Item: Used Ford Fiesta 2017-present
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/used-review/n987">Seat Ibiza</a> has a strong range of engines, is great to drive and the ride deals with smaller imperfections even better than the Fiesta. There’s also a lot more space in the back of an Ibiza than there is in the Fiesta, making it a more practical choice.

Based on the same platform, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/used-review/n17425">Volkswagen Polo</a> is another car that’s more practical than the Fiesta. It doesn’t handle as sharply as the Fiesta, but it is&nbsp;a more upmarket and refined choice.

If you want great value,&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/used-review/n799">Vauxhall Corsa</a> is something of a bargain. It’s well equipped, too, although the infotainment system looks a little bit dated.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter&nbsp;<a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/ford/fiesta?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used Fiesta</a>, or any of the other small cars mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

<h3>Steering column</h3>

Some Fiestas built from 15 May 2019 to 17 June 2019 were fitted with steering columns that weren't up to specification, so speak to your&nbsp;Ford dealer to find out if yours is affected. If it is, the whole column will need to be replaced to prevent potential future issues.

<h3>Rear seatbelt latches</h3>

The bolts on the rear seatbelt retractors on&nbsp;a small number of examples made between 18 - 25 September 2019 might&nbsp;not have been tightened down correctly at the factory. Speak to your local dealer to find out if your car&nbsp;is affected by this; it'll need to be inspected by a technician if so.

<h3>Brake servo failure</h3>

This recall applies to&nbsp;Fiestas that were&nbsp;manufactured between 5 December 2017 and 20 December 2017, on which&nbsp;you may notice that more brake pedal effort is required to slow the car down. Contact your Ford dealer for further information because a technician will need to check the manufacture date on the servo itself to identify if your car is affected. They will then be able to arrange to have the servo replaced if it is found to be one of those affected.

The Fiesta finished in 17th place out of 22 in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042">value and small&nbsp;car class</a> of our most recent reliability survey: a fairly average&nbsp;result. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/ford">Ford</a> as a brand finished in 18th place out of 31&nbsp;car brands in the same survey.

If you would like to see the full reliability list for small cars, head to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2019-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042">What Car? Reliability Survey</a> pages for more information.

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Hatchback

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

FIESTA

The latest Ford Fiesta is one of the best small cars and a great used buy

Used Ford Fiesta 2017-present

<h3>MPG</h3>

The base 1.1-litre petrol has a combined WLTP&nbsp;economy figure of 48.7mpg for both the 69 and 84bhp versions. The more powerful 99bhp&nbsp;1.0-litre Ecoboost engine&nbsp;has a figure of 50.4mpg, although this drops to 42.8mpg when fitted with an automatic gearbox. The 123bhp 1.0-litre gets 49.5mpg while the&nbsp;138bhp 1.0-litre engine&nbsp;reserved for top-spec models gets 48.7mpg.

If outright efficiency is what you need, then the 84bhp 1.5-litre diesel is the one to go for because it&nbsp;averages&nbsp;60.1mpg. The 118bhp version of the same engine isn’t quite as efficient, at 57.6mpg.

<h3>Road tax</h3>

All Fiestas of this generation will have been registered after April 2017, so all will cost you&nbsp;the same flat rate fee for road tax because no model cost more than £40,000 when new. The current rate is £155 a year. To find out more about the current <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2019-%E2%80%93-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">road tax costs, click here</a>.

<h3>Servicing costs</h3>

Ford offers competitive servicing prices and various servicing plans, which can be paid for by monthly direct debit. There’s also cheaper Ford Essentials servicing for examples that are outside of the manufacturer's warranty period; it costs £169.

Diesel and 1.5 petrol ST&nbsp;models require annual servicing, with diesel having a slightly shorter mileage limit of 10,000 miles compared with 12,500 miles of the ST. The 1.0 Ecoboost and 1.1 petrols need inspecting every 2 years or 18,000 miles.

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The latest Ford Fiesta is one of the best small cars and a great used buy

Prices for a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/ford">Ford</a> Fiesta&nbsp;start at around £7500 for a 2017 version. This should buy you a car with an average mileage for the year and a full service history. If you spend £8000 or more,&nbsp;you should have a fair choice of Fiestas from 2018, or £9500 to £12,000 and above for a&nbsp;2019 example. Spend between £12,000 and £15,000 on a good 2020 car.&nbsp;

An early version of the hot hatch ST will set you back at least £14,000.&nbsp;

Check the value of a used Ford Fiesta&nbsp;with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/valuations/">What Car? Valuations</a>

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<h3>Engine</h3>

Compared with the turbocharged engines, the basic 1.1-litre petrol is underwhelming and is best avoided. The diesel only makes sense if you do big mileages, so we’d stick with the 1.0-litre three-cylinder Ecoboost because it copes well with all situations. Of the three versions of the engine on offer, go for the 99bhp version because it’s fast enough at motorway speeds and is also pretty economical.

<h3>Specification</h3>

Mid-range Zetec trim offers the best value because it comes with plenty of equipment and it keeps the smaller alloy wheels that are best in terms of the Fiesta’s excellent ride quality. Larger ones spoil the ride and are more susceptible to kerb damage.

Our favourite <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/ford">Ford</a> Fiesta: 1.0-litre 100PS Ecoboost Zetec

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Spacious enough for four adults to sit comfortably</li> <li>Logically laid-out interior that doesn’t</li> <li>feel too cheap</li> <li>Mature driving manners </li> <li>Decent-sized boot</li> <li>Competitive buying and running costs</li></ul>

Small cars, or superminis as they’re also known, used to be bought by single people or couples with no children – but the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Seat Ibiza and Volkswagen&nbsp;Polo have grown to the point where they can be considered all-round family transport, albeit with the odd compromise.

The Fiesta remains a star of the class, thanks to its strong Ecoboost petrol engines and suspension settings that are beautifully judged for British roads. However, the latest Volkswagen offers even more practicality, decent performance and a classy interior that has the edge on the Ford’s for quality.

Any of these models will be a competent commuter car – especially if fitted with one of the increasingly popular small turbocharged petrol engines – but just remember that while you’ll be able to carry two adults and two children, it might still be a struggle to get all of their luggage into the boot.

Small

Top-spec versions of the Fiesta have larger alloy wheels that can be susceptible to kerb damage, so check the wheels carefully. Also, look for any dents, dings and scratches to the bodywork, because paint and body repairs can be expensive. Make sure the clutch engages smoothly and that the car goes into gear easily.

The 1.5-litre diesel engine is fitted with a diesel particulate filter (DPF). To ensure that this can regenerate (burn off trapped soot), frequent longer journeys are necessary because this process is only triggered when the exhaust is hot enough. Check how the previous owner has used the car if you are unsure because making lots of short, slow&nbsp;journeys can clog up the filter, potentially leading to an expensive repair bill.

Other potential problems with the DPF can&nbsp;come if the engine&nbsp;has been shut off part way through regeneration. Contamination of the oil system with fuel can result,&nbsp;leading&nbsp;to the oil level rising gradually over time. This can cause damage to the engine, so it’s worth checking the oil level or having&nbsp;the car inspected if you're unsure.

Praise has often been heaped on the iconic&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/used-review/n340">Ford Fiesta,</a> and for good reasons. It was, and continues to be, fun to drive, well equipped and blessed with a fine choice of engines that help it to hold its own in the hotly contested&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/small">small car</a> class.

This current generation car has been given that little bit of extra polish to rival the refinement levels of its arch-nemesis, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/used-review/n17425">Volkswagen Polo</a>.&nbsp;It also faces stiff competition from cars such as the sporty <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/used-review/n987">Seat Ibiza</a>, evergreen <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/used-review/n799">Vauxhall Corsa</a> and the good value <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/fabia/hatchback/used-review/n808">Skoda Fabia</a>.

Like its rivals, the Fiesta has a wide range of engines. The petrol range consists of a 1.1-litre petrol with either 69bhp or 84bhp;&nbsp;a fantastic turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder Ecoboost in 99bhp, 123bhp and 138bhp&nbsp;states of tune, or&nbsp;a 1.5-litre diesel with 84bhp or 118bhp&nbsp;power outputs. Later models incorporate mild-hybrid technology in 1.o Ecoboost 125 and 155 versions.&nbsp;

Entry-level Style models get just the basics, such as air conditioning&nbsp;and electric front windows, but Zetec is a bit more generous, with 16in&nbsp;alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, fog lights and a heated windscreen. You also get a 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system from Zetec specification and above, with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a>. Titanium adds cruise control, automatic lights and wipers and climate control, or&nbsp;you could seek out a&nbsp;B&amp;O Titanium (there's also a B&amp;O Zetec)&nbsp;version&nbsp;with an upgraded&nbsp;10-speaker 675-watt sound system.

Titanium X gets the B&amp;O sound system as standard along with heated front seats and steering wheel. ST-Line and ST-line X get sportier exterior and interior styling and sports suspension for sharper handling. The former has the same equipment as Zetec, while the latter is based on Titanium. The top-of-the-range Vignale is supposed to be the luxurious Fiesta,&nbsp;so it has leather seats as standard and an openable panoramic glass roof, but you'll probably find the rear parking sensors and reversing camera far more useful.&nbsp;

One of the best things about the Fiesta is the way it drives – few cars are more enjoyable to chuck around on a twisty B-road than this small Ford. It really can give some more expensive sports cars a very good run for their money. The steering is precise and well-weighted, grip is in plentiful supply and it hangs on gamely even if you pile into a corner a little too quickly.

And, to top it all off, the ride is beautifully judged, even ST-line models with&nbsp;firmer&nbsp;sports suspension. It has a real knack for dealing with speed bumps and potholes at low speeds just as well as it deals with motorway expansion joints at the national limit. Suspension noise is well suppressed, too, giving the Fiesta a sense of solidity and big car refinement.

Inside,&nbsp;as far as fit and finish go, the bits that you touch regularly all feel fairly upmarket by the standards of the class, and the Fiesta&nbsp;uses soft-touch material&nbsp;on parts of its dashboard. You won’t find any of that in an Ibiza or a Skoda Fabia. However, the Fiesta’s interior doesn’t feel quite as solidly screwed together as the Ibiza’s or Polo's. You’ll also notice some unappealingly textured plastics lower down on the Fiesta’s dashboard.

The Fiesta has plenty of room up front; its&nbsp;driving position is set fairly high and there's plenty of adjustment in the steering wheel and the seat, so most should be comfortable. Rear seat space is a little more cramped, though; two will be reasonably comfortable, but carrying a third passenger is only really an option on&nbsp;shorter journeys. It's fair to say that one or two rivals offer more rear leg room, most&nbsp;notably the Seat Ibiza.

Most models&nbsp;have a backrest that folds down 60/40, and the boot is of a good size and is relatively easy to access over the loading lip. Fold the rear seats down flat and there is a slight step in the floor, but the&nbsp;optional height-adjustable boot floor irons out some of that problem on its highest setting.&nbsp;&nbsp;

If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/ford/fiesta?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used Fiesta</a>, or any of the other small cars mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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<h3>&nbsp;</h3>

Used Ford Fiesta 2017-present review

Ownership cost

What used Ford Fiesta hatchback will I get for my budget?

Servicing costs