The Ford Fiesta is one of the most recognizable vehicles in the world. Automotive publications have praised it for its styling, low running costs and its value for money. Even Ford itself calls it “Britain’s best-selling car of all time”! That alone should say something about the spirit that the car embodies.
For 2014, Ford decided to give its super mini model a thorough makeover, in order to ensure that its looks would not be overshadowed by the design of some of its competitors.
The front section now includes a larger, more prominent chromed grille – reminiscent, to a certain extent, of Aston Martin, a new bonnet with a central ridge and longer, sharper headlights. The sides feature prominent wheel arches and a pronounced line, which starts from the front fenders and ends close to the rear lights, contributing to the sporty appearance of the car. The rear section has not suffered major changes, apart from a slightly more distinct spoiler and the clear glass lights.
At the interior of the car we can find a more flattened instrument cluster, a new armrest and a mild redesign of the central console. Buyers have not had a more varied range of trims at their disposal in order to customise the vehicle to their liking. The steering wheel has remained the same, while no other major alterations have made their way into this edition of the Ford Fiesta.
A wide range of motorisations is available to customers, starting from the 1.25 litre petrol engine producing either 60 or 82bhp to the newly introduced 3-cylinder, 1 litre turbocharged EcoBoost engine, with a power output of either 99bhp or 123bhp. Despite the small displacement, the engine should have no difficulty in powering the vehicle given its reduced mass. Ford is not a singular case with the use of a 3-cylinder engine, as German manufacturers also have this option for some small size vehicles. A non-turbocharged version of the engine exists, but it develops less power – 82bhp. The smaller power output means better fuel economy, but a longer 0-62 time of 14 seconds. The diesel offer is comprised of a 74bhp, 1.5 litre TDCi and a 94bhp, 1.6 litre TDCi, which promise a better mileage than the petrol powered ones.
A premiere for the Ford Fiesta is the novel MyKey system, which allows the programming of the top speed, ESP settings and audio volume for those with limited experience, which can prove valuable when young drivers sit behind the wheel.
Ford Fiesta 2014 – 5 Point Review
Styling
Ford has put its “Kinetic Design” to use on its entire range of vehicles, and the Ford Fiesta is no exception. The large grille, framed by aggressively styled, sharp headlights and a central ridge running the entire length of the bonnet indicate the car’s dynamic design. The lateral straight, powerfully contoured lines clash with the pronounced, round wheel arches. In the rear, a larger spoiler that integrates the backlight sits on top of the rear window, while the wrap-around clear glass rear lights look better than ever.
There are two special versions, the Red and Black editions, which are each powered by a 1.0 litre 138bhp EcoBoost engine and include either red or black accents, both on the inside and on the outside. The high-tier Ford Fiesta ST is the most powerful version available, with a 1.6 litre EcoBoost, 197 bhp, 17 inch alloy wheels and a special suspension rig. The outside is differentiated by a black mesh grille, a rear diffuser and a more aggressive body kit.
Driving
The driving experience has improved in comparison to the previous version, as numerous changes have occurred “behind the scenes”. Mechanical changes to the engine and the suspension ensure a smoother ride with less body roll and a faster response from the steering column. The introduction of the better optimised engines saw an increase in torque and better handling all around. The power-steering is electronically assisted, making the cornering much more precise, while the suspension setting allows the potholes to be better dampened. The outside noise is only noticeable in the ST version, but, given its performance-centric character, this is quite understandable and may not be an issue to a motoring enthusiast.
Reliability
Speaking in terms of reliability, the Ford Fiesta has been a dependable car. Analysing the car’s history, from its introduction up to the newest versions, the model has built itself a solid reputation as a pretty much fail-proof automobile. Of course, the latest incarnation does justice to its reputation and does not disappoint, as its various mechanical components have been tuned to provide the driver with a reliable vehicle that doesn’t consume too much fuel while also maintaining its sporty character.
Running costs
Apart from the acquisition cost, the car will not consume too much of your budget. The 1.5 litre TDCi engine has a rating of 85.6 mpg without the use of start/stop technology, which is quite impressive. Other than that, expect only light expenses such as an oil change or brake pad replacements. For its UK customers Ford offers an optional servicing pack for £550, which covers servicing costs for 3 years or 36,000 miles.
Practicality
Despite its reduced size there is no change in interior space compared to the previous version and the Ford Fiesta offers sufficient head and leg room for its occupants. The high profile ceiling makes sure that that car is able to accommodate even tall drivers, while the back seats are sufficiently large to sit comfortably. The boot space is 295 litres but it can be expanded to a maximum of 640 litres simply by folding down the back seat, ensuring ample storage space.
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