Ford Fiesta Review 2023

There’s a wide range of engines to choose from, three- and five-door body styles, a hot hatch model and even a crossover-style Active version. All of this is backed up with strong build quality and driving manners that leave all of the Ford’s rivals wondering which way it went on a country road thanks to its supreme ride and handling balance.

Many cars get larger as they are replaced with a new generation, but Ford has resisted this with its current eighth incarnation of the Fiesta. Instead, the present bearer of this illustrious name manages to feel more grown up and provide more interior space all while occupying much the same space on the road as the old car it replaced in 2017.

For this Ford, the more considered, mature approach is one that works ideally as you can still aspire to a Fiesta as your first car after passing the driving test or pick one as a replacement for a more expensive, larger car without feeling like you are giving up any of life’s rewards.

As with every Fiesta that has gone before, this one comes in a giddying array of trims, engines and specs to let buyers hone the car to their preferences. There are the hot hatch ST and off-roady Active versions for even more variation on the theme.

Sticking to the main Fiesta range, it comes in three- and five-door hatchback forms to lock horns with the Vauxhall Corsa and Volkswagen Polo, as well as the Hyundai i20, Renault Clio, SEAT Ibiza, Skoda Fabia and Toyota Yaris. That strength and depth of competition means the Fiesta can only ever be on top form if it wants to stay as one of the best-selling cars in its class.

To achieve that aim, the Fiesta offers a more refined drive than its predecessor to tackle the Polo head-on for comfort. It also serves up more grip and cornering prowess to keep the Renault Clio at bay, while more luxurious versions even have the ability to give the MINI and Audi A1 a run for their considerable money.

Doing all of this requires the Fiesta to be offered in a broad range of trims. You can choose from the entry-point Trend, which replaced the Zetec in mid-2019, Titanium, Titanium X, ST-Line and Vignale. With the ST-Line, you get a firmer suspension arrangement that shows just how brilliant the Fiesta can be when allowed to shine on a twisting country road.

The other models in the line-up have a softer set-up that confers greater comfort on the Ford supermini, though you certainly wouldn’t complain about their nimble handling or steering with bags of feel.

More importantly for the majority of customers for these cars is they are quieter at all speeds and come packed with plenty of kit, including the ‘floating’ infotainment screen and lane departure warning as standard.

As well as the spread of trims to choose from, you have three 1.0-litre Ecoboost turbo petrol engines to select from with 100-, 125- and 140PS, plus a 1.1-litre with 85PS as the lowest rung on the ladder. For diesel fans, Ford offers two 1.5-litre Duratorq motors in 85- and 120PS outputs.

All of these engines come with six-speed manual gearboxes, except the 1.1 that uses a five-speeder. If you want an auto, the 100PS 1.0 is the only Fiesta for you.

Such a wide offering is typical of the Ford Fiesta and why it remains the small hatch for just about everyone.

Looking for a second opinion? Why not read heycar's Ford Fiesta review.

The main dials in the Ford Fiesta are easy to see and distinguish on the move and the steering wheel can be altered for angle and depth. Mix this with a comfortable driver’s seat that has height adjustment and you can quickly find the ideal seating position. However, the controls for moving the seat are tightly packed between seat base and door, so it’s best to adjust them chair before closing the door.

For adults, it’s strictly for two and they will find head and leg space at a premium if they are of average or above height.

Turning our attention to load carrying, the Fiesta’s boot has up to 311-litres of space in normal use, which puts in the middle ground of this class. It’s deep and uninterrupted by intrusions from the wheelarches, but there is a high load sill to drag heavier bags over.

This is an area where Ford has worked hard to shed the previous Fiesta’s somewhat utilitarian approach to fabrics and materials. It’s a partial success as the upper section of the dash’s softly padded plastic looks and feels good, while the main sweep of the dash and centre console are just as pleasing.

Glance further down and deeper into the cabin and you begin to notice far more basic looking finished and textures. They are hard-wearing and robust, and Ford puts the Fiesta together as well as any of its rivals, but it just misses that last degree of wow factor you get in a MINI or Volkswagen Polo.

Every Ford Fiesta now comes with an 8-inch infotainment screen as Ford has binned off the basic Style and Zetec models. With the Trend and ST-Line models, you get the SYNC system that comes with a touchscreen and steering wheel buttons. It is easily hooked up to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for music and apps.

Move into most other Fiesta trims and you get an upgrade to the SYNC 3 infotainment system that includes navigation, voice control and FordPass Connect internet access. Again, this still requires your smartphone to work at its best, but it’s still simple to work.

Shop around and you should have no trouble find Ford dealers happy to discount a pre-registered Fiesta by £1100 with no haggling. A bit of negotiating should see that figure increase to £1500 or even more.

If you’re prepared to travel a little further to get the best bargain, you can find pre-registered Fiesta models, such as a 1.0 Titanium 125PS five-door with only 120 miles on the clock, for £4000 under the official list price. These deals tend to be for the most popular versions of the Fiesta and from large dealer groups, but it goes to show you can make a 25% saving on the new price with a bit of pre-purchase research.

There are some great deals on nearly new Fiestas, too. Expect to pay £11,000 for a six-month old Fiesta Trend with the 1.1-litre petrol motor, while a 1.0 Ecoboost in Titanium spec of the same age will be £15,000.

Early versions of this eighth generation of Fiesta can be had from £7500, though they will have higher than average mileages. That shouldn’t put you off as the car has proven to be reliable and durable, but for those that prefer a more average mileage for the age of the car, a three-year old Fiesta can be yours from £8000 for a Zetec model with less than 30,000 miles to its name.

The 1.5 TDCi offers an official consumption of 55.4mpg based on WLTP testing. The Real MPG figures for this model show it can achieve 63.2mpg in mixed driving.

Most Fiesta drivers will opt for the 1.0-litre Ecoboost engine and the best choice here is the 100PS version with the six-speed manual gearbox. Its official figure of 46.3mpg compares to a Real MPG 44.0mpg.

Ford Fiesta insurance starts with the 1.1-litre Ti-VCT model that sits in group 5 in Trend specification. Our favourite 1.0 Ecoboost-powered models sit in group 10 for the 100PS version of this engine and that hikes up to group 12, or group 13 for the Titanium X and Vignale trims, with the 125PS motor.

The 140PS Ecoboost resides in groups 14 or 15 depending on spec, making this Fiesta better suited to those with several years of no claims bonus to their credit.

For road tax, the lower power 85PS 1.5-litre turbodiesel costs £135 for the first year and £150 in subsequent years. You will pay an extra £20 for the first year’s tax with the Ecoboost petrol engines with manual gearbox, or £175 if you opt for the automatic transmission.

The 1.1-litre Ti-VCT’s 114g/km carbon dioxide emissions push it into the same £175 per year bracket. This makes it a little pricier to run than the Ecoboost models.

On any type of road, the Fiesta flows along without any apparent effort, whereas much of the competition will be bouncing around and leaving their occupants feeling less than keen to continue.

Also, the Fiesta comes with controls for the pedals, gear change and steering that are better judged for weight and reaction than its rivals. They give the driver a sense of involvement that makes it fun, agile and cosseting. It’s also easy to park in packed city streets with a tight turning circle and light power-assisted steering.

Most Fiestas have the standard suspension that is ideal for the majority of situations, but keener drivers might find the ST-Line’s firmer settings better with a sportier edge that many will associate with Ford’s supermini.

With any Fiesta, motorway driving holds no concerns as the car is stable and unfazed by side winds. It makes the Ford a great all-round choice in this class and capable of working as your only car as well as a superb second car in a household.

The Ford Fiesta’s entry-point 85PS 1.1-litre Ti-VCT petrol engine with five-speed manual transmission is restricted to Trend trim only. It gives a good account of itself but is a little slow on motorways.

The best engine is the three-cylinder 1.0-litre Ecoboost turbo petrol unit. It comes in 100-, 125- and 140PS outputs and we’d take the middle one for its blend of punch, economy, refinement and running costs. All pull strongly through the standard six-speed manual gearbox. There’s also an optional six-speed automatic transmissing.

Ford offers a pair of 1.5-litre turbodiesel engines with 85- or 120PS. We like the pace of the 120PS turbodiesel and its ability to cruise all day long on the motorway.

Every Fiesta comes with six airbags as standard and Ford’s Intelligent Protection System ESP system.

There’s also Hill Start Assist, Isofix child seat mounts and a tyre pressure monitoring system complete the standard offering.

Ford offers a number of optional safety packs, including the NCAP Technology Pack that comes with Lane-Keeping Alert and assistance, speed limiter, automatic headlights, and a headrest for the rear middle passenger. Another pack called the Driver Assistance Features brings rain-sensing wipers, Traffic Sign Recognition and Driver Alert with a 4.2-inch colour display in the main instrument pod.

You can order rear parking sensors separately or as part of the City Pack that also has electrically folding door mirrors with integrated puddle lights.

Ford replaced the Style and Zetec trims with the Trend that has 16-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, front foglamps with cornering light, and Ford’s Quickclear heated windscreen.

Inside, you enjoy air conditioning, electric windows all round, and the SYNC infotainment system with 8-inch screen. Also included is a Lane-keeping System. The Titanium ups the ante with electrically folding door mirrors and automatic lights and wipers.

It comes with keyless start, too, cruise control, Traffic Sign Recognition and Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment with navigation. Go for the Titanium X and you gain keyless entry, half-leather upholstery and a Bang and Olufsen Premium stereo with 10 speakers.

For greater luxury, the Vignale has 17-inch alloys, unique grille, bumpers and chrome. On the inside, you have full leather seats, which are heated alongside the steering wheel, rear parking camera, and an opening panoramic sunroof.

The ST-Line has sports-tuned suspension, more side-hugging seats, and flat-bottomed steering wheel. To this, the ST-Line X adds LED rear lights, automatic lights, wipers and high beam assist, cruise control, half-leather seats, and the SYNC 3 infotainment.