Ford unveils brand new Fiesta for 2017

Ford has announced details of the all-new Fiesta, which it is calling “the world’s most technologically advanced small car”. It goes on sale in Summer 2017 and will likely cost more than the outgoing car, starting at around £14,000.

Ford is offering a large range of advanced safety equipment on the new Fiesta, including auto dipping headlights, auto emergency braking, semi-automated parking, blind spot warning, lane keeping aid, adaptive cruise control and an adjustable speed limiter – but it isn’t clear what is standard and how much optional extras will cost.

The Fiesta offering has been expanded, with new variants in addition to the basic model. There is now an Active version, with crossover styling including roof bars and a raised ride height, plus a sporty-looking ST-Line model and an upmarket Vignale, with plush leather upholstery and posher cabin details.

Inside, the new Fiesta has a simplified cabin layout with fewer buttons, plus it is finished with higher quality materials and is available with coloured elements, which can be customised to suit the buyer’s taste.

Quality has been improved in more subtle ways too – refinement is better, thanks to reduced vibration, an acoustic windscreen and extra soundproofing.

There is more space than before, with increased leg room for back seat passengers, a larger glovebox and bigger cubby holes.

Standard equipment includes Bluetooth connectivity and two USB ports, plus there is a SYNC touchscreen system on some variants with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

The engine range includes the existing 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol, with outputs of 100PS, 125PS and 140PS and emissions from 97g/km. Diesels include a 1.5-litre TDCi with 85PS or 120PS, the lower-powered version of which should have an official economy figure of around 90mpg.  

A new option is the 1.1-litre petrol, which shares most of its construction with the EcoBoost, but without a turbocharger. This is offered with either 70PS or 85PS and replaces the ageing 1.25 petrol in the outgoing Fiesta.

Ford is trying to position the Fiesta as a more upmarket model than the outgoing car, so it's likely to come better equipped, but with a higher list price. However, Ford has recently launched the Ka+ for drivers who want a simple, back-to-basics small car.

The current Ford Fiesta is the bestselling car ever in the UK – click here to read about its history.