Sport and comfort in one package

Out and about in the new Fiesta ST-Line X.

Ford’s seventh-generation Fiesta has been with us for a year now, and any concerns that it wouldn’t live up to its brilliant predecessor have been laid to rest.

The old car’s smooth ride, easy gear change, big-car feel and – most of all – superb handling are all present on this latest model.

I’ve had the pleasure to try a few versions of the Fiesta, the latest being the ST-Line X.

This high-spec model combines the sporty looks of the ST-Line trim with the generous equipment levels of the Titanium X versions.

It cherry-picks some of the best features of both models, such as an 8in touchscreen, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, part-leather sports seats and a flat-bottomed steering wheel.

The standard price for the three-door 1.0 litre ST-Line X I spent a week with is £19,315, but a list of extras including a B&O stereo, 18in alloys, rear-view camera, heated seats and steering wheel, and a premium paint colour brought my test car’s price north of £21,000.

For the same money, you could have a much bigger car, but plenty of town and city dwellers want a small car with high levels of equipment and comfort. The Fiesta delivers that in spades. One of the few things you could criticise the previous model for was its dated interior.

This version is much improved inside. A slew of buttons have been done away with and there are just a couple of dials for the heating system below the large, clear touchscreen.

It’s a much cleaner and more modern cabin than the one that owners of older Fiestas will be familiar with.

I drove the three-door model, which is sharper and neater looking on the outside, but with the obvious caveat that you have to clamber past the front seats to get into the back.

My car was fitted with the most powerful 140hp version of Ford’s threecylinder turbocharged EcoBoost petrol engine.

It’s a super unit – lightweight, freerevving, fast and economical. With an official combined fuel economy figure of 56.5mpg, its economy is close to that of a diesel.

Ride is outstanding for such a small car, cabin noise is kept to a bare minimum, and handling is class leading. It may not be bargain basement, but the ST-Line X does everything beautifully.

Plenty of town and city dwellers want a small car with high levels of equipment and comfort