Ford has clearly adopted a ‘don’t mess with success’ philosophy for the new Fiesta, and that’s not a bad idea at all. The Ford Fiesta looms large across the supermini segment – in many ways, the only way to go is down, so now really isn’t a good time to mess with the formula.
After all, people like it.
Which means to say that this all-new Ford Fiesta hasn’t gone back to the drawing board. What we have instead is a new model that addresses the shortcomings of the outgoing generation, and it does a pretty good job. With renovated styling, reinvented interior, and improved efficiency, it isn’t hard to see this as the next evolution of Ford Fiesta mastery.
The first thing you’ll notice is the way it looks, and you’ll get an immediate impression of how the vehicle has changed. The stubbiness and wedge-like profile of the outgoing model has been softened and simplified, with the notorious bonnet bulge eliminated entirely. There’s even a subtle change in measurements – it’s 71mm longer and 13mm wider than before.
There’s another change that you won’t be able to see but will be able to feel. Ford has strengthened the structure using 35 percent more boron steel, stiffer front subframe mounting points, rear torsion bar, and an increase in laser welding. All in all, Ford are claiming the structure is 15 percent stiffer than before. Safety scores are likely to improve, and such a boost to torsional rigidity helps accommodate the new model’s stiffer anti-roll bar and tougher, double-bonded suspension. A claimed 10 percent increase in cornering grip doesn’t sound too bad either.
As for the specs, you’ll get three versions of the immensely popular turbocharged 1.0-litre Ecoboost petrol engine: 99bhp, 123bhp, and 138bhp. There’ll also be a naturally aspirated 1.1-litre three-cylinder and an available 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine that offerd CO2 emissions as low as 82g/km. The outdated 1.25-litre Sigma engine has finally been shown the door.
As you can imagine, the Ford Fiesta will continue living up to its reputation for spirited driving dynamics, and you can expect to make just over 50mpg on a mix of city and motorway.
As for onboard technology, the new Sync3 infotainment system is worth writing home about thanks to its user-friendly interface and convenient touchscreen operation, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity bring the features and apps of your smartphone to your everyday drive.