Ford’s Fiesta – Which model is best?

Ford’s Fiesta is a stylish little package that caused a stir a few years back because of some amazing claims in the fuel economy stakes. That was with the 1,0-litre three-cylinder model. But, interestingly, we achieved even better economy with the1,5-litre diesel recently.  Is this the best model to go for, then?

Ford’s Fiesta nameplate has been around for a long time, introduced in the UK and in Europe as far back as 1976. In South Africa, Fiestas have been available in South Africa since the fourth-generation model, launched here in 1997. In fact the Ford Fiesta was a surprise winner of the 1998 South African Car of the Year title!

The latest version of the Ford Fiesta is the seventh-generation model, launched here in May 2018. The Fiesta has been a very successful model in South Africa for a number of years and the latest offering has enjoyed similarly strong sales success. It is worth noting that the Figo entry-model Ford in this market is very much based on an earlier-generation Fiesta.

Long model cycles

Fiestas have long model cycles, which is actually good news if you sign up for a new one. The longer a model stays in the new-car market relatively unchanged, the better those cars hold their re-sale value.  The sixth-generation model was launched internationally way back in 2009 and is still in production in some countries.

Model range

The model range of the latest Ford Fiesta is quite small, with only five models comprising the entire line-up.

These are as follows:

The Ford Fiesta 1.0 T Trend Manual  (R269 900)

The Ford Fiesta 1.0 T Trend Automatic (R285 500)

The Ford Fiesta 1.5 TDCi Trend (R300 900)

The Ford Fiesta 1.0T Titanium (R304 900)

The Ford Fiesta 1.0T Titanium Auto (R319 900)

For more information on car repayments on a Ford Fiesta, open this link:

Three engine variants

Within this range there are in fact three engine variants offered. These are two versions of the three-cylinder one-litre turbocharged petrol engine, and one version of the 1,5-litre modestly-powered turbodiesel motor. Both manual and automatic gearboxes are six-speed units.

It is worth noting that the Trend petrol models receive a lower-powered  74 kiloWatt version of the 1,0-litre petrol triple, while the Titanium models are boosted by a much higher-powered version (92 kW) of the very similar engine. This is not made evident by the model names, and many people assume there are simply trim variants between the Trend and Titanium models.

The Trend 1.0 Manual has a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 10,5 seconds and a top speed of 183. The Titanium manual is rated at 9,9 seconds for the 0-100 km/h run and a top speed of 195 km/h. The 1.5 TDCi turbodiesel model is rated with a 12,5 second 0-100 and a top speed of  175 km/h. The TDCi model is only available with a manual gearbox.

Read more about the latest-generation Ford Fiesta

Trim and equipment

The Trend models are easily identifiable by 16-inch alloy wheels. The more-expensive Titanium versions have striking 17-inch wheels and boast a grille that features chromed bars, and LED daytime running lights. Those are the car-spotter variables visible from outside.

The Trend models feature front fog lights with cornering lamps. Daytime running lights with automatic headlamp activation are standard, as are heated and electrically-operated wing mirrors.

Power windows are standard front and back. The Trend-spec Ford Synch3 infotainment system uses a 6.5 inch colour touch screen, and the audio system has six speakers and dual USB ports for multi-media access. Bluetooth connectivity is standard in the Synch3 system on the Trend Models.

Titanium trim extras

As already mentioned, this model is distinguished initially by larger wheels and radiator grille bright work. On a practical level, a Thatcham alarm system with intrusion detection is standard on the Titanium models. An acoustically-laminated windscreen provides extra noise isolation, and climate control and heated sports seats add to comfort levels. Further distinguishing features are the leather-covered sports steering wheel and gear knob.

The Tanium-level Ford Synch3 system utilises a larger,  eight-inch HD touchscreen with embedded navigation, and boasts a seven-speaker audio system.

Safety

Both Trend and Titanium models boast a high degree of passive and active safety equipment. This includes six airbags, along with a front passenger deactivation switch. ISOFIX child seat anchorage points are standard, and for vehicle security there is an immobiliser and perimeter anti-theft alarm.

On the active-safety front, the Fiesta boasts excellent road holding bolstered by electronic stability control and traction control, as well as ABS braking, EBD, EBA and Hill Launch Assist. Ford says the latest version of the Fiesta offers 10 per cent more grip than previously,  thanks to a wider track, and more stability thanks to a longer wheelbase. Torque Vectoring Control (which marginally brakes the inside wheels during hard cornering) improves traction in extreme situations.

Fuel Economy

The 1,0-litre three-cylinder Ford engine has been rated as one of the best engines in the world, regularly winning its category in international engine design competitions since it was introduced in the previous-generation Fiesta.

In the Titanium spec producing 92 kW, the little triple is amazingly powerful for such a small engine, and Ford boasted extremely good fuel consumption figures too. Performance is impressive, but unfortunately in about town use those advertised fuel consumption figures in the sub five litres/100 km ranged proved to be elusive. On a test of the previous model with the automatic gearbox, we battled to get the consumption average down below 7,0 litres/100.

On the diesel model,  Ford claim overall figures of 4,0 litres/100. We would have scoffed at this as being totally optimistic but late last year the writer in fact achieved a figure of 3,2 litres/100 on a special economy run.

That low figure was achieved running at unrealistically conservative speeds, granted. But we reckon that this modest diesel, which has a good spread of torque at low revs, will in fact achieve 5,0 litres/100 or less with careful, normal driving.

See how the new Ford Fiesta shapes up to its competitors

Our choice

If high performance is your priority, then the choice  would be the 92 kW Tanium Manual.  The automatic versions of the 1.0-litre model use too much fuel around town, and you will get much better economy going for the Manual version in either Trend or Titanium models.

It is largely for fuel economy reasons that we reckon the Ford Fiesta 1.5 TDCi Trend is the model to go for.  Its price at R300 900 is not cheap, but we feel its engine will be a better reliability bet over the long term than the dynamically excellent, but relatively highly-stressed three-cylinder petrol unit. There have been reports of cylinder head problems over the longer term with the 1.0 three-cylinder Ecoboost engine.

We also feel that the basic Trend equipment specification is more than adequate for a car of this nature. Performance is modest, but in today’s motoring climate in this type of relatively modest hatchback,  which is not configured as an out-and-out sports model, we would plump for the 1,5-litre diesel model.

Still want to know more? We've put together everything we think you should know about the Ford Fiesta.