Motoring Fiesta's a three times winner By David and Marie Duffy Oxford Mail, April 22, 2009 David says: Ford’s new Fiesta has arrived on the scene at the perfect time. A short trip in this supermini should be enough to convince anyone that this is a perfect car for now.

It neatly satisfies the holy trinity of modern car buying – price, economy and emissions.

Indeed, one member of the Fiesta family, the super-frugal, 76mpg £11,845 ECOnetic, emits so little carbon dioxide that it is exempt from road tax.

Prices start at a more modest £8,695, and, even with this price tag, you get a so-called Intelligent Protection System, with anti-lock brakes, front, side and knee airbags, CD player, central locking and power mirrors.

The Fiesta has been a best-seller for the company in the UK for 30 years, but when the new version first went on sale, late last year, even Ford was surprised by the number of ‘retail’ buyers – that’s me and you – who made a beeline for the showrooms. The proportion of retail to fleet buyers for the Fiesta in the past has been 60:40, but in the first couple of months for the new model it was 80:20.

Most popular in the range has been the sporty Zetec model, tested here in 1.4-litre 68 horsepower diesel form – its sister model, the 1.25-litre petrol version was named What Car? Car of the Year 2009 by car magazine What Car?

The simple truth is that anyone who is thinking of downsizing to a supermini would be far from unhappy behind the wheel.

It has a surprising amount of interior space, decent boot space and its ride, handling and poise on the road belies its compact dimensions.

Practical enough to be used as a family car, stylish and fun, it’s also affordable to buy, and cheap to run.

There is little to dislike about this car, whose features range from 15-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps, and leather-trimmed steering wheel, to chrome grille and bodywork detailing and interior “aesthetic lighting”.

The dashboard layout features an array of buttons that melt in an intriguing Salvador Dali-esque style down the central console. The switchgear layout might look a tad unusual, but it is easy to operate and that’s what counts.

The chunky three-spoke steering wheel is remarkably similar to sporting offerings seen in both the Honda Civic Type R and the Vauxhall Insignia, and is none the worst for that.

An in-built trip computer and Bluetooth telephone connectivity are fitted and if you really want to push the boat out, the luxurious high-tech Fiesta Titanium comes with everything from electronic temperature control and cruise control, to automatic headlamps and automatic wipers.

The car carries the unmistakeable, shark-nosed new look of the Ford range, already seen on larger models like the Galaxy and S-Max and as ever with Ford, there is a wide range of engines to choose from, including a pair of diesels and four petrol, including a new 120 horsepower, 1.6-litre unit.

Marie says: Stepping inside Ford’s new Fiesta was a real Life on Mars moment.

Ultra-modern instruments and switchgear and an aluminium-splashed, leather-trimmed steering wheel, contrasted with a coloured dashboard that transported me back in time to the 1970s.

To me the upper instrument panel looked a reddish brown, but some research in the Ford information pack deduced that this colour was in fact called Soho. On top of that, the door trim and colour was bizarrely named Trudie New in Soho; the seat bolster trim Trudie New in Syracuse and the seat trim was Dotts in Soho.

You get the picture, lots of daft names dreamt up by marketing people for simple things. And if the colour isn’t enough to impress you, then the selection of different shapes designed around the dials, handles and switchgear all come together to give the vehicle a fresh look inside to match the zippy exterior.

Luckily the new Fiesta is a thoroughly smart car. One of the cleverest things about the test car was the 1.4-litre diesel engine. Because it puffs out just 110 grams of carbon dioxide every kilometre, that places it into the second lowest road tax band, which means it costs just £35 a year to tax. On top of that, it holds out the tempting prospect of covering more than 80 miles per gallon on a longer run.

This compact, economical package combines a real sense of style and fun with enough practical, useful space to work as a seven-day-a week family car.

Its makeover, I am glad to say, hasn’t spoilt that Fiesta get up and go. It is still a zippy little number, accelerating well with good control, making it feel very friendly and comfortable to drive.

The brakes are sharp and the short handbrake makes it very user-friendly. For me, one of its best features is the heated windscreen that can clear a frosted windscreen in about 30 seconds and help keep it condensation free.

The Fiesta’s good all-round vision aids reversing and also gives the interior a light, roomy feel – no matter what colour you choose.

If I was you, I would opt for a car trimmed in Ecrin Multicolour in Florida, contrasted with Mondeo Max in Dark Florida.

For the exterior, how about Avalon, Vision or Squeeze?

See your nearest Ford dealer for a translation and 21st-century reality check.

Auto facts Ford Fiesta Zetec 1.4 TDCi

  • Price: £12,379
  • Insurance group: Four
  • Fuel consumption (Combined): 67.2mpg
  • Top speed: 101mph
  • Length: 155.5in/395cm
  • Width: 67.7in/172cm
  • Luggage capacity: 10.4cu ft
  • Fuel tank capacity: 9.9 gallons/45 litres
  • CO2 emissions: 110g/km
  • Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles