The Ford Fiesta has come of age. Jonathan Crouch takes a look at the much improved seventh generation version.

Ten Second Review

Ford's Fiesta has always been affordable and great to drive. But state of the art? It's that too in this improved take on the seventh generation model. Beneath the smarter styling lies some clever user-friendly technology - and cabin quality that'll make down-sizing into one of these less of a chore. This is how you right a best seller.

Background

This Fiesta may still be a small car but these days, it thinks big in almost every way, starting with improved styling designed to make more of a statement in the supermini segment. Under the bonnet lies an impressively clean and frugal range of petrol units, which includes the brand's mild hybrid EcoBoost Hybrid tech. Plus there's now a more up-market cabin than you might be used to from a Fiesta, along with safety technology of the sort you might expect to find on a much larger car.

As before, there's also an 'Active' Crossover bodystyle and an ST hot hatch - and across the range, class-leading driving dynamics. This is, in short, on paper at least, a thoroughly well thought out piece of supermini design. But will it be enough to keep Ford at the top of the sales charts? Let's find out.

Driving Experience

Not much about the engineering of this car has changed: not much needed to. Variations on the Fiesta theme may come and go but before driving any version of Ford's definitive supermini, there's one thing you almost always know for certain: that it'll be a great steer. The engineers tell us that the chassis offers 10% more cornering grip than that old generation car, supported by Electronic Torque Vectoring Control, which enhances the driving experience by applying a small amount of braking to inside wheels to assist traction and stability when cornering.

And engines? You'll want to know about those. There's no longer a diesel, but the elderly 1.1-litre Ti-VCT 75PS petrol unit continues at the base of the line-up. Ford has been gradually introducing its mild hybrid 48-volt tech into this car but for the time being, you can still have the volume three cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost turbo petrol engine without it, offering 100PS and a 6-speed manual gearbox. The 1.0T EcoBoost powerplant can also be had in mild hybrid mHEV 'EcoBoost Hybrid' form in 125 and 155PS forms, complete with the option of auto transmission and using that 48V electrified technology. With this, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is combined with a belt-driven starter/generator and a 48-volt battery pack for extra performance and efficiency. The system also allows for easier stop-start integration, which can shut off the engine when below 15mph.

Design and Build

If you go by the maxim that if something looks right, it is right, then you'll probably like the look of this improved version of the seventh generation Fiesta. As before, it's offered in both three and five-door bodystyles, plus an 'Active' crossover version, and all variants are tidy pieces of styling - especially in this revised form. The bonnet's been revised, the nose of the car raised and the brand badge moved into the grille, which is flanked by restyled LED headlamps.

Inside, Ford has added a 12.3-inch configurable digital instrument display screen, which complements the usual 8-inch SYNC 3 centre infotainment screen. It incorporates 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring - and can include a 575-watt B&O stereo and a rear view camera too. Storage for personal belongings is delivered with a 20% larger glovebox and a 1-litre media bin in the centre console.

Market and Model

As before, there's a choice of either three or five-door bodystyles. Pricing starts at just over £18,600 and the revised line-up's starts with base 'Trend' spec, then progresses through 'Titanium', 'Active' and 'ST-Line' (all also offered in plusher 'Vignale' forms), plus there's the ST hot hatch. That optional 'Vignale' pack includes smarter 17 or 18-inch wheels, Sensico faux leather upholstery and upgraded cabin trim.

Key additions on the options list include Matrix headlights, These headlamps can adapt to bad weather and surrounding traffic. Safety-wise, an extra addition is 'Wrong Way Alert', which stops you turning into a road where you'll be driving against the traffic.

As usual on a Fiesta, you'll be offered some up-scale equipment options, examples including an openable panoramic glass roof. There's sophisticated safety too, including a Pedestrian Detection system that can even prevent collisions at night. And 'Active Park Assist' with brake interventions to prevent low-speed collisions when parking hands-free.

Cost of Ownership

The Ford Fiesta has garnered a reputation for being one of the cheapest superminis to run and this continues. Take the volume 100PS 1.0 EcoBoost petrol unit, which puts out up to 121g/km of WLTP-rated CO2 and manages a WLTP-rated combined cycle fuel return of up to 53.3mpg. That's the same as you get from the base normally aspirated 1.1 Ti-VCT 75PS petrol unit. In mHEV mild hybrid form, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost unit gets a lower compression ratio and a larger turbo and can be had in 125 and 155PS electrified guises. The 125PS 1.0 EcoBoost Hybrid variant manages up to 56.5mpg and 113g/km - or up to 53.3mpg and 118g/km in auto form. The 155PS 1.0 EcoBoost Hybrid variant manages up to 56.5mpg and 114g/km.

As for the warranty, well like all Fords, this one comes with a 36-month 60,000-mile package that also includes one year of Europe-wide breakdown assistance. On top of that, there's an anti-corrosion guarantee for 12 years. Ford also offers the chance to extend this cover - to either four years and 80,000 miles or five years and 100,000 miles.

Summary

The Ford Fiesta has always been a vehicle the British public has warmed to but the truth is that in the past, supermini buyers often chose this car either because it was great to drive or because they'd been offered a deal too good to turn down: there wasn't really another reason to buy one. This MK7 model has changed all that and this updated version is smarter to look at, smarter to sit in and smarter to operate.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Ford Fiesta

PRICES: £18,655-£26,645 – on the road

INSURANCE GROUPS: 2-20 (TBC)

CO2 EMISSIONS 114-151g/km

PERFORMANCE: [1.5 EcoBoost 200PS] 0-62mph 6.5s / Max speed 143mph

FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.0 EcoBoost 125PS Hybrid] (combined) 48 mpg

STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Electronic stability control, ABS with brake assist, seven airbags

WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4040/1941/1484mm