Ford Fiesta ECOnetic

Text: Jack Carfrae / Photos: Pete Gibson

February 2009

• Rating:
• Latest deal price: from £8,338 to £13,113

Think being green means you have to make compromises? Well, the latest Ford Fiesta aims to change your mind. This is the ECOnetic version of the brilliant new supermini – and it’s been designed to prove that small cars can be fun as well as frugal.

Packing an 89bhp 1.6-litre TDCi diesel, the ECOnetic has a tweaked ECU, low-viscosity engine oil, taller gear ratios and a dash light that tells the driver the best point to change up.

Sleeker wheel trims, low rolling resistance tyres and shorter, stiffer springs that drop the suspension by 20mm help the ECOnetic slip through the air more effectively, meaning the engine doesn’t work so hard. The results? Well, average fuel economy is a claimed 76.3mpg – and that will rise to nearly 90mpg if you stick to motorways. Then there are CO2 emissions of only 98g/km, meaning road tax is free.

On the move, the gearchange light blinks at around 2,000rpm just as the gutsy diesel delivers its peak torque of 203Nm, so you can still make swift progress by changing up early. The engine sounds a bit more rattly at low revs than the standard 1.6 TDCi, but performance is strong and refinement good on motorways, where those longer ratios keep the engined subdued.

What’s more, the stiffer springs don’t ruin the ride or upset the handling – body roll is kept in check, agility is first class and the steering is sharp and full of feel. It’s a lot of fun.

As ever, the dashboard is impressive, with neatly styled buttons and dials, while the build quality is robust. Factor in a spacious boot, good looks plus a price tag that’s nearly £650 cheaper than a Zetec-trimmed 1.6 TDCi, and you’ve got a car that’s clean, green and compromise-free.

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