The UK Sales charts don’t lie: The one car that’s proved time and time again that it’s Britain’s most popular choice is this, the Ford Fiesta.
Over four million Fiestas have been sold since it went on sale in the mid '70s and even this latest model sticks to the principals of giving motorists exactly what they want; a spacious, good looking, excellent driving supermini that's cheap to run.
Whereas a lot of superminis slip into anonymity, the Fiesta really stands out. The rather stylish Amy Winehouse eyelash headlamps have been softened to fit in-line with Ford’s latest design direction, and the waistline raises to the rear tail lights to emphasise its sporty intention. Opt for the Zetec model and you’ll get some extra glitz with 15 inch alloys and chrome trim.
One huge improvement is behind the wheel. The dash has been redesigned and is a bit more intuitive to use than the old model. It’s not up to the build quality as, say, a Volkswagen Polo, but the plastics are soft-touch and should prove durable. The steering and seating position is fully adjustable and there’s a decent amount of space both up front and in the back.
The Fiesta isn't as practical as rivals like the Nissan Note or Honda Jazz, but they're more baby MPVs than superminis. The boot has a reasonable 290 litres of space, and increases to 974 litres when the seats are folded down – however, they don’t fold completely flat, and the narrow load bay and high lip can make getting larger items in a bit tricky.
The biggest plus point for the Fiesta is the way it drives. It's such a fun car and really shines against all its rivals. There’s a big range of petrol and diesel engines to choose from, so pick carefully. The 1.0-litre three cylinder ecoboost is excellent, and pick of the range. It pulls strongly and revs smoothly. Petrolheads will love the hot hatch ST model, which may be less powerful than cars like the Peugeot 208 GTI and Renaultsport Clio, but it’s considerably more fun and better value for money. Whichever version you go for, you wont be disappointed with the dynamics. It changes direction quickly thanks to direct steering, and there’s limited roll in the corners.
We asked a couple of young drivers to put the Fiesta to the test and share their opinions with us. Watch the video to find out what they thought of the UK's best-selling car.
