Ford Fiesta Zetec 2009 Review

The previous model was pretty good but this one raises the bar with more power, better economy and the same sporty dynamics.

Power comes from a 1.4 or 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, depending on which transmission it is linked to.

For some strange reason, if you want an automatic, then you are stuck with the smaller one - weird, but that's the way it is.

For those who don't know, Ford owns Mazda and this car actually sits on the same platform as a Mazda2, itself a very good hatch.

But that's where any similarity ends, because Fiesta is a fraction longer and wider and mechanically the two don't share components.

Basically, what you're getting is the same excellent driving dynamics as the Mazda but in a funkier package.

Unlike Holden, Ford has sourced this car from Europe and it shows.

Though it probably costs them more, it's sure to pay dividends in the longer term because it's much better to drive.

Fiesta is built in Germany but the company is planning to switch production to Thailand in the near future which, because of the Free Trade Agreement that exists between our countries, might mean lower prices ... but I wouldn't hold your breath.

Our test car was the five-speed manual, with larger, more powerful engine.

The 1.6 produces 88kW of power and 152Nm of torque.

That is pretty good for an engine that's not turbocharged. It is not class leading but better than, say, a Barina or Hyundai Getz which are both competitors.

A 1.6 and a five-speed are not exactly cutting edge technology, but the thing is they just work so well together making the car fun and rewarding to drive.

This is the top of the line Zetec with three doors and all the bells and whistles.

It looks a little different, with different front and rear bumpers, a different grille, and the addition of a body kit, rear spoiler, and larger 16-inch alloys. You can even get optional 17s.

The Zetec comes with all the usuals, plus cruise control, voice-activated Bluetooth and a sound system with steering wheel audio controls and USB port.

Prices start from $15,750 but this one is going to set you back $20,250 plus on-roads, of course.

Getting into the car for the first time I was impressed with how comfortable the seats were. The partially leather-wrapped wheel has a nice, chunky feel that fits snugly in your hands, with a gear shift right there at your fingertips where you want it.

There is plenty of hard plastic if you go looking for it, but all the surfaces you're likely to touch have been trimmed in soft material.

The interior is dominated by the wild looking centre console, with small computer screen at the top.

It takes a while to work out where everything is but it groups everything in one place.

In terms of safety the Zetec gets the full Monty, seven airbags including one to protect your knees, electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes.

The rear brakes are drums, but it doesn't seem to hinder braking performance.

Economy for the manual is rated at 6.1-litres over 100km.

It takes standard unleaded and, with a 43-litre tank, that means it's going to take less than $50 to fill up at today's price of about $1.10 a litre.

During testing we were getting 6.7-litres/100km.

I get to drive a lot of really fast and expensive cars as part of my job. It can make driving a hatch like this a bit of bore, but there's nothing boring about the Fiesta. It comes highly recommended.