2010 Ford Fiesta Reviews

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the first and second generation Ford Fiesta between 2004 and 2015 as a used buy.

There was no more crowded or competitive market in 2008 than the small car segment, which Ford contested with a new Fiesta. Despite modest engine capacity, it was rated as a driver's car and there were ample options and variants, from base CL three-door to sporty Zetec to Econetic turbo diesel.As the car market moved away from the big cars that were Ford's bread-and-butter, the company had to change as well. The reality was that smaller cars, and small cars, represented the future.Being the company's global small car the Fiesta was one chosen to help shove Ford into a new Falcon-less future. But was it the car to take on the big players in small cars? Given the raft of terrific littlies from Mazda, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Hyundai and Kia, it had to be very good.Ford had for some time tried to be funky to appeal to hip young buyers, and the WS Fiesta certainly had the looks to appeal.Older buyers who might have preferred a sedan were overlooked - Ford limited body styles to three and five-door hatches.The WS range at launch consisted of three models, the entry-level CL in both body styles, the five-door only LX and the sporty Zetec, also five-door.Two engines were available, but curiously the larger 1.6-litre was available only with the five-speed manual gearbox. If you wanted an automatic, it was coupled with a 1.4-litre.Not only did you have to accept a smaller engine, you had to contend with a four-speed auto when a five-speed would have been infinitely better for both performance and fuel economy.If performance was your priority the 1.6-litre manual was the way to go, zippy and frugal at the same time. The 1.4-litre plus auto drivetrain was sluggish and less economical.There was some relief late in the WS series when Ford released the Econetic, a five-door hatch with a 1.6-litre turbo diesel four that delivered exceptional economy.Lesser models in the range earned only four stars from ANCAP, but still had ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution. To get five stars you had to buy a Zetec, gaining extra airbags, stability control, traction control and emergency bake assist.You could have all of that in the lesser models by shelling out extra for the option pack.The good news for anyone considering a WS Fiesta is that it came from Germany. The WT that followed it was built in Thailand and build quality arguably slipped.The other good news is that the WS missed out on the sometimes troublesome double-clutch (DSG) auto that was fitted to the WT.The auto in the WS was a conventional torque converter automatic, which is largely trouble-free.The downside is the four ratios which, in tandem with the 1.4 that struggles for torque, means performance and fuel economy aren't great.Peter Smith and his wife are very pleased with the 2009 Fiesta Zetec they bought new. It's only done about 22,000km, it has always been serviced at a Ford dealership and it has never needed a warranty claim or any other attention. Peter's the main driver and says it's the best car that he's ever had.The things they dislike are the aircon's performance, which isn't up to the Queensland climate, reverse gear is hard to select and there's apparent cost cutting in some areas. On the plus side, they love the handling and the fuel economy.Tony and Aly Hicks love their 2010 Fiesta CL, which they bought new. The car has exceeded expectations - they really rate the automatic - and the road olding is excellent.It's a real driver's car despite the 1.4, and has been trouble free over the 54,000km it has done.The WS is standing up well in service. There's nothing that should be of serious concern to anyone looking to buy one.Before handing over your cash make the usual checks, ensuring there's a credible service record.Also make a thorough check of the body and paint, looking for dings and dents that might affect the value, and look closely for signs of crash repairs.Operate all ancillaries to make sure everything is in good order and functions as it should.A test drive is always recommended. Don't let the seller take the wheel; drive the car yourself. That's the only means by which you can tell if the car is right for you. It also gets around the situation of the seller driving in such a way as to conceal any issues.

Styling of the latest couple of generations of Ford Fiestas is bold and their stunning, almost futuristic, looks appeal to many, particularly those moving down from larger cars.The Ford Fiesta is sold as a three-door or five-door hatchback. The three-door has a sporty appearance, but the five-door certainly isn’t on the staid side. Getting into the back seat of the three-door Fiesta isn’t too difficult for the kids, but large adults will find it a hassle.Once in the back seat, occupants will find it reasonably spacious. The front seats are larger than average for a car in this class and are reasonably comfortable, though some may find them on the firm side in the German manner.Ford Australia is keen to please drivers looking for more than mere transport so imports its small cars from Europe. This makes them slightly more expensive than products from Holden, which are often made in South Korean factories, but Ford Oz has managed to keep prices down.The Fiesta comes in plenty of different variants. Most use a 1.4- or 1.6-litre petrol engine and offer a couple of drivetrain options. The WZ series Fiesta, introduced in August 2013, has an interesting pair of turbocharged power units, in particular a willing little three-cylinder 1.0-litre with plenty of spark in its response. Even better is the 1.6 turbo-petrol in the Fiesta ST, it has strong torque over a wide spread of revs and can be regarded as a low cost alternative to full-on hot hatches.The Ford Fiesta XR4, introduced in June 2007, is a genuine hot hatch, not just a dressed up standard model.  Inside, there are sporting seats with leather bolsters. Fiesta XR4 has lowered suspension and rides on Pirelli P-Zero tyres. Ride comfort is surprisingly good for the hot-hatch class.The XR4's big Duratec 2.0-litre engine gives plenty of performance in a light car such as this. Some will be disappointed that only a five-speed gearbox is used. However, it has nicely chosen ratios and the change action is slick and positive.A fascinating new model was launched in November 2009. The Ford Fiesta Econetic is a super-economy model that's powered by a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine tuned specifically for low consumption. It has good torque, uses higher than normal gearing and runs on special low-rolling resistance tyres. The result is fuel consumption below four litres per hundred kilometres during easy motorway running and only five to seven litres per hundred kilometres in day-to-day suburban driving.A good home mechanic can do a fair bit of their own work on a Fiesta, but the underbonnet area is cramped. Leave the safety items to the experts. There are plenty of Ford dealers Australia wide. While uncommon parts for Fiestas may not be held in all country dealerships it usually only takes a couple of business days to have parts freighted out there. We seldom hear any real complaints about prices of parts or servicing. Plenty of mechanics running their own independent businesses will have had formal training while employed by Ford dealers in the past.Insurance premiums for the standard Ford Fiesta models are about average for its class. Some companies may charge more for the XR4 hot-hatch and the hot-ish Fiesta ST, though not outrageously so.WHAT TO LOOK FOREuropean cars aren't built to the high standards of Japanese ones, so be sure to arrange for a full professional inspection. Carefully check the interior for signs of damage due to poor assembly, also for damage done by rough or bored kids.Listen for squeaks or rattles when driving on rough roads, not necessarily outback tracks, just suburban surfaces that have seen better days. The Fiesta engine should start easily and idle smoothly virtually from the moment it kicks over. Listen and feel for a manual gearbox that hesitates or crunches during fast changes.Try the steering on full lock at low speeds both all the way to the right and the left. Listen for the clicking sounds that indicate worn universal joints. A Fiesta XR4 that has been driven hard can often be identified by uneven tyre wear. Also look for lowered suspension, big-diameter wheels and additional instruments.Rust isn't going to be a problem unless a car has been poorly repaired after a crash. Look for paint finish that doesn’t match from panel to panel and for overspray on non-painted areas.CAR BUYING TIPA simple way to check for rust repairs is to hold a magnet against a suspect area. It will stick to metal under the paint, but not to plastic fillers.

Graham Smith reviews the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic as a used buy.

There's no argument that the car market has changed. The once dominant big cars are on the nose, replaced largely by other big cars in the form of SUVs, but at the same time small cars that were once shunned by all but the poverty-stricken are enjoying unprecedented popularity.This newfound popularity has meant that carmakers have put more effort into making them attractive to this new generation of buyers instead of stripping them of everything but the basics in the hope of making a buck as they once did.The result is cars like the Thailand-produced Ford Fiesta, an attractive, fun-filled little car that drives well, is economical, and has loads of neat features. Ford offered two body styles, a four-door sedan that gave you the security of a boot and a little more body stiffness to aid handling, and a five-door hatch that was more practical and versatile.There were also two engine options to choose from, a 1.6-litre petrol four and a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel. Both were quite economical, the turbo-diesel more so by quite a margin, and both performed quite nicely.The only criticism of the petrol engine was that it lacked a little performance at low revs, but it was still perfectly adequate for the job. At the same time the turbo-diesel was lauded for its sparkling performance, the downside was that it only came with a five-speed manual gearbox.For those wanting an auto there was no choice but to go for the petrol engine, and you could then opt for the new six-speed auto, which was in fact a dual-clutch DSG gearbox.All models boasted standard stability control, but the base CL only had two airbags unless it was equipped with the $600 option that upgraded it to the seven that all other models had.A downside that needed to be understood is that the Fiesta didn't come with a spare wheel, for that you had to pay extra. Instead it had an aerosol kit for use when you get a flat.Ford made choosing a Fiesta a challenge. The turbo-diesel was a winner, in both performance and economy, but it only came with a manual gearbox.If you wanted an auto transmission you had to forgo the economy of the diesel and buy a petrol engine, which wasn't as economical and lacked the diesel's performance.But given the auto is a DSG, which can prove troublesome, perhaps the best option is to avoid the complication of technology and opt for a simple manual gearbox.If you really want the auto test-drive it thoroughly to try and find any faults it might have. Don't just drive it around the block; take it for an extended run, driving it under varying conditions, high speed, low speed, walking speed, accelerating from a stop, overtaking etc.Check in the boot to see if your chosen car has the optional spare or not, and think about what you might do if it doesn't. If there is no spare check to see that the aerosol kit is there.Some owners say that their petrol models ping, which forces them to run them on 95-octane fuel instead of the cheaper 91. That, of course, increases the running costs significantly.Build quality is a complaint often heard from WT Fiesta owners, so take the time to inspect your chosen car closely.Inspect the body for bumps and scrapes, they always bring the value of a car down, and also check the service record to reassure yourself that the required servicing has been carried out.Questionable build quality detracts from an attractive package, but the diesel engine is worth the punt.

...and what to watch for when you are buying it.NEW - The Fiesta was Ford's attempt to win over small car buyers who shunned recent offerings from the Blue oval brand.The company made a big song and dance about appealing to young women with the Fiesta, but added that the sporting model in the range would appeal to young men. If it was having a bob each way there was no doubt the Fiesta was conceived to bring young women to the brand. The Fiesta looked funky, had a funky interior and was packed with all the funky features a young woman on the move could wish for.There were two body styles on offer, a three-door hatch and a five-door hatch, and three models, the price leading CL, the LX and the sporty Zetec. The mid range LX was only available as a five-door; the others could be had with three or five doors. Three engines were offered, two of them petrol and one a diesel.The petrol engines were a 1.4-litre and a 1.6-litre, but the diesel was the big noise with a claimed consumption of 3.7 L/100 km. There was also the choice of manual and automatic transmissions with the final drive being through the front wheels. On the road the Fiesta was poised when cornering, had a compliant ride, and its engines were smooth and flexible. Inside, it was quiet and refined, the seats were comfortable and there were plenty of nifty features like voice-controlled Bluetooth and a USB slot for an MP3 player.NOWFew complaints have been received at Carsguide, suggesting that Fiesta owners are generally happy with their purchase. The most common complaint relates to engine pinging, and despite dealer recommendations to switch to higher octane fuel it doesn't seem to go away. Fuel economy is also a concern for some owners, particularly with the 1.6-litre engine, which doesn't come close to the official Ford figure. Anyone buying for fuel economy should strongly consider the diesel, which does deliver very good economy.We have also had the odd report of the engine cutting out for no apparent reason, and dealers have not been able to find the cause of the problem. Random failures of this sort are quite common on today's cars with all their electronics. It only takes a poor connection somewhere, or a sensor that misbehaves occasionally and you have a car that does things that are difficult to explain.The performance of the air-conditioning has been called into question by a number of owners who say it blows cool rather than cold on hot summer days. Rattles are also the subject of complaint, which would appear to be the result of variable build quality. Like all modern cars servicing the Fiesta is vitally important to ensuring a long and reliable life, so check that the car you want to buy has been serviced regularly and according to the book.SMITHY SAYSA smart looking, great driving and fun-filled little hatch that's packed with character.Ford Fiesta 2009-2010Price new: $16,450 to $24,990Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder, 71 kW/125 Nm; 1.6-litre 4-cylinder, 88 kW/151 Nm; 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel, 66 kW/200 Nm.Transmission: 4-speed automatic, 5-speed manual, FWDThirst: 5.7 L/100 km (1.4), 5.8 L/100 km (1.6), 3.7 L/100 km (TD)Body: 3-door hatch, 5-door hatch Variants: CL, LX, Econetic, ZetecSafety: 5-star ANCAP

There's no doubt that today's buyers, particularly younger ones, don't feel the same need for size as their forebears who were sold on the concept that bigger was better. Today's buyers are more size-savvy and are happy to buy the car that fits their needs.In that context small cars, like Ford's Fiesta, have become important players in today's market. While they've resolved their size issues they still want their car to be sexy, and the Fiesta can claim to be that. With its slinky lines, pumped up guard flares and slimline headlamps it was as cute as a button.Inside, there was plenty of room for front seat passengers, but those in the rear found themselves a little snug thanks to the sweeping roofline that compromised their headroom. The interior was flashy and the design sometimes overrode function, although it was certainly appealing at first glance.MODEL WATCHFord's Fiesta range was made up of three and five-door hatch body styles, with entry level CL, mid-range LX and range-topping sportster Zetec, and 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre engines.The CL and Zetec were available in both body styles, but the mid-range XL was only available as a 5-door.The 1.4-litre Duratec unit developed 71kW at 5750rpm and 128Nm at 4200rpm, while the 1.6-litre engine boasted 88kW at 6000rpm and 152Nm at 4050rpm.Buyers also had the choice of transmissions with Ford offering a five-speed manual and a four-speed auto. Underneath the Fiesta had MacPherson Strut front suspension and torsion beam rear suspension.IN THE SHOPWhile we have had few complaints from Fiesta owners, those we have had have been rather damning.Engine pinging is a common complaint and is something to be mindful of when test driving a potential purchase. Running the car on the more expensive higher-octane fuel doesn't necessarily fix the problem, and it rather defeats one of the purposes of buying small in the first place.We have also had reports of cars that simply cutout for no apparent reason, and the fault hasn't been diagnosed.Build quality can also be variable, so cast a critical eye over any cars under consideration for purchase and don't accept anything that's not quite right.Check for a service record to make sure the required maintenance has been done.IN A CRASHThe CL and LX only came with dual airbags; to get more you had to buy a Zetec, which came with head and side airbags as well. Dynamically all models had ABS brakes and electronic brakeforce distribution, but again you had to buy a Zetec to get important features like emergency brake assistance, BAS, or dynamic stability control.To get those same features on the CL or LX you had to fork out an extra $1000 for the optional 'Safety Pack'. For anyone in the market for a used Fiesta should take note of that when out car shopping.UNDER THE PUMPFord claimed the Fiesta would average 6.1L/100km to 6.9L/100km, and would run on 91-octane unleaded.OWNERS SAYJeff Pegg has owned his WS 1.6-litre manual 3-door Fiesta CL a mere three months and already regrets it. Already $10,000 worth of parts has had to be replaced because of rust, which he believes should have been found if it was properly inspected prior to delivery.The engine also pinged terribly, even though the car was only run on 98 RON fuel, and while after three reflashes it is improved it still pings. The air-conditioning, in his view, is pitiful, and there is an annoying rattle in the dash that can't be traced. In both instances he has been told to "get used to" it.On the plus side Jeff says his Fiesta handles well, looks great, and is good to drive in the cooler months.Jeff reserves his harshest criticism for Ford's after-sales care, which he claims is "non-existent."AT A GLANCEPrice new: $16,450 to $22,990Engines: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder petrol, 71 kW/125 Nm; 1.6-litre 4-  cylinder petrol, 88 kW/152 NmTransmissions: 5-speed manual, 4-speed auto, front-wheel driveEconomy: 6.9 L/100 km (1.4-litre auto), 6.1 L/100 km (1.6-litre man)Body: 3-door hatch, 5-door hatchVariants: CL, LX and ZetecSafety: 4-star ANCAP.VERDICTGood looking, great driving little car that makes you want to drive small.RATING3 stars

Getting into a small car has never been so difficult or as rewarding.  The good news is that the light and small car segment are now red hot with value - the bad news is that you have to choose which one suits you best.The task today just became harder as Ford unveils its nine-car Fiesta range that is jam-packed with models that are great drives, great value and pretty good to look at.There’s choices of diesel and petrol and sedans and hatchbacks. There’s a five-speed manual and a new six-speed dual-clutch automatic. The new auto replaces the previous four-speed unit that was only available with a 1.4-litre engine.  And just quietly, there’s room for an XR4 model in the future.Prices start from as low as $16,990 (CL petrol manual hatch) and climb through the list to the specialised - and very popular - ECOnetic diesel hatch that costs $24,990 and remains Australia’s most economical car.In between there is the mid-range LX in either automatic or manual and diesel or petrol from $18,990 to $21,490, and the sports-oriented Zetec that officially gets here in January and is very appealing at $20,990-$23,490.Ford says pricing is on par with the outgoing models yet extra kit is valued at $600-$1000, indicating just how competitive the baby-car market has become and how serious Ford is to climb back up the sales ladder.Standard equipment includes electronic stability control that’s linked with traction control and electronic brake assist.The base model CL has two airbags but the other models have seven. Ford says the optional safety pack that restores seven bags in the CL costs $600 and lifts its ANCAP crash rating to five stars from four.However, Ford has taken away the spare wheel. All Fiestas - now built in Thailand after the change from Germany - have an aerosol “mobility kit” in the boot’s vacant wheel well. A spare wheel is an option.“It’s one of the trade offs,’‘ says Ford Australia’s general marketing manager, David Katic.  “We’ve chosen deleting that ahead of adding features - such as ESC and Bluetooth, for example - which buyers want ahead of a spare wheel.’’In the move from Germany to Thailand, the small car has had a big increase in noise reduction - a factor of concern in the previous model.  It gets substantial underbody sound dampening that, combined with improvements to the suspension, give the Fiesta a level of ride and comfort above its class.The engine line up is an 88kW/151Nm 1.6-litre petrol and 66kW/200Nm 1.6-litre turbo-diesel rated at 6.1 litres/100km and 4.4 l/100km respectively.The six-speed dual-clutch automatic is only available in the petrol models. Ford says “we’re working on’’ an auto-diesel combo but there’s a lot of resistance from the drivetrain suppliers in Europe.  Ford won’t talk sales numbers with the new Fiesta. But is expects a healthy rise in interest.The sales split is expected to be 20 per cent sedan and 80 per cent hatch, with an overall 15 per cent swing to diesel.  “This is a car that will change people’s perceptions of Ford,’‘ says Katic.  “We are seen as a big-car company. This Fiesta will bring a lot of people into Ford showrooms.’’Ford won't talk sales numbers with the new Fiesta. But is expects a healthy rise in interest.  The sales split is expected to be 20 per cent sedan and 80 per cent hatch, with an overall 15 per cent swing to diesel."This is a car that will change people's perceptions of Ford," says Katic.  "We are seen as a big-car company. This Fiesta will bring a lot of people into Ford showrooms."Refinement is a word used to describe gentlemen’s etiquette, not usually light-car handling and ride comfort.  Yet the Ford Fiesta manages to add the word to its vocabulary.And it did it on a day that would possibly be the worst in Adelaide’s 2010 calendar. Tuesday.  Storms pummeled the hills of the city, the rain blinded the driver’s view and made the little Fiesta fight for traction. But what a little hero.  Over debris and flooding that coursed over the twisting hills roads, the latest Fiesta handled itself brilliantly and rose above the ranks of many of its rivals.But it isn’t all highlights for the Fiesta.  It makes a lot of difference which Fiesta model is chosen for the drive.There isn’t much between the sedan and the hatchback, perhaps the small extra weight making the sedan’s tail sit better and the superior rigidity of the three-box design helping handling.But there is a big gap in the diesel and petrol. Though smooth and quiet, the 1.6-litre petrol is gasping on the hills. It is very rewarding in the mid-range of the tachometer but feels weak below 2000rpm and breathless above 5000rpm.That is fine in the five-speed manual version, but even the lauded six-speed dual-clutch automatic has problems getting hold of the powerband and then placing it on the road.For general driving, the Fiesta petrol auto is fine. But push it a bit and it feels lacklustre.  The diesel, by comparison, is sparkling. Also 1.6 litres in capacity, it is down on power (66kW to 89kW) but stronger on torque with 200Nm against the petrol’s 151Nm. And it is delivered much lower in the rev range.That translated into a car with manual transmission being such a fun ride. The flexibility of the diesel engine means it can be left in second or third for the really tight stuff, then pulled up to fourth and fifth as the road straightens.The basic Feista that was first introduced in January 2009 remains. But in the move this month to the Thailand plant, changes were made to key areas of sound deadening.That, combined with the new diesel-dual clutch auto drivetrain option, creates a light car with small to mid-size ambitions and refinement.  It rides with surprising compliance. Noise levels from the suspension and tyres are low.  Even the electric-assist power steering is responsive and not overly vague.The CL and LX models get standard suspension and seats while the Zetec model - on test here but not in showrooms until early 2011 - has sports suspension (tighter springs, retuned steering rack and 195/50R16 tyres) and front seats with more side bolsters to enhance the ability of the Fiesta’s chassis.The Zetec does this without compromising the ride qualities and, as such, deserves attention by buyers who enjoy driving. In fact, the best model of the range is the diesel-manual Zetec ($23,490) or the LX sedan diesel-manual ($21,490). Such a shame the diesel can’t be mated to the dual-clutch auto.

The new Ford Fiesta will change the landscape of Australia's small car market.  The Blue Oval folks have been labouring under a yoke of constrained supply with the European-sourced hatchback range.But now they are bringing out a sedan version and expanding the diesel offerings by taking cars from the multi-million dollar AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT) factory in Rayong, Thailand. However the super-frugal Fiesta Econetic hatch will still come from Europe.Ford Australia marketing general manager David Katic says the Fiesta has doubled its share in Australia - as well as increased the proportion of high-end models sold - and he is aiming to make significant volume and share gains with the expanded range."We think if we can get more supply it can really lift our market share just by getting greater availability," he says.  "We sold 88 per cent of the old Fiesta in the base-model, in 2010 our Sports model has gone from 10 to 43 per cent, our Zetec model has blown away every expectation we have ever had for it," he says.The addition of the sedan (available only in CL and LX models) and more diesel models opens up additional volume opportunities for Ford in the light car market."The sedan we're really excited about, because we think it is a great looking car but also the sedan market represents about 15 per cent of the segment in Australia, there are only four or five competitors and we think we have a tremendous product proposition," he says.Pricing is yet to be released but Ford says it is aiming to remain competitive with its main opposition when it starts with the new Fiesta range toward the end of the year, acknowledging the cost base difference of the source country and the free trade agreement that applies to Australia-bound products from Thailand.Katic says the pricing has yet to finalised but the new Thai-sourced model would be well-specified.  "I don't think you'll see a price drop, I think you'll see us adding value - we haven't finalised our pricing yet but our shift and focus is on consumer value and more content, going to Thailand gives us an opportunity to do that, but we weren't taking a bath on Fiesta from Germany either," he says.The Zetec model, marketed as the sports star of the range until we see an ST, XR or RS edition, now has sports-tuned suspension and sports seating to distinguish it from the range.Bluetooth and voice control is now standard from the base CL model up, with stability control, seatbelt minders, a six-speaker CD sound system all standard.Those looking for an automatic will - on the petrol engine at least - be able to opt for a six-speed double-clutch automated manual that is similar to the Focus TDCi, although it has not been (for now) teamed with the new Fiesta diesel.Customers will be able to tick the option box for a 66kW/200Nm turbodiesel on the LX sedan and hatch, or from early next year the Zetec hatch, with a five-speed manual transmission and a claim of 4.4 litres per 100km.The petrol-engine on offer remains the 89kW/151Nm 1.6-litre petrol engine as standard across the updated petrol range, with the 1.4-litre being dropped from the Australian range.The Kinetic design language remains the dialect of choice with Ford and it is serving them well, so minor changes are all that has been made to the Thai-sourced vehicle from an aesthetics point of view.The sedan has followed the hatch, using similar lines to produce a planted stance, although from the rear in the metal the sedan looks a bit broad in the hips.The company is boasting of more engineering changes, including more insulation against noise, better torsional rigidity and body strength thanks to high-strength steel and bracing across the width of the front-end.The entry-level CL brings standard stability control but buyers will have to opt for the safety pack that adds extra airbags (standard fare above the CL) before it rates a five-star crash-test rating; for the LX and above that includes a driver's knee airbag as standard.There's no doubting the Ford engineering team has transplanted the excellent road manners from the German vehicle to its Thai-built counterpart.  The steering is light and direct, body control is good and the ride - which could only be tested to anything approaching Australian standards on some of the worst sections of road we could find - seems civilised.That said, the bulk of the bitumen is smooth and not coarse of grade, so claims by Ford to have remedied the criticisms of tyre noise (with a change of supplier to Continental) on Australian bitumen will have to wait until a local drive.The launch drive did have a couple of cars that didn't feel quite right and questions were being asked about the fitness of those vehicles, but the bulk of the cars sampled had good road manners and enough grunt for the segment.The mainstream diesel engine is the pick of the bunch, with a well-matched five-speed manual gearbox, which for many won't be worthwhile, as clutch pedals fast-become old-hat.We didn't test the crashworthiness of the new Thai-built Fiesta despite some of the better efforts of the locals, but the body feels tight and strong, with noise intrusion up there with the best in class.

Deceptively spacious inside, with a big effort put into workmanship, it punches above its weight in its class for styling and is a real performer. Pricing is from $21,490. Engine The five-door manual Zetec runs on an in-line 1.6 litre, four cylinder DOHC engine that puts out 88kW of power at 6000rpm and 152Nm of