The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Entry level diesel Fiesta lacks nothing when it comes to fun
In the 15 years I’ve been the motoring writer for this newspaper I’ve driven something like 800 cars.
Several dozen of them have been Ford Fiestas and I can’t think of a single one of those I haven’t enjoyed.
The Fiesta has rarely been knocked off the top spot as Britain’s best selling car, and for good reason.
Good looking, affordable, fun to drive, cheap to run and – over the years – increasingly comfortable and luxurious, it ticks a lot of boxes.
The most recent, seventh generation model was launched in 2018. It improved on the already dazzlingly good sixth generation, in particular when it came to refinement.
I spent a week with the 1.5 litre diesel model in entry level Trend trim. Diesels are falling out of favour and many buyers are now plumping for Ford’s peppy 1.0, three cylinder petrol engines.
It’s not quite curtains yet for diesels, however. They’re cleaner than ever and more robust than the little petrol engines, so if you do high mileages they’re still the one to go for. With just 85hp and a 0-62mph time of 12.4 seconds this Fiesta is no drag racer. However, 215Nm of torque – that’s low down pulling power – means it feels faster and still moves well even with three passengers plus luggage.
It’s very economical and on longer drives you can expect to hit 60mpg without much effort.
My entry level model didn’t have many bells and whistles but there was an 8in touchscreen, smartphone connectivity and plenty of safety features.
The Fiesta is a terrific car both in the city and on country lanes. It’s also one of the most refined small cars and can easily be used for long commutes.
At a touch over £18,000 the diesel Trend model offers great value for money, though I’d be tempted to spend slightly more and go a model up for creature comforts such as heated seats, which are a must for Scottish winters.