FORD FIESTA

From £500 With thousands sold every year, Ford’s supermini offers lots of used choice

FROM its launch in 1976 until the present day, the Ford Fiesta supermini has rarely been knocked off the top spot of the UK new car sales charts.

It’s easy to see why – the small Ford has always been stylish, great to drive, affordable to run and safe. It’s become an icon in a car-obsessed country, and virtually everyone has a memory of their first time driving or being driven in a Fiesta.

This popularity and long lifespan means that there’s a Fiesta available for everyone, from a latest generation ST hot hatch packed with tech, to a Mk7 that’s an ideal runabout that still cuts a dash.

History

THE Fiesta has always been offered in threeor five-door body styles, allowing buyers to pick between sportier looks or practicality. Small petrol engines have dominated sales, first in 1.25 and 1.4-litre sizes, and in 2013 with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost. This three-cylinder turbo is so compact it could sit on an A4 sheet of paper, yet it still packs an impressive punch.

Small diesel engines make sense for motorway drivers, while hot S1600, Zetec S and ST versions have peppy petrol engines and even sharper handling.

Which one?

THERE’S no terrible engine, but we’d recommend the 1.0-litre EcoBoost for most drivers, or a TDCi diesel if you plan on covering serious motorway miles.

Even Style+ trims get a heated windscreen and air-con, while Zetec adds alloy wheels and extra tech. Titanium brings big-car features such as cruise control – ideal if you spend lots of time driving.

The Toyota Yaris has a better reliability record, while the Skoda Fabia offers more space. The Vauxhall Corsa and Renault Clio are also plentiful, but none of these rivals is as much fun as the Fiesta to drive.

Verdict

THE Ford Fiesta has been the car that all others must beat for many years, and it has won our supermini of the year title more than five times. It’s also won the best used supermini title, too, which proves just how much we love it as a second-hand buy.