new-ford-fiesta-review-test-drive

We’ve just driven the new Fiesta in India, and first impressions are very promising.
For a start the car looks stunning in the flesh. The nose looks very modern with its Scimitar like headlights and slot like grille, and the new Fiesta has an attractive looking profile too. There is a large rear overhang however and this does make it look a bit ungainly from some angles.
The Fiesta however rides superbly. The suspension has been raised slightly for Indian roads and the tallish 195/60 R15 profile tyres help absorb most of the poor patches quite effortlessly. The very stiff and light new body shell on this new Ford also gives it a dynamic edge and the new Fiesta drives like a ‘proper’ Ford. And by that we mean shattering grip, pin sharp handling and impressive stability. In fact, we think the new Fiesta, that’s built on the B2E platform (shared with the award winning Mazda 2), drives even better than the current Fiesta Classic. And that’s saying something. The electric steering is almost as good as that on the Renault Fluence, one of the best around, and the confidence instilled in the driver is tremendous.
On offer are two strong engines, but neither fully exploit the Fiesta's brilliant chassis. It feels that the chassis could do with some more power. However, it still adds to the driver appeal. The 1.5-litre petrol is a scaled down version of the 1.6-litre motor that powers the Fiesta Classic, but power and performance are increased. The new engine uses variable valve timing, boosting power to 108bhp and performance from behind the wheel is effortless. Part throttle responses are very linear and the Fiesta petrol feels perfect for everyday driving. It’s no City though, and dosen’t feel as responsive or as eager to spin hard as the Honda.
Ford has also scaled down its new 1.6-litre diesel to 1.5 liters. A larger turbo and intercooler help deliver 90bhp and 21kgm of torque, and the diesel has plenty of punch in the mid-rage too. And this motor feels very refined and silent as well. There is however a bit of lag below 1800rpm, progress is jerky at low engine speeds and we think the clutch could have been lighter.
The five-speed gearbox on both cars however is impressive and cog swapping as a result is no chore. Ford will also introduce a twin clutch auto ‘box later in the year; a first in the segment. And that could be worth waiting for. With the tall gearing and light body, Ford’s also claiming class leading fuel economy for both cars under test conditions, which could be promising. We’ll however reserve our judgment for when we conduct our own real world fuel economy tests.
What’s certain however is that the new Fiesta feels like a very modern car. The interiors are very funky, courtesy the modern sloping dash and the steeply raked instrument panel, and there’s enough equipment here to keep even gadget freaks happy. Overall comfort is impressive as well. The large front seats have plenty of bolstering, ideal for sporty driving, and the rear seats are also reasonably comfy. Still, more rear legroom, headroom and the cabin width could have increased comfort substantially. And plastic quality and fit and finish should have been better in places as well. The overall build of the car however, amply demonstrated by the impressive door-shut, is very tough and this lends plenty of character to the Fiesta.
Ford will initially put two petrol and two diesel versions on sale and we expect prices to range from Rs 9 to Rs 11 lakh ex showroom, which could put the new Fiesta in contention for class honours. We just can’t wait to compare it to its rivals.