Ford Fiesta long-term test review

• The car: Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost 100 Zetec
• Run by: Benjamin Davies, sub-editor
• Why it’s here: To find out if this new model has enough substance to keep the Fiesta – long considered to be the best small hatchback on the market – ahead of the chasing pack
• Needs to: Be more mature and grown up than ever before, including matching the best in class for touches of luxury inside without losing its predecessor's dynamic charms

Price £15,445 Price as tested £16,920 Miles covered 8267 Official economy 65.7mpg Test economy 45.8mpg Options fitted Frozen White premium colour (£250), 16in alloy wheel pack, including rear privacy glass and front scuff plates (£450), City Pack, including rear parking sensors and electrically folding door mirrors (£300), electric rear windows (£175), Bang & Olufsen 10-speaker audio system (£300)

8 March 2018 – hot and cold

I became the custodian of the Fiesta last month, and while my journeys have so far been limited to the stop-start traffic of London commuting – and were briefly stopped altogether by the Beast from the East – first impressions are still favourable.

The peppy 1.0 Ecoboost engine is excellent for city driving, providing enough punch to nip in and out of traffic. And being used to an ageing BMW 335i which has mpg in the low 20s, I’ve been delighted with the Fiesta’s 45.8mpg.

I’ve also loved the Sync 3 infotainment system, which lets me control my iPhone’s functions either via the 8.0in touchscreen or the voice control function. My only gripe is that my traffic app of choice, Waze, isn’t currently supported on Apple CarPlay, so I either have to keep looking down at my phone for directions or use Google maps instead. Ford have, however, announced that Waze will be available for all its cars fitted with Sync 3 from April. Excellent news.

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