FIESTA DE RÉSISTANCE
JOHN MURDOCH steps into a world of compact luxury with one of Ford’s favourites
IN DAYS gone by you knew that any Ford carrying the Ghia badge sat at the top of the spec and trim range. Since the company stopped using it some years ago it has been difficult at times to figure out which the top model was.
Now it is clear again since Ford started using the Vignale badge – the Italian design house bought at the same time as the Ghia operation but left on the sidelines till recently.
The snappy Fiesta has been Britain’s favourite car for many years and that is because it has the recipe for success – fun to drive, reasonably priced and very practical.
In Vignale form it is even better because it boasts all the latest kit and infotainment equipment you could possibly want in a stylish package.
And if you can’t afford the price of a Vignale there is a range of models to suit everyone from the very young to the most mature and that is why the Fiesta will always be at the top of the sales charts.
The current generation Fiesta is available in a wide range of goodlooking three and five-door body styles with a choice of lower-priced trim levels and is offered with a choice of five petrol and two diesel engines – so there really is something for everyone in the mix. Buyers can also choose manual or automatic transmission.
Entry level models start from around £13,000 but the luxury Vignale model I sampled cost £21,520, so there is a considerable price difference.
The car was powered by one of the 1.0-litre EcoBoost power plants this time with 125ps on tap.
The three-cylinder turbocharged unit provided a great blend of performance and economy.
It reaches 62mph in 10.0 seconds and can go on to a top speed of 121mph, with emissions of just 107g/ km.
With its slick six-speed manual gearbox and stop/start technology it offers according to the latest WLTP figures economy ranging between 41.5mpg to 55.4mpg. Over a week of mixed motoring I averaged about 50mpg.
As in all Fiesta models the steering is nicely weighted and the new suspension set-up deals well with our bumpy roads with ease. Slightly larger than the last model, the new Fiesta offers more room inside and four adults can travel in comfort but if you do use the rear seats on a regular basis make sure you opt for the five-door.
Stylish looks are another feature and the Ruby Red Vignale looked particularly nice thanks to smart 17-inch alloys unique grille, badging and privacy glass.
Inside you get special Vignale touches including premium leather seats, Halogen projector headlamps with LED daytime running lamps, front fogs with cornering lights, LED night signature rear lights, power foldable door mirrors with puddle lights, rear privacy glass, and a Quickclear heated windscreen.
You also get a B&O premium sound system with an eight-inch touchscreen with DAB radio and Ford SYNC 3 navigation, two USB sockets and six speakers. In addition
FORD FIESTA 1.0T ECO-BOOST VIGNALE
Price: £13,000 TO £21,520
you get keyless start, cruise control, Ford Easy Fuel, and a Thatcham alarm.
You also get Vignale front door threshold plates, Vignale front and rear floor mats and a heated steering wheel.
Naturally it comes with all the latest safety equipment including hill start assist, lane-keeping alert and lane-keeping aid, speed limiter, rear seat seatbelt reminder, tyre pressure monitoring system, traffic sign recognition and much more.
I know £21,520 is a lot for a supermini but the Fiesta Vignale has got all you could want in a neat package and is perfect if you are down-sizing from a larger, more expensive model.