The new Ford Fiesta: a bold new look for the automotive legend
Every once in a while a car is released that creates a stir or captures the public imagination in a way that no other car has for a long time. It may be due to the way a car performs, it may be the way it looks, or it may just be the badging on the front. Sometimes, however, it is a combination of all of these factors. This can’t be said of many cars, but it can be said of the New Ford Fiesta.
The Brand New Fiesta was released to critical and public acclaim, winning major awards before it even hit the forecourts, suggesting either a lot of expensive advertising or that the car is really great. Personally, I’m a little suspicious of both, but it remains that this is a car truly worth getting excited about.
The first thing that catches the eye of the new Ford Fiesta is obviously the redesigned bodywork. The Ford Fiesta has undergone many cosmetic changes over its lifetime, but none as seemingly drastic as the most recent. The bubble body of the 1990s gave way to the rather understated look of the latest generation Fiesta. These, in turn, have been dispensed with and given way to a sleek, sporty design that looks considerably more mature than any of the previous offerings.
The engines remain relatively similar to those of the previous generation; the standard model is a 1.25-liter gasoline and the range goes up to a 1.6 SIGMA TiVCT with 120 hp. The Fiesta’s bodywork has been lightened, so these engines certainly feel a bit more excitable in the newcomer. Obviously, if you are going to buy a Ford Fiesta, your budget is hardly going to be astronomical, but the 1.25 is sufficient and has a competitive price.
How does the New Ford Fiesta compare to the current crop of hot hatchbacks on the market then? Obvious comparisons will be made to the Volkswagen Polo/Golf, the Vauxhall Corsa and the current attention-grabbing Fiat 500. The new Ford Fiesta bests all of its competitors in the looks department and has a slight edge over similarly priced Corsas. in terms of performance.
The interior is also relatively roomy for a supermini and should be able to fit 4 adults without too many dislocated limbs. However, she would not recommend any long trips, as she will begin to hear moans, groans, and complaints of back cramps. That said, if she was looking for a passenger car, she’d probably be more interested in the Fusion or the Focus.
The performance of the new Ford Fiesta is a two-sided story; As mentioned, the engines are perfectly tuned for the size of the Fiesta, but that’s not my concern. For me, the handling is a bit too light and it’s quite disconcerting not to feel like you’re in full control of the vehicle. I’d put this down to the overall cost and quality of superminis, that is, if I didn’t know the Vauxhall Corsa handles so well.
In short, the Ford Fiesta is a triumph; achieving what all supermini manufacturers constantly strive for: making your car look more expensive than it is. If you’re in the market for a new small car and you’re on a budget, then there’s absolutely no alternative that ticks as many desirable boxes as the Ford Fiesta. My personal recommendation would be the Zetec 1.4 Gasoline model as it finds the right balance between power and weight. Regardless of which model of the new Ford Fiesta you invest in, however, disappointment won’t be a problem.