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Ford has facelifted the Fiesta with the intention of keeping it at the top of the sales charts.
As well as restyling the front end to bring it in line with the Focus and upcoming Mondeo, and upgrading the design and materials on the inside, the car showcases a host of new engines and safety technologies.
Where safety is concerned, the car now features Ford's low-speed collision-avoidance system Active City Stop and the Sync connectivity system. It also welcomes new MyKey technology, which allows parents to set maximum speed and audio system volume limits for young drivers.
There is a confusing amount of engines to choose from - 16 in total, of which seven are under 100g/km CO2. The biggest overall seller is set to be the 82hp 1.25-litre Duratec petrol five-door in mid level Zetec trim. Predictably, for fleets, which account for a fifth of Fiesta sales, the top dog will be a 75hp 1.5 TDCi, also in Zetec trim, with official figures of 76.3mpg and 98g/km. However, the most impressive engines are Ford's Ecoboost iterations, previously found only on the Focus and B-max. Repeated acclaim for these small, three-cylinder, supercharged petrol units means fleets are sitting up and taking notice of them as a viable alternative to diesels - 40% of Focus Ecoboosts sell to fleets, and for this reason we test drove the 125hp 1.0-litre version.
On the road, that engine offers steady and smooth power, which belies its 1.0-litre size. It's impressive and rivals don't stand up by comparison. Choosing similar models based on price, power and trim, the Peugeot 208, Vauxhall Corsa and Volkswagen Polo fall massively short on emissions: the Polo emits 124g/km CO2, the Corsa 129g/km and the 208 134g/km versus the Fiesta's 99g/km, which equates to a benefit-in-kind tax band of only 10% or £27 a month for a lower-rate taxpayer. Residual values match the Polo's at 33.6% while the Corsa is bottom with 24.9%. Overall, the Fiesta easily wins on cost per mile at 37.7 pence per mile, with the Polo in second place at 42.0ppm and the 208 back at 44.2ppm.
The Fiesta also offers responsive steering, along with a supple ride and excellent handling. There's reduced road noise, which increases interior comfort, too.
We do have one minor criticism, though, and that is the lack of standard equipment.
The Fiesta continues as a force to be reckoned with, and it's clear there are few reasons not to buy one - unless you want to stand out from other cars on UK roads. Progressive engines, excellent driving abilities and forward-thinking tech means rival carmakers need to catch up quickly to ensure they don't lose more market share in the supermini segment.
BusinessCar magazine ©2019
Business Car Magazine © 2020 | Business Car is part of NS Media Group.
