FORD FIESTA Mk6
OUR PICK 2013 (63) 1.0 Ecoboost Zetec 5dr, 19,426 miles, £8,195
THE Ford Fiesta is our favourite second-hand supermini once again. But that’s hardly surprising when you consider that Ford has taken 40 years to perfect this best-of-all-worlds runaround. It’s resulted in a supermini that ticks all the right boxes; with its rakish good looks and spacious, well specced cabin, it’s fantastic to drive and also cheap to run.
Of course, the Fiesta is also Britain’s best-selling new car, so there’s plenty of used stock for buyers to choose from. And with a huge range of trim levels, plus a choice of three and five-door bodystyles, there really is a car to suit every taste. The sheer volume of Fords on the road means servicing tends to be good value, too, and there’s no shortage of specialists equipped to carry out the work, which means you won’t feel tied to the franchised dealer network. Parts should also be in ready supply thanks to the car’s abundance.
Budget aside, the Fiesta is a cracking car to drive, and buyers enjoy the same driving characteristics and impressive handling that you’ll find much further up Ford’s range. Indeed, the mass-market nature of the Fiesta means it placed just outside the Driver Power top 100, but it still ranked 18th for road handling, demonstrating that it’s a lot of fun on the right road.
There’s a decent selection of engines, too. The most economical is the 1.6 TDCI Econetic diesel, which Ford claims can return 85mpg. A 1.0 Ecoboost petrol was added when the Fiesta was facelifted in 2013; it’s our pick with its peppy performance and decent economy, plus cars with stop/start emit less than 100g/km of CO2.
This facelifted model also debuted Ford’s Mykey technology, which allows you to pre-programme a maximum speed and stereo volume when your newly qualified kids are borrowing the Fiesta. It also stops the driver aids and safety systems from being deactivated, helping make it the perfect choice for a first-time driver.
The Fiesta is Britain’s bestselling new car, so there’s plenty of used stock for car buyers to choose from. There really is a version to suit every budget
“OVER the past year, Warrantywise has sold 704 Ford Fiesta extended warranty plans, and owners have needed to claim for a repair on 37 per cent of them. The average repair cost was £376, so this car is a good investment. Ford dealers also offer top value compared with rivals. It’s a common sight, but there are lots of Fiestas around for good reason.”