2017 Ford Fiesta range review
What is it?
The Fiesta is the cheapest Ford on sale, an affordable compact city car to rival the likes of Toyota's Yaris and the Volkswagen Polo.
How many models can I choose from?
There are four core trim lines in the Fiesta range, starting with the $15,825 Ambiente that features a 1.5-litre petrol engine that makes 82kW and 140Nm. It's a fairly basic model, fitted as standard with hubcap-clad steel wheels, a five-speed manual transmission, halogen headlamps and a basic 3.5-inch infotainment system with CD, MP3 and voice-activated features.
Buyers who want a little more can pick the Fiesta Trend, which adds front fog lamps and 15-inch alloy wheels for an extra $2000.
Ford's $20,525 Fiesta Sport sits toward the top of the range, bringing an award-winning 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo engine with more impressive 92kW and 170Nm outputs (as well as superior efficiency) along with sports tuned suspension and exterior dress-up bits such as a rear spoiler. On the inside, the Fiesta Sport adds ambient lighting, an 8-speaker Sony stereo with 4.2-inch display screen and sports seats trimmed partially in leather.
At the top of the range, Ford's Fiesta ST junior performance car brings a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine with 134kW and 240Nm outputs along with a six-speed manual transmission, sports suspension and four-wheel disc brakes. It also gets single-zone climate control, Recaro sports seats, leather-wrapped drivers' controls and smart keys.
On the outside, the ST stands out with a sports body kit, 17-inch alloys, halogen projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights, rear parking sensors and more.
What do they cost?
Fiesta Ambiente: $15,825
Fiesta Trend: $17,825
Fiesta Sport: $20,525
Fiesta ST: $25,990
(All prices are before on-road and dealer costs are applied. Check with your dealer for drive-away prices)
Any options that I need to know about?
Metallic paint costs $450, and a six-speed dual-clutch auto can replace the five-speed manual transmission in the Ambiente, Trend and Sport for $2000 (there's no auto option for the ST).
The Fiesta Sport is also available with a $1000 sports executive pack that includes climate control, smart keys, rear parking sensors and automatic headlights and wipers.
Unlike rivals such as the Mazda2, there's no safety pack with a reversing camera, autonomous emergency braking or other driver aids.
Is it expensive to own?
Ford backs the Fiesta with a slightly stingy three-year, 100,000-kilometre warranty that falls short of the five, six and seven-year unlimited-kilometre guarantees offered by some cars in this class.
Capped price servicing is on the menu, priced from $1040 for the first four years or 60,000 kilometres in the standard 1.5-litre car to $1175 for the 1.0-litre model and $1360 for the Fiesta ST.
Any issues I need to know about?
Yep. The optional dual-clutch automatic transmission in the Fiesta has caused a lot of headaches for Ford and its customers, and it's no coincidence that recently-updated Ford Focus and Escape models no longer feature the "Powershift" option. We'd think twice about going for an auto Fiesta, particularly if you plan to own it outside the car's warranty period.
Which is the most economical model?
That would be the 1.0-litre Fiesta Sport, thanks to its tiny turbocharged engine that needs 4.9L/100km in five-speed manual form - well less than the standard car's 5.8L/100km fuel use.
Which is the safest model?
The Fiesta has a five-star ANCAP safety rating across the range, helped by a strong safety suite with seven airbags including rear curtain airbags and driver's knee protection that you won't find on some of its rivals.
Which is the best model to drive?
Ford's Fiesta ST is more than the sportiest model in this range: we also rate it as one of the best driver's cars on sale for less than $30,000. The turbocharged ST has heaps of punch - 147kW and 290Nm during brief periods of full-throttle "overboost" - as well as an edgy chassis that makes it a willing partner on road and track.
Should I buy one now?
Not unless you get a ripper deal. Ford has already unveiled the successor to this Fiesta (a car that has been on sale since 2013), so a fresh model with more equipment is just around the corner. Expect driver aids such as emergency self-braking, a better infotainment system with Apple CarPlay connectivity and a spicy new three-cylinder engine for the next Fiesta ST.
Where's the sweet spot?
The Fiesta ST is a genuinely brilliant little car we can happily recommend to enthusiasts. If you can't stretch quite that far, the Fiesta Sport's sweet little engine pairs beautifully with its sharper chassis, sports seats and more engaging nature as a well-reasoned response to comparatively bland rivals such as the Toyota Yaris.