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Friday, 29th of August 2008

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Ford Fiesta 1.4-litre Zetec road test report

1.4-litre Zetec

The Ford Fiesta is a roomy and reasonably inexpensive mode of transport. A competitive supermini that is good to drive but slightly lacking in character.

Performance

The Ford Fiesta Zetec has a 1.4-litre (79bhp) petrol engine has a top speed of 103mph and can accelerate from 0-60mph in 12.3 seconds. The Duratorq TDCi engine was jointly produced by Ford and PSA Peugeot Citroen.

Ride & Handling

The Ford Fiesta grips the road superbly and Ford has managed to get the firm (but not overly) suspension spot on. The steering is accurate and responsive.

Build Quality & Reliability

A large improvement on its predecessor, the most noticeable improvement being the higher-quality cabin plastics used. The reliability if the Fiesta highly regarded by owners. The doors close with a satisfying thunk.

Safety & Security

All Fiesta’s will come equipped with driver and passenger airbags as standard, side and curtain airbags are optional. Anti-lock brakes, deadlocks and marked parts are also standard. The Fiesta performed well in security tests. The Fiesta was awarded four stars for adult occupation in Euro NCAP crash tests.

Space & Practicality

The headroom and legroom is ample for four adults. A very practical supermini, the seats split 60/40 to expand the 284-litre load capacity.

Ownership & Value

The 1.4-litre Zetec falls into insurance group 5. The CO2 emissions are 147g/km. The petrol engine is not the most frugal at 45mpg, the diesels offer over 60. Residual values are average, the model we test drove would be expected to return 39% of its initial value after three years. Running costs will be reasonable and the Fiesta is very competitive in the supermini segment.

Submitted: 24/06/2008 10:45:24

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