So last week my car was stuck in the garage after the cambelt that was meant to be fitted hadn't arrived so I was without a set of wheels. Thanks to my dear old mum I was able to drive her Ford Fiesta and I thought as I'd have it for a week I'd review it - why not?
The Ford Fiesta is the currently the best selling car in the UK by some distance and has proved to be one the nation's most popular cars. But how does the older generation fare in today's world?
Equipment
This Fiesta comes in the Ghia trim which used to be the name reserved for Ford's top of the range models but was discontinued on the Fiesta in 2008 - replaced by Titanium. The Ghia provides leather seats, leather steering wheel, CD player with aux connection, electric mirrors, air conditioning and alloy wheels. It's powered by 1.4 petrol engine and is fitted to five-speed manual gearbox.
What's it like with inside?
The Ghia provides a good level of kit for a car of its age but the interior looks dated to say the least. The grey rectangular buttons look drab and make the car feel older than a 2007/2008 model. It's one of the reasons I didn't get the ST when I was looking for a used hot hatch. Aesthetics aside it's a functional place to be and it was easy to get comfortable.
Although the steering wheel adjusts for rake only I found it easy to get a comfortable driving setup. The driving position is good and there is plenty of visibility which makes the car a doddle to drive. Space in the back is pretty good as well, adults should be able to get comfortable in the back thanks to a good level of headroom.
The boot is competitive in its class with 261 litres and can be made bigger when the 60/40 rear seats are folded down, however it's worth noting you won't get the 60/40 layout in the entry-level Studio model. The boot trumps the Peugeot 206 and Vauxhall Corsa from the same period but it's smaller than the 270 litres offered by the comparable VW Polo.
What's it like to drive?
One of the key things I took away from the Fiesta was the handling, for a family hatchback it's of a high standard. It's nice to drive around town but also provides an engaging drive when the going gets twisty. Body roll is at a minimum and the steering wheel has a nice weight to it. The gear changes are also satisfying, the change is a little rubbery but the throw was shorter than I was expecting.
The engine fitted is the 1.4 litre petrol which provides 78bhp and 124Nm of torque. Top speed is 104mph and the 0-60mph time is 12.3 seconds which may sound slow but the Fiesta can make good progress. Yes the engine does need to be worked a bit but it's not sluggish. The Fiesta didn't feel at home on the motorway though as the seat didn't give the back support I was looking for which made it uncomfortable quite quickly.
I also found the ride a little busy at high speed and I could feel the car skipping over the surface on roads with imperfections. There are no such problems through town however which is probably where the car will spend a lot of its time.
What about economy?
The combined fuel economy is a claimed 45mpg and I did come close to that at times. On one trip from Sutton to Epsom I came close to 40pmg and I would have hit it if it wasn't for the amount of traffic lights going into the high street.
On the motorway I was able to squeeze 50.7mpg out of the 1.4 litre engine and on average I'd say I was getting about 35mpg around town. For those of you who are looking for better economy you can opt for the 1.4 litre TDCi diesel which offers 62mpg and 119g/km compared to the petrol engine's 147g/km. The road tax will be cheaper as well as the diesel sits in band C whilst the petrol sits in band F.
Any problems I should look for?
Not really, Fiestas are reliable cars and this model should have no real problems, as always when looking for a used car just make you there is a service history and proof the car has been well maintained. Make sure the cambelt has been changed too as that can cause quite the headache if it hasn't been replaced.
How much should I pay for one?
Let's face it, no-one likes overpaying for a car and a used model is no exception. As the Fiesta is such a popular car you will be able to many used examples which may provide too much choice. On the plus side it should be easy to find a model that ticks all the boxes you want. You can find a lot of good examples priced around £2,500-£3,500 but for models with even lower mileage models you will need to pay over £4,000.
What are its rivals?
Comparable rivals to Fiesta include the Vauxhall Corsa, Peugeot 206 and VW Polo, all of which are popular in their own right. The 206 comes in many model trims so choosing the right one can be a bit of a minefield. On the plus many examples can be found cheaper than the Fiesta but there's not much in it.
The Polo SE provides a similar spec the the Fiesta Ghia but will cost more for less equipment. The build quality will be higher but that's not to say the Fiesta is poorly built, far from it. The Corsa is also a popular car and is a hit with first-time drivers but like the Fiesta has an outdated interior.
Conclusion
The Fiesta is a good car to drive and it's easy to see why it's such a popular car but it's not perfect in my opinion. The tiring motorway performance cannot be ignored but even so, it's a small fly in the the Fiesta's ointment. The drive is engaging and the handling is crisp making the car a joy to drive around town. The Fiesta is a very capable car and good examples can be found for a reasonable amount of money.
Car Obsession Rating: 4.5/5
Pros:
Sharp handling
Good visibility
Good level of kit
Doddle to drive
Good level of space
Cons:
Uncomfortable on the motorway
Dated interior
