Ford Fiesta 2017 Review | Driver's Seat

The Fiesta is older than nearly half of the UK’s population. Launched in 1976, it has regularly been one the best-selling cars in the country during that time and often being the benchmark supermini for its rivals to compete with.

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Now into its seventh-generation, it is available with either three or five-doors (69% of sales) while an Active crossover and a performance ST model will be added in 2018.

The new supermini is 70mm longer, 13mm wider, 20mm lower than before while the look is an evolution of the sixth-generation with softer headlight styling, a wider grille and horizontal rather than vertical taillights.

Inside, gone is the mobile phone keypad design which has been replaced with a simplified, cleaner look dominated by a floating 8.0in touchscreen for the infotainment system.

The SYNC 3 system includes pinch and swipe gestures, AppLink, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto let you navigate your smartphone through the home screen. 

There are seven engines to choose from initially, made up of five petrol and two diesel variants.

If you are after a petrol, expected to take most orders (91%), there are two versions of an entry-level 1.1-litre with 70PS and 85PS each of which is fitted with a five-speed manual gearbox.

A three-cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost is available in 100, 125 and 140PS outputs. All of these are fitted with a new six-speed manual gearbox. The 100PS is also available with an optional six-speed automatic gearbox.

There are two diesel variants from the same 1.5-litre TDCi engine: 85PS and 120PS. Each is fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Trim wise, choose from seven options with the lower spec Zetec anticipated to be the best selling; Style, Zetec, Titanium, Titanium X, ST-Line, ST-Line X, Vignale.

All models get Bluetooth, a 4.2in TFT colour screen, auto headlights; emergency assistance; lane departure warning; lane keep assist; and a speed limiter. 

ST-Line adds sporty styling with a large rear spoiler, body kit, meshed front grilles, rock metallic alloy wheels, sports suspension and ST-Line exterior branding. Inside the ST-Line gets sports seats, ST-Line leather-trimmed steering wheel, aluminium gearshift insert, stainless steel sports pedals and ST-Line door threshold plates. 

Titanium trim brings 16in 10-spoke alloy wheels; rear privacy glass; Ford SYNC 3 Navigation with 8.0in Touchscreen; starter button; cruise control; auto wipers; dimming rear-view; and Driver Impairment Monitor.

Prices start from £12,715. We’re testing the 1.0-litre Ecoboost with a six-speed manual gearbox in Titanium trim, which costs £16,795.

Our test car came fitted in optional Ruby Red paint (£745) and fitted with Advanced auto pack 1 (£500), comfort pack (£225), panoramic sunroof (£600), door edge protectors (£85), electric rear windows (£175), adjustable boot floor (£75), driver’s seat lumbar support (£50) – resulting in a £19,250 price as tested. 

Click here for the full review: http://bit.ly/2vMPtgW