacks a level of feel at times this rarely detracts from the action. Ford has done a great job in terms of making it feel both sporty and most importantly making it huge fun to drive.
One minor grumble is the larger optional wheels; on 16-inch wheels, the car rode very well, smoothly tackling the worst Northamptonshire could throw at it. On 17-inch wheels, though the car did crash a minor amount, this led to an occasional slight loss of composure as you hit the worst bumps the road could offer.
Should You buy one?
The UK’s best-selling car just got whole lot better – Ford has done a great job of bringing the new Fiesta up to date, it is both a fun and dynamic drive that you can use with ease every day.
At this price point with an excellent list of standard equipment, it is undoubtedly the small car to beat, and it will remain at the top of the UK sales charts.
Engine 998cc/3-cylinder
Power 100ps
Top Speed 113 mph
0-60 mph 10.5 seconds
Gearbox 6-speed manual
Torque 170 nm
CO2 Emissions 97 g/km
Fuel Economy 65.7 mpg combined
Price as tested £16,580
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Comments (2)
'A little more aggressive'? Sorry but I have to disagree. The front is alright, very similar to the mk7.5, but the back end is that of a B-Max. I was looking forward to see these around, but now I'm only pleased I bought a Red Edition instead.
The inside looks good though, and a lot better than the button-crammed dash of the previous model.
Fair enough - that was my view and I'm always open to other viewpoints - you are correct about the inside though - vast improvement and much needed - this gen or gen 6 is amongst the best to drive of any small far period......