Ford Fiesta review

If you are hoping the Fiesta is a budget option, you’ll be mildly disappointed; compared with rivals such as the Skoda Fabia, it’s actually quite pricey. Discounts aren’t as big as you might expect, either, although the Fiesta is predicted to hold onto its value better than many rivals.

If you’re buying on PCP finance, as many small car buyers choose to do, the Fiesta isn’t as good value as its rivals – namely the Fabia and Seat Ibiza. On the plus side, the Fiesta is cheaper than many rivals to run as a company car, thanks to its low CO2 emissions, while monthly leasing rates are also temptingly low.

Entry-level Style trim is best avoided; you have to make do with steel wheels and the standard infotainment system is decidedly basic, although you do at least get air-con. Our favourite trim, Zetec, is one rung up the ladder and brings alloy wheels, a heated windscreen, front foglights, a smarter-looking interior and a much more advanced infotainment package.

Titanium trim is also worth a look, adding cruise control, power-folding door mirrors, keyless start, automatic lights and wipers, plus sat-nav. However, we’d recommend steering clear of pricey Titanium X and Vignale trims, and the B&O Play editions are also rather expensive.

Want something a bit sportier? ST-Line is probably for you, because it adds 17in alloy wheels, stiffer sports suspension, figure-hugging seats and various sporty styling touches, including a bodykit and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. There's also ST-Line X trim, which has these sporty trimmings with similar luxuries to Titanium X.

Or fancy a car that feels more off-road? Active trim gets a ride height that's 18mm higher and is available in three trim levels. Active 1 is based on our favourite Zetec trim and is the one to go for; Active B&O Play gets the same kit but has a Bang & Olufsen sound system; and Active X adds some luxuries but raises the price considerably.

The previous-generation Fiesta was awarded above-average marks for reliability in our most recent survey, bettering the Peugeot 208 and Vauxhall Corsa. Given that the latest Fiesta shares many nuts and bolts with its predecessor, the signs are promising.

The Fiesta’s standard warranty lasts for three years or 60,000 miles; this is broadly in line with the class average, if some way short of the five-year/100,000-mile cover offered on the Hyundai i20 and Toyota Yaris, or the seven-year cover on the Kia Rio. An extended Ford warranty that’ll cover your Fiesta for up to five years or 100,000 miles is a relatively cheap option.

All Fiestas come with seven airbags, lane-keep assist and Ford’s MyKey system – a programmable ignition key that is designed to limit the car’s top speed, mute the sound system and prevent the stability control system from being disabled. This should give you some peace of mind when you hand over the keys to your newly qualified son or daughter.

Upgrade to Titanium trim and you’ll also get traffic sign recognition and a driver alert detector, while blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert (a system that warns you of approaching vehicles when you’re backing out of your driveway) are on the options list. However, the big disappointment is that automatic emergency braking (AEB) is not standard on any trim - it is on many rivals - and unavailable on the sporty ST models. On non-ST models it's well worth adding the optional Driver Assistance Pack – it’s pretty cheap and adds AEB with pedestrian detection, along with automatic high-beam assist and adaptive cruise control.

The Fiesta was awarded five stars (out of five) for safety by Euro NCAP. It was found to be better than the Ibiza at protecting child occupants, although it was inferior at keeping adult occupants safe and protecting pedestrians.

All versions come with an engine immobiliser to deter thieves, while Zetec models and above also have a Thatcham-approved alarm.

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