Ford Fiesta (2002 – 2008) Review

Ford Fiesta (2002 – 2008) At A Glance

3/5

+Good handling and comfortable ride. Tidy design. Reasonably spacious. Plenty of choice second-hand. Good reputation for reliability.

-Base models a bit sparse on equipment. Style Climates worth £500 more than plain Style. Avoid rare pushrod 1.3. Vauxhall Corsa is more spacious.

On average it achieves 85% of the official MPG figure

Squarer shaped Fiesta with better packaging and more room inside.

Ford Fiesta ST150, 1.6 TDCi, Fusion 1.6 TDCi 2005 Road Test

 

Car seat chooser

Child seats that fit a Ford Fiesta (2002 – 2008)

Our unique Car Seat Chooser shows you which child car seats will fit this car and which seat positions that they will fit, so that you don't have to check every car seat manufacturer's website for compatibility.

Which car seat will suit you?

Real MPG average for a Ford Fiesta (2002 – 2008)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

85%

Real MPG

25–70 mpg

MPGs submitted

948

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

Satisfaction Index

Satisfaction Index What is your car like to live with?

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Ask Honest John

My Fiesta's head gasket is failing, what can I do?

"I have a 2006 Ford Fiesta diesel and I'm getting a lot of oil into coolant. It still runs fine, I have put a sealer in water but makes no difference, is it worth trying to put something in the oil? It's really not worth renewing the head gasket, will it keep going or should I scrap the car? There's no water in the oil but it gets lower."
If you have tried a gasket sealant but this has been unsuccessful, then your options are limited to trying a different brand of gasket sealant or to have the head gasket repaired. However, as your car is a turbodiesel it is possible that a failed oil cooler is causing oil to get into the coolant, so you may wish to examine this as a possible cause.
Answered by David Ross

How much is my Ford Fiesta worth?

"How much is my 2003 1.3-litre petrol Ford Fiesta worth? It has 108,000 on the clock and I'm the second owner. It's not so economical on the suburban run - only about 27mpg/28 mpg but the engine runs beautifully. Also, the air conditioning works very well after about a minute of running. "
Anything between £1000 and £1500 depending on condition and assuming it has a reasonable length of MoT left. You'll get the most money selling it privately via websites such as Auto Trader, eBay or Facebook Marketplace. It could be a great little runaround for someone.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Can I put a rear-mounted bike rack on a car with a spoiler?

"I’m looking for a bike rack that will fit a Mk5 Ford Fiesta. All that I’ve found so far will supposedly not work due to the rear spoiler."
Bike carriers for cars with spoilers can be quite tricky to find, and those that do fit might scratch the paintwork. Thule is a very good brand so we'd definitely suggest that over some cheaper bike racks - but you don't specify your budget. We've tested a couple of Thule bike racks on a Skoda Octavia Estate vRS - which has a spoiler - so I'll link you to the reviews of each so you can figure out what's best for you. Alternatively, I'd try your local Halfords as they should have a decent range and you can speak to someone directly about the spoiler issue. Thule Easyfold XT 2 933 bike carrier rack (2 bikes, more expensive option, tow bar mounted): https://kit.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/review-thule-easyfold-xt-2-933-bike-carrier-rack/ Thule 991 RaceWay 2 bicycle carrier (2 bikes, rear-mounted): https://kit.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/review-thule-raceway-bicycle-carrier/
Answered by Georgia Petrie

Can you recommend a reliable, small car for £2000?

"Can you recommend a reliable, cheap to run, small car, please? Cheap on parts if needed. Around £2000. Thank you. "
We'd recommend a Ford Fiesta. There are loads about, so you can be picky about buying one in good condition with service history. Any garage will be able to look after it and parts are affordable. Consider a Toyota Yaris, too. They're very reliable and cheap to run but parts will be a little more expensive than the Fiesta.
Answered by Andrew Brady
More Questions

What does a Ford Fiesta (2002 – 2008) cost?