Used Ford Fiesta 2017-2024 review

Praise has often been heaped on the iconic Ford Fiesta, and for good reasons. It's always been fun to drive, often decently equipped and blessed with a fine choice of engines that help it to hold its own in the hotly contested small car class.

This last generation car was given that little bit of extra polish to rival the refinement levels of the VW Polo. It also faced stiff competition from cars such as the sporty Seat Ibiza, the arch-nemesis Vauxhall Corsa and the good-value Skoda Fabia.

Engines & Performance: 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; a fantastic turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder Ecoboost in 99bhp, 123bhp and 138bhp states of tune, or a 1.5-litre diesel with 84bhp or 118bhp power outputs. Later models incorporate mild-hybrid technology in 1.o Ecoboost 125 and 155 versions.

Ride & Handling: 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 firmer 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.

Interior & Practicality: Inside, 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 uses soft-touch material 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 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 shorter journeys. It's fair to say that one or two rivals offer more rear leg room, most notably the Seat Ibiza.

Most models 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 optional height-adjustable boot floor irons out some of that problem on its highest setting.

Trims & Equipment: Entry-level Style models get just the basics, such as air conditioning and electric front windows, but Zetec is a bit more generous, with 16in 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 Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Titanium adds cruise control, automatic lights and wipers and climate control, or you could seek out a B&O Titanium (there's also a B&O Zetec) version with an upgraded 10-speaker 675-watt sound system.

Titanium X gets the B&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, 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.

"I had a Ford Fiesta as my first car and it was the perfect car for the job. It was fun to drive and cheap to run, which is exactly what I wanted. I'd recommend one in a heartbeat." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

Interested in buying a used Ford Fiesta? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

Prices for this Ford Fiesta start at around £5500 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 £6000 or more, you should have a fair choice of Fiestas from 2018, or £7000 for a 2019 example.

As of writing, a later car, say, from 2023 or 2024, is likely to set you back around £12,000 at least. An early, 2018 version of the hot hatch ST will set you back at least £10,000, while later ones (again, 2023 or 2024) demand around £20,000.

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MPG: The entry-level 1.1-litre petrol has a combined WLTP economy figure of 48.7mpg for both the 69 and 84bhp versions. The more powerful 99bhp 1.0-litre Ecoboost engine 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 138bhp 1.0-litre engine 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 averages 60.1mpg. The 118bhp version of the same engine isn’t quite as efficient, at 57.6mpg.

Road tax: All Fiestas of this generation will have been registered after April 2017, so all will cost you the same flat rate fee for road tax because no model cost more than £40,000 when new. The current rate is £190 per year.

Servicing costs: 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 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.

Reliability

The Ford Fiesta shows a reasonable reliability record based on our annual What Car? Reliability Survey, drawing from real-world owner reviews. While some owners reported warning lights and unexpected noises leading to repeated dealership visits, many still regard the Fiesta as dependable for daily driving. However, opinions on dealer service vary greatly. Positive experiences often highlight professionalism and prompt repairs, whereas negative feedback points to costly repairs and service delays. The dealership's communication and problem-resolution skills are key to owner satisfaction, indicating that while the Fiesta itself is fairly reliable, the quality of service can greatly influence owner contentment.

Discover more on the reliability of the used Ford Fiesta on our dedicated reliability page.

Engine: Next to the turbocharged engines, the basic 1.1-litre petrol is underwhelming and 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.

Specification: 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 Ford Fiesta: 1.0-litre 100PS Ecoboost Zetec

The Seat Ibiza 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 Volkswagen Polo is another car that’s more practical than the Fiesta. It doesn’t handle as sharply as the Fiesta, but it is a more upmarket and refined choice.

If you want great value, the Vauxhall Corsa is something of a bargain. It’s well equipped, too, although the infotainment system looks a little bit dated.

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If you're interested in finding a used Fiesta, or any of the other small cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.