Ford Fiesta (2013 – 2017) Review

Ford Fiesta (2013 – 2017) At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
Great to drive and cheap to run, this generation of Ford Fiesta was a massive seller, and with good reason – it is a genuinely excellent car.

+Sharper looks than the previous Ford Fiesta. Comes with the award-winning 1.0 Ecoboost three-cylinder.

-Lots of strong competition around.

Insurance Groups are between 3–19
On average it achieves 71% of the official MPG figure

This generation of Ford Fiesta was one of the UK’s best-selling cars throughout its life, and it’s easy to see why the moment you sit in one. It has excellent comfort, space and quality in the cabin, while the driving manners outshine all of its rivals. It also gained superb new engines to further trouble rivals such as the Peugeot 208, the ever-popular Renault Clio, the big-selling Vauxhall Corsa and the solidly built Volkswagen Polo. Read on for our full Ford Fiesta review.

This version of Ford Fiesta went on sale in early 2013 with sharper styling and a host of new features. The front end received Ford’s trapezoidal grille plus ‘laser-cut’ headlights with daytime running lights.

The interior also gained minor tweaks with revisions to the centre console and trim. All of this makes it as good a used buy as it was a sound new car choice.

The most important addition was the inclusion of the 1.0-litre Ecoboost engine in 100PS and 125PS outputs, which had premiered in the Ford Focus. A winner of the ‘International Engine of the Year’, award, the three-cylinder turbocharged unit offered a claimed 65.7mpg and emits 99g/km of CO2, which means free car tax.

The Ford Fiesta is extremely nimble and composed, which makes it ideal for town and motorway driving. Ride quality was improved through a combination of more compliant suspension and deeper profile tyres. And friction was taken out of the steering, making it feel sharper from the straight-ahead position.

There was plenty of new technology including ‘SYNC,’ which provides Bluetooth and USB connectivity, voice control and emergency assistance. Active City Stop was offered, too, which helps drivers avoid low-speed accidents by applying the brakes if a collision is imminent.

Another important feature that could be had when new was MyKey, which provides parents with a second key for their children. This second key is programmed with parameters set by the parents, for instance limiting top speed, setting off warning sounds if they forget their seatbelts and restriciting the maximum volume of the radio, among other things.

It’s a useful addition to a car that’s always popular with learner drivers.

There are few small hatchbacks on the UK market that come close to matching the Ford for all-round ability, efficiency and comfort. The Ford Fiesta is driver-friendly, spacious and great fun on the road.

Standard kit is also impressive, with base models getting air-conditioning, hill-start assist and a body coloured rear spoiler.

Ask Honest John

What should I replace my Ford Fiesta with?

"I have a 2013 Ford Fiesta automatic with cruise control heated front seats and front and rear sensors. My wife drives this as well and we both like the size of the Fiesta. As they no longer make them what car would you recommend?"
If you still like your current Fiesta but want something newer, you could swap it for a younger Fiesta as it did not go out of production until 2023 and you may still be able to find new examples for sale. Alternatively you could look at the Skoda Fabia, Volkswagen Polo, Toyota Yaris or Honda Jazz as alternatives.
Answered by David Ross

What is the failure rate for Ford EcoBoost wet belts?

"I have a Ford Fiesta 125 EcoBoost which I have had from new, and has just short of 30k miles on it now. It has been serviced exactly in line with Fords schedule by a franchised main dealer, so assume all correct parts and fluids have been used. The car is in mint condition so I am reluctant to sell it, but I am fast approaching the time when I need to decide the way forward. I assume there is no way the condition of the belt can be checked, so do I keep to the schedule with fingers crossed or bite the bullet and change the belt early. Do you have any info on the failure rate? It is a pity that Fords engineers spoilt the design of such a brilliant little car by making such a vital engine part so difficult and expensive to service, and one that would effectively write the car off if neglected and it fails."
The majority of issues reported with wet belts in EcoBoost engines have been with oil contamination and degrading of the belt over time, so the fact that you have followed the service schedule minimises the risk of a failure. Ultimately it comes down to how keen you are to keep the car - if you are planning to hold on to it for several more years, changing the belt early would make sense and give peace of mind for the future. We do not have access to data around failure rates, but the fact that it is a topic of discussion among owners would suggest it is more common than a typical failure rate.
Answered by David Ross

What small hatchback should I buy?

"Sadly it maybe time to part with my SEAT Leon Cupra which I bought new in 2003 as it requires approxiamately £1k of work though the engine and gearbox are perfect even after 150k miles. I would like a car that is interesting to drive and am considering an Ibiza FR but am unsure which engine Equally should I consider an alternative equivalent? It is a second car doing 5k miles per year and my budget is £7 to £9k. Your advice would be appreciated once again."
You'll be looking at a previous-generation SEAT Ibiza for £9k. It's not a bad car, although it was starting to feel a bit dated by the end of its lifespan. We've had a few issues reported with the TSI petrol engines, too, particularly around timing chain failure: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/seat/ibiza/2008/good A Ford Fiesta could be a good alternative. They're good to drive and the 1.25-litre petrol engine is pretty robust. Also consider a Suzuki Swift - they're cheap and cheerful, but surprisingly fun to drive and generally very reliable. You might be able to find a Sport model within budget, too.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Can I have two different size tyres on my car?

"My 2016 Fiesta has alloy wheels and there are two different recommended tyre sizes- 195/45/16 and 195/50/16. I currently have 4 x 195/45/16's on the car. Which size tyre should I be using and does it make any difference? I have a full size spare which is 195/50/16, can I use this on the car? Could I have 2x 195/50/16's on the rear wheels and 2x 195/45/16's on the front wheels? I notice that my wife's Smart car has two different size tyres on rear and front wheels. Would this arrangement mean an MoT fail? "
A vehicle can have more than one recommended tyre size to suit different specifications. For example, on the Fiesta it may be that the 195/45 is suited to sportier models such as the ST-Line as the smaller sidewall provides sharper handling. Ultimately both of these tyre sizes will work well on your car. The 195/50 tyres will provide a slightly better ride quality than the 195/45s, so you can change this to suit your preference. The MoT guidelines state that tyres on the same axle must be the same size, so as long as this criteria is met it should not be a fail, but we would recommend using the same aspect ratio on all four tyres. The Smart ForTwo is an unusual case as it has wider tyres on the rear than at the front, this is to counteract that fact that it has a very short wheelbase and is rear-engined. You can use the spare wheel for emergency use only without any safety concerns.
Answered by David Ross
More Questions

What does a Ford Fiesta (2013 – 2017) cost?