Ford Fiesta

I know just how newly crowned Formula One champ Jenson Button felt when he got his hands on the silverware. Well, sort of.

You see, I’ve won the battle to run our new Ford Fiesta – and, to me at least, that’s as good as winning any trophy.

The blue oval’s baby is our Car of the Year, and has seen off all the competition it has come up against. Now, we’ve got the chance to find out what the Ford is like to live with on a daily basis over a higher mileage.

Over the coming months it will be subjected to numerous challenges, from the daily grind of an inner-city commute to long-distance marathons. So, the question is whether its radiant glow of success will remain when we hand it back.

The Fiesta certainly looks every inch a prize winner. The rakish lines of our three-door Titanium model have been enhanced with an optional styling kit that brings deeper front and rear bumpers, side skirts and a large boot spoiler.

Climb aboard and you’ll find the cabin is just as striking. An optional Individual pack adds bright red leather trim for the seats and steering wheel, while the dashboard is finished in the same eye-catching colour.

Our car also comes packed with enough kit to make even an executive model look basic. Standard equipment includes climate and cruise control, power-fold door mirrors and automatic headlights and wipers. We’ve specified a £600 Tech Pack, which adds keyless entry, Bluetooth and a USB port for iPods.

Elsewhere, the cabin is standard Fiesta, meaning decent versatility and comfort. Access to the rear is slightly awkward as a result of our model’s three-door layout, although once you’ve climbed aboard you’ll find plenty of head and legroom.

Up front is one of the best dashboards in the business. Not only is it smartly styled, but the layout is logical and the centre console incorporates large buttons – it couldn’t be easier to use. I also like the low-set driving position, while the chunky sports seats are supremely supportive. This was highlighted within days of the Fiesta’s arrival, when I treated it to a 600-mile baptism of fire. In a single day, the Titanium travelled from London to Plymouth in Devon (via Cheltenham, Glos) and back to the capital. Despite the huge distance, I climbed out of the driver’s seat at the end of the journey feeling fresh and ache-free. This trip also highlighted the smooth and punchy performance of the 1.6-litre TDCi engine, while Devon’s twisting, bumpy lanes allowed the chassis to shine.

The combination of superbly weighted steering, great body control and strong grip left me grinning from ear to ear.

That’s not to say the Fiesta is perfect, however. The optional Tech Pack includes a dashboard-mounted starter button, which looks a little cheap and has an aftermarket feel. And before we had added any of our optional extras, this top-of-the-range model weighed in at £15,245 – which looks expensive.

I’m not going to let that spoil my victory celebrations for the moment, though. Let’s see if I feel the same when Ford comes to collect the keys.