Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 91%

Let’s not mess about here; the new Fiesta is a seriously important car for Ford as the supermini will be sold in the USA as well as Europe.

After rave reviews from European and UK launches it’s time to put the new Ford Fiesta through its paces with a week-long loan. This is our verdict.

View our Ford Fiesta slide show

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor

1. Looks

The new Fiesta has a dashing new design with the unmistakeable ‘Ford face’ – large headlights, a lower grille and sleek lines. It’s bigger than its predecessor but also 40kg lighter. The model we tested had a set of 15-inch four-spoke alloy wheels which are a £100 option over the standard eight-spokes found on the Zetec model. Entry level models get steel wheels while sportier Fiestas get a set of 16’s.

9/10

2. Looks inside

Ford really has raised the bar with the Fiesta’s interior with the supermini getting good-looking features made of excellent quality materials, giving the car a genuine premium feel. The centre console has a particularly bold arrangement, with the switches and buttons looking similar to a mobile phone.

9/10

3. Practicality

With a capacity of 295-litres, the boot is the largest of any Fiesta yet but still a way off the Honda Jazz’s segment-leading 399-litres. There’s room in the back for two adults with access made easier with the five-door model. All-round vision is good and the car’s precise steering ensures parking is fairly simple. The parking sensors (a £200 option) are a worthwhile addition to the car’s spec though.

8/10

4. Ride and Handling

The previous generation Fiesta was a great handling car, giving the driver a feel of sportiness and comfort – so the new model had to move things forward further, and it has. There is so much grip through the corners with limited understeer while the suspension is firm but forgiving ensuring a comfortable ride when road quality drops. The Mazda 2 was the benchmark for supermini handling but the Fiesta takes that mantle now. In fact, the Fiesta is right up there with the more premium Focus. Quite simply brilliant.

10/10

5. Performance

We’ve previously tested the 1.25 and 1.6-litre petrol engines and found the former to be smooth but basic with the latter impressive so for our week-long loan we opted for the 1.4-litre petrol engine. With 95bhp and 94lb/ft of pulling power on tap, the Fiesta will accelerate from 0-62mph in 12.2 seconds and hit 109mph. It’s not very quick but adequate for town driving with enough guts to cope on the motorway striking a nice middle ground between the 1.6 and 1.25. The five-speed manual gearbox is super-tight and a joy to use.

The Fiesta is also available with a 1.4- and 1.6-litre diesel engine which are built for fuel efficiency and boast top speeds of 101mph and 109mph respectively.

Ford also offers the Fiesta with an automatic gearbox on 1.4- and 1.6-litre petrol models in Zetec and Titanium spec with both models slower and less economical than the manual equivalents.

8/10

6. Running Costs

As with performance, it’s a toss-up over which engines you go for. The 1.4- and 1.6-litre diesel engines both average 67.2mpg and are placed in tax band B for an annual bill of £35. The 1.25-, 1.4- and 1.6-litre petrol engines average 52.3, 49.5 and 47.9mpg respectively with all costing £120 a year to tax.

Ford will also be launching an ‘Econetic’ model later this year which will be tax-free and average an amazing 76.3mpg.

Insurance groups range from 1 to 6 which means premiums won’t be too high.

10/10

7. Reliability

The engines in the new Fiesta are tried and tested while the build quality befits that of a far more expensive car.

9/10

8. Safety

In the EuroNCAP crash test programme the Fiesta was awarded the full five stars in adult occupancy and boasts the best overall score for a supermini. This is thanks to all models getting anti-lock brakes, driver and passenger airbags as standard. Our Zetec model benefitted from the addition of front seat side airbags, driver’s knee airbags and front fog lights.

10/10

9. Equipment

The Fiesta comes in six trims – Studio, Style, Style+ Zetec, Zetec-S and Titanium with the entry-level Studio getting CD player, electric mirrors, central locking and airbags. Basic it may be, but there’s everything you need.

Next up is Style which gains body-coloured trim, electric windows and remote locking with Style+ adding the excellent Quickclear heated windscreen.

Zetec adds 15-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps, leather steering wheel and aesthetic interior lighting while the sportier Zetec-S features a stiffened suspension, 16-inch alloys, sports seats and front and rear spoilers.

The range-topping Titanium spec adds climate control, tinted glass, cruise control, automatic headlamps and power folding mirrors. While this may seem  a lot on a supermini, Ford has found the Titanium spec to be hugely popular on the Mondeo and Focus.

8/10

10. X-Factor

This car is fantastic. Great looking, well built, with a good choice of engines and handling which would make a mockery of many a premium car. It could even have a negative effect for Ford because unless you really need the extra space the Fiesta is as good, if not better than the more expensive Ford Focus. And in these times, we know how important it is to look after the pennies.

10/10