Ford´s latest Fiesta still pulling in sales
Author: David Miles
Published: 07 June 2006
The Ford Fiesta range of three and five door ‘supermini’ hatchbacks may be in its 30th year but it is still pulling in UK customers. Industry sales figures released this week by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that the Fiesta is the best selling retail, or private buyers, car.
Almost one in five new cars sold so far this year is a 2006 Ford Fiesta and currently the Fiesta range sits happily in third place in the UK’s top ten sales league for sales of new cars with 47,245 of them now with new owners.
All this is against the background of numerous all-new ‘supermini’ models coming on to the market, the Renault Clio, Peugeot 207 and Fiat Grande Punto to name just three. At the end of last year Ford carried out a major styling refreshment of the Fiesta range for 2006, its 30th birthday year. The original Fiesta first launched in 1976 was very much a functional hatchback with angular styling lines. Over 30 years the styling evolved to a much more rounded appearance and for 2006 we are now back with a combination of smooth lines interlaced with sharper angles.2006 Ford Fiesta
Today’s range covers a huge price differential starting at £8,395 and rising to £13,145 with heartland sales models around the £10,000 mark. Engine options are just as varied ranging from 1.2-litre petrol to 1.6-litre TDCi diesel units so there is a Fiesta model to suit most small car buyers. The revised 2006 Fiesta is marginally larger inside, as it needs to be, to compete against the new generation of bigger ‘superminis’. Ford have also added lots of big car extra refinement and equipment to attract buyers to what is basically a model range waiting to be replaced in the next year or so. So customers buying the latest Fiesta not only get more passenger space and sharper exterior looks, styling changes include new bumpers, grille, new headlights, new rear lamps thicker body side mouldings and a new range of bodywork colours. The interior is of a far higher quality than ever before with jazzy new seat coverings and a modern facia panel with much smarter and easier to read instruments. The general upgrade to the Fiesta’s specification for the majority of models include rain sensing wipers, air conditioning, on-board computer, electric windows, heated and electrically adjusted door mirrors and satellite navigation too for most models. It may not be the most modern small car in its sector but for the price most versions offer more specification as standard than the newer competition.Fiesta Ghia 5-door
To refresh myself on what the long serving Fiesta has to offer against the latest competition, Ford sent me a 1.6 TDCi 90PS Ghia 5-Door, not the mainstream seller as far as specification goes, but a five-door variant with a new generation direct injection diesel engine, a combination which will always have appeal.The Ghia level of specification is aimed firmly at customers who only need a compact car but still want a high level of luxury. But priced at £13,145 plus a few extras such as Bluetooth connection, metallic paint, privacy glass, rear parking sensors and their Reflex Pack of additional airbags and the price shoots up to £14,435 and that is a lot of money for a Fiesta.
The Ghia as standard comes with anti-lock braking, driver ands front passenger airbags, remote control central door locking, perimeter alarm, rain sensing wipers and automatic headlights, CD/radio system, 15-inch alloy wheels and front fog lights. Its is a pretty complete package but really no better than you can find on the similarly priced versions of the new, larger and moiré modern Peugeot 207 for instance. Having five doors makes you appreciate just how much more room the Fiesta now has over earlier generations and the rear tailgate beats most of the competition by having wide access to the load area from the top to the bottom. With the split folding rear seats the five door Fiestas anyway are very versatile and user-friendly vehicles.1.6-litre Duratorq engine
The new 1.6-litre Ford Duratorq direct injection high-pressure diesel engine with turbocharger is another plus point. With 90PS of power and 204Nm of torque available from only 1,750rpm makes this Fiesta very pleasant to drive. The engine is quiet and it pulls like a train. It felt strong and powerful, yet it remained very frugal returning 53.1mpg on average throughout the week’s road test. A five speed manual transmission is used with drive to the front wheels as usual. Some of the customers for this particular Fiesta model will no doubt be company car users down sizing to escape the Chancellor’s cash cow assault against us motorists. This model only attracts 16 per cent company car tax and it falls into group B for exhaust emissions with a road fund license of £85 and Ford say the fuel costs over 12,000 miles would be in the region of £715.As the latest UK sales figures prove the Fiesta certainly isn’t past is sale by date but for safety levels and size it is outplayed in its increasingly competitive market sector. Milestones:
Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi Ghia 5-Door.
Price: £13,145 (as tested £14,435).
Engine/transmission: 1.6-litre, Duratorq direct injection diesel with turbocharger, 90Ps and 204Nm of torque, 5-speed manual gearbox.
Performance: 112mph, 0-60mph 11.2 seconds, 64.2mpg (53.1 actual),
CO2: 116 g/km.
Costs: 16% company car tax,
VED Group B: £85.
Insurance group: 4E. For: More room, well equipped, strong and frugal engine, good to drive, nice quality interior.
Against: Ghia version expensive and the current Fiesta does not compete with the higher NCAP rating achieved by newer competitive models.
See Also:
Click here for more Ford stories
Click here for more Supermini stories
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