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Ford Fiesta Active Review 2022

2019 Ford Fiesta 1.1 Zetec 5dr Ford Fiesta
1.1 Zetec 5dr
£12,000
View Ford Fiesta cars for sale

Ford Fiesta Active At A Glance

4/5

+'Crossover' version of Ford Fiesta with raised ride height that gives more compliant suspension than standard Fiesta.

-Will get you down a bumpy track but not seriously off road.

New prices start from £22,280
Insurance Groups are between 8–17
On average it achieves 76% of the official MPG figure

The Ford Fiesta is Britain’s best-selling car and a brand in itself. Ford also sells the EcoSport, a lacklustre crossover only bought by faithful Ford fans unwilling to consider more competitive rivals.

The firm has decided it needs something in the middle - a car that crosses the venn diagram of enthusiastic Fiesta buyers and the booming crossover market. Enter the Fiesta Active, a beefed-up supermini with an extra 18mm of ride height and some body cladding.

 Buyers can choose a 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine in 85PS, 100PS, 125PS or 140PS guise. Or there's a 1.5-litre TDCi diesel with 85PS or 120PS. The 100PS petrol is available as an automatic, but the rest come with a manual gearbox.

Ford Fiesta Active 2018 Road Test

What do owners think of the Ford Fiesta Active? Check out our Owners' Reviews from people who live with the car day in, day out.

Car seat chooser

Child seats that fit a Ford Fiesta Active

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 Active

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

76%

Real MPG

28–73 mpg

MPGs submitted

34

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?

We need your help with our latest Satisfaction Index, so that we can help others make a smarter car buying decision. What's it like to live with your car? Love it? Loath it? We want to know. Let us know about your car - it will only take a few minutes and you could be helping thousands of others.

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Reviews for Ford Fiesta Active's top 3 rivals

Volkswagen T-Cross
4/5
Comfortable and easy to drive. Surprisingly practical and spacious. Excellent 1.0-litre petrol.
Citroen C3 Aircross
4/5
Spacious and practical interior. Interesting exterior looks. Impressive PureTech petrol engines.
Kia Stonic
3/5
Impressive petrol and diesel engines. Low running costs. Decent handling. Seven-year-warranty.

Ask Honest John

Can you recommend a small car that'll cope well with hilly terrain?
"Can you recommend a small automatic car. I have moved to the country and need something that will cope well with the steep hills around my house. I currently drive a 2008 Fiat 500, which doesn't cope well, but I'm so used to a very small car that I don't have the confidence to go much bigger. I'd prefer a used car as I won't put many miles on but the budget is fairly flexible. Thanks."
Try a Ford Fiesta with the punchy 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine. It's a bit bigger than your Fiat 500 but should be more confidence-inspiring. They do a rugged 'Active' model with a raised ride height, which might also be good for your confidence on steep hills.
Answered by Andrew Brady
What's the best small crossover or SUV for a hilly environment?
"I live in rural Wales and need a small-medium car or SUV with decent ground clearance, which can handle potholes, floods and snow. Service and running costs are also a consideration. It'll be my wife's vehicle to work, about 12k miles per year. About £10k available to purchase a suitable vehicle."
Take a look at the Suzuki Vitara. It's a brilliant little crossover SUV that sounds like it'd suit your wife's requirements well. It'll be cheap to run, too. We'd also recommend a Honda HR-V or, if your wife would prefer a hatchback, take a look at the Ford Fiesta Active. It's a Fiesta with an increased ride height which should provide a bit more confidence on rural roads. It might push the budget but there are a few available for less than £10,000.
Answered by Andrew Brady
I want to replace my aging Ford Ka with something reliable, but a bit more robust - what do you suggest?
"I'm looking to change my car in 6-12 months time. I drive a Ford Ka, which I have had since new and it will be six years old this year. I currently drive along a lot of A and B rural roads, so I'm looking for something a bit more robust. However, I'm not sure whether to go down the SUV road or upgrade to a slightly bigger car. Whatever I get will need to be economical and reliable as a priority. Also, I don't have a family to drive around so I'm wondering whether I actually need a very large family car for one person. I would love to have a convertible or something sporty but not sure that's the most practical option. I've got absolutely no idea what to even look at."
How about a Ford Fiesta? It's bigger than your Ka, so will feel more robust, while also being reliable and cheap to run. It's also fun to drive and you could opt for the rugged Active model if you want something a little more SUV-like. Also, consider small crossover SUVs like the new Ford Puma, Peugeot 2008 and Volkswagen T-Cross. These have higher seating positions - which might be good for the kind of driving you do - without being significantly bigger or more expensive to run than a hatchback. As a left-field choice, if you don't need much in the way of practicality, take a look at a Mazda MX-5. They're reliable and cheap to run, while also being sporty and fun to drive.
Answered by Andrew Brady
What small car would you recommend as best suited to drive in bad weather conditions?
"What small car would you recommend as best suited to drive in wintery conditions? So far we have looked at the Ford Fiesta, Suzuki Swift and Vauxhall Corsa."
You could look at a Ford Fiesta Active, which has an extra 18mm in ride height which might help on rural roads or in the snow. Alternatively, the Suzuki Swift is available with 4x4 which will aid traction in slippery conditions. Whatever you buy, I'd recommend fitting a set of winter tyres - they make a huge difference in cold weather.
Answered by Andrew Brady
More Questions

What does a Ford Fiesta Active cost?

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