Ford Fiesta review

Imagine a city the size of Glasgow. Now imagine every single person living in it driving around in the same car. Well, that gives you a fair idea how many Ford Fiestas have been sold in Britain since 2008. Yep – Ford's humble hatchback has been the country’s most popular car for a decade.

And with good reason. Recent generations have been touted as the best handling car in the class, earning the Fiesta a solid reputation for driver appeal. There are also some fine engines to choose from, the most noteworthy of which are the 1.0-litre turbo Ecoboost units that come in a variety of power outputs.

There’s also plenty of choice regarding how your Fiesta looks. You can have a regular one that looks like butter wouldn’t melt, a far sportier ST-Line that apes the near 200bhp Fiesta ST hot hatch, or opt for a touch of class with the chrome-adorned Vignale. Ford has even considered the booming popularity of SUVs by offering an ‘Active’ version, complete with tough-looking black wheelarch extensions, a jacked up ride height and roof rails, too.

However, competition in the small car class is fiercer than ever. The latest Seat Ibiza and its sibling the Volkswagen Polo are both thoroughly brilliant all-rounders, and the Skoda Fabia offers space and value in abundance. Does the latest Fiesta have the talents to compete? And which engines and trims make the most sense? We’ll tell you all you need to know over the next few pages.

If you've already decided the Fiesta is the car for you, have a look at our New Car Buying page for the best deals.