The nicest, the best?
The Ford Fiesta may be the best driving compact car at the moment, but the competition is fierce. The model launched in 2017 has now been given a new nose and has also undergone the necessary improvements under the skin. Is the nicest compact hatchback now also the best car in this segment? This test proves it.
What has changed with the facelift on the Ford Fiesta?
The current generation of the Ford Fiesta appeared on the market in 2017. At the end of 2021, after four successful years, Ford deemed the time was right for a thorough update of the compact hatchback. In the sales statistics, the Fiesta was now well behind by the public’s favorite Volkswagen Polo, but it was now also surpassed by competitors such as the Peugeot 208, Opel Corsa, Toyota Yaris and Renault Clio. The facelift came not a moment too soon.
The Fiesta has been given a new nose, with different headlights and a new front bumper with a modified grille. A subtle facelift, making the Fiesta now very similar to the Focus, which also underwent surgery at Ford’s plastic surgeon at the end of 2021. The interior of the Fiesta remained basically the same, but the information provision and operation have been modernized. The biggest news is the arrival of digital instruments. The screen behind the wheel is always bright blue in normal driving mode, that must be your taste. The operation is clear, but the instruments are not very extensive. The finish of the interior is neat, but not much more than that. The materials used are generally fine, but the design is somewhat uninspired and does not look particularly sleek or modern.
Neat, but not very inspiring interior.
To the right of the instrument panel, above the center console, we find Ford’s Sync3 system in the most complete ST-Line X tested here, which is linked to an 8-inch screen and includes navigation, among other things. Compared to competitors such as the Volkswagen Polo and the Renault Clio, the screen is a size smaller, but it is sufficient. The same goes for the rest of the system. The use of color is again somewhat sensitive to taste, but we have no complaints about the functionality.
Has Ford changed anything about the technology of the Fiesta?
The facelifted model was initially also offered with powers of 75 and 100 hp, but the Fiesta price list has now been considerably reduced. Currently, the Fiesta is only sold with the 125 PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, which is linked to a mild hybrid system. This consists of a starter generator that converts braking energy into electricity. When the petrol engine can use a boost, it gets a power surge. This should keep fuel consumption and CO2 emissions low. An additional advantage: due to the low emission values, the bpm amount on the 125 hp Fiesta is also low. As a result, the price difference compared to the 75 and 100 hp engine variants became so small that the Dutch Ford importer no longer saw any reason to keep those weaker versions in the delivery program any longer.
The 1.0 Ecoboost is fine and the only choice.
What do you notice in practice of the mild hybrid system?
We know the three-cylinder 1.0 EcoBoost engine of the Ford Fiesta as a block that is well-informed and cheerfully hums its excellent performance. The electrical support of the mild hybrid system is particularly noticeable at low speeds. With an output of 125 horsepower, the 1,136 kilogram Fiesta is in 9.7 seconds from a speed of 100 km / h, and it continues to a top speed of 200 km / h. Thanks to the light but precise shifting six-speed, intermediate sprints take little effort. A nice science, if you want to quickly overtake a slow-driving fellow road user. In the ST-Line X version, the Fiesta Hybrid (Ford omits the word ‘mild’ in the model designation) can also be supplied with an automatic transmission.
Ford gives an average WLTP consumption of 1 to 20.0 for the Fiesta. During our test, a liter of petrol flowed through our pipes at 18.8 kilometers. A modest difference compared to the manufacturer’s specification, but all in all a neat result. On a full tank (of 42 liters) you reach a distance of 789 kilometers.
What’s there to say about the Fiesta’s standard equipment?
The Ford Fiesta comes standard as Titanium. That is already a fairly complete implementation from home. Alloy wheels, cruise control, automatic air conditioning, LED headlights with high beam assist and parking sensors in the rear bumper are all included in the price. The safety equipment includes six airbags, fatigue detection, lane departure warning and lane keeping aid, with which the car automatically steers back if you inadvertently cross the road lines.
If you opt for the ST-Line, the Fiesta will get a more sporty look. Alloy wheels with a diameter of 17 inches and a set of other bumpers and side skirts are complemented by a chrome-plated tailpipe. Inside, the ST-Line has a black headliner. The most important change compared to the Titanium, however, is the sports suspension, which has a somewhat stiffer tuning.
Top model is the ST-Line X. Compared to the ST-Line, this version also has the aforementioned SYNC 3 multimedia system with navigation. A reversing camera, ambient lighting for the interior, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a rain sensor and an automatically dimming interior mirror in strong light from the rear are also part of this package.
Is it fun to drive in the Ford Fiesta?
Even though the years are starting to count for the Ford Fiesta, its driving characteristics are still highly appreciated. The Fiesta is a much more fun car to drive than many of its competitors. Its steering offers a lot of feeling, the car is excellently balanced and the sturdy sports suspension almost begs you to take a little faster than usual in every corner. The Fiesta dribbles over short bumps almost like a true hot hatchback. If you don’t like that, you better opt for the Titanium version. The suspension is smoother, without the chassis immediately losing its sharpness.
ST-Line or not: this spoiler has an additional cost.
And what about the practical side of the story?
The Ford Fiesta was never the most spacious car in its class, a facelift will of course not change that. You are fine in the front. Very nice is the combination of sporty shaped, fairly low placed seats and a nice thick steering wheel. In the back seat it is a bit tight for an adult, a car like the Volkswagen Polo simply has more freedom of movement to offer here.
The same story goes for the luggage compartment. The Fiesta has no more than an average volume to offer, with 292 liters when the rear seats are in use and 1,093 liters when the backrest is fully folded. If the Fiesta is equipped with a towbar, it can tow a braked weight of 1,000 kilos.
An adult fits in the back seat, but that’s about it.
The choice of AutoWeek test coordinator Marco Gorter
Motor-wise, there is not much to choose from with the Ford Fiesta: there is only a Mild Hybrid petrol engine with 125 hp. It is available in three versions, two of which are supplied with sports suspension. That will not be pleasant for everyone, so the ‘standard’ Titanium is definitely worth considering. Keep in mind that a rain sensor is not standard. That comes in a reasonably competitively priced package. The Winter Pack, which adds seat and seat heating and the handy electric windscreen heating, is also worth considering.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl