Ford Fiesta Ghia car review
The handling is excellent, the suspension is firm but not harsh, while the steering has a sharp feel
Price as tested: £13,835
Range price: £9,790 - £13,835
Insurance group as tested: 7E
Insurance group range: 3 - 13
Tested: June 2006
Road tester: Alex Eckford
Auto Trader Ten Point Test Rating - 70%
With the Ford Fiesta Ghia the emphasis is on luxury - and the Blue Oval's baby is more refined than ever before.
But how does it fare against its rivals?
Click here to read our 2008 Ford Fiesta car review
Read on for our full road test on the Ford Fiesta Ghia, or click below to skip to a section.
Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor
The well equipped Fiesta Ghia is stylish, and feels sportier than the Focus, although not a fully fledged hot hatch like the ST. The tested model was amethyst (purple) and came complete with tinted rear windows and 15 inch alloys.
Verdict: 7/10
2. Looks inside
Not a million miles away from the Focus, the dark grey interior of the Ghia has a sportier feel than its more sedate counterpart, and features a stylish leather trim. It's a pity some of the dashboard controls still have a plasticy feel.
Verdict: 6/10
3. Practicality
Not a car designed for bringing back flat pack wardrobes from Ikea, but there's a fair amount of space. There's plenty of room in the front and back, a good sized glovebox, and the boot (large enough for a big supermarket shop) is accessible via the remote keyfob.
Verdict: 7/10
4. The handling is excellent, the suspension is firm but not harsh, while the steering has a sharp feel. But as for motorway driving, the noise level was so loud I had to keep checking I was in fifth gear. But this is a car designed for town driving, not the cross country long haul.
Verdict: 7/10
5. Performance
The 100bhp 1.6i has some extra kick, and the acceleration is as good as you'd expect from a small lightweight car, even at high speeds. The Ghia goes from 0-60 in 10.5 seconds, and has a maximum speed of 115mph.
Verdict: 7/10
It's a supermini, so fuel consumption is a primary consideration - the Fiesta Ghia does a not-too-shabby 42.8mpg. Servicing is at 12,500 miles and Ford's estimate for routine maintenance is £377. The Ghia comes with a one year new car warranty, one year's breakdown cover, and a three year / 60,000 mile warranty.
Verdict: 7/10
7. Reliability
The new Fords have increased reliability, and this model is no exception. The Ghia has a solid feel, and performs well in customer satisfaction surveys. The Fiesta scores 55 in the Reliability Index - far higher than the average score thanks to Ford's effort to keep repair costs down. You can read customer reviews of the Ford Fiesta on Drive the Debate.
Verdict: 7/10
8. Safety
With a four star EuroNCAP crash test rating, the Ghia comes with two airbags – driver and passenger side - and ABS with EBD as standard. A rear parking distance sensor is an optional extra, as is the 'Reflex Pack' – front seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and centre rear head restraint.
Verdict: 7/10
9. Equipment
As you'd expect with a Ghia it's all about the extras - electric windows (with driver's side one-shot lowering), a perimeter alarm, air con, rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlights, front fog lights, and a CD/radio with remote audio controls. Sadly the velour floor mats are an optional extra, as is satnav.
Verdict: 8/10
10. X-Factor
Two things - the sporty styling and the attention to detail. The handling and acceleration make you feel like you're driving a proper sporty supermini, and the extras - like the side mirrors that turn inwards when you lock the car - justify the price.
Verdict: 7/10
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